Nottingham vs York
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Nottingham (East Midlands) and York (Yorkshire and The Humber) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Nottingham rates 57/100 (grade C) and York rates 60/100 (grade C). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. York works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£423 versus ~£459). The full side-by-side breakdown of crime, schools, transport, affordability, broadband, environment and healthcare is below, followed by our verdict on which area fits which kind of buyer.
Nottingham vs York: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Nottingham and York are closely matched overall. Nottingham performs better in schools and transport, while York has the advantage in affordability and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nottingham or York better to live in?
Nottingham and York are closely matched overall. Nottingham performs better in schools and transport, while York has the advantage in affordability and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Nottingham safer than York?
Nottingham and York have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Nottingham or York?
Nottingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. York has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Nottingham or York?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in York (~£423/month) compared to Nottingham (~£459/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.
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Data sources: Scores are estimated using pre-loaded data from MHCLG Indices of Deprivation, Ofsted/GIAS school ratings, DfT Transport Connectivity 2025, MHCLG council tax data, Ofgem energy price cap, and regional averages. For full live data from 20+ government sources, view the individual town reports. Data provided under the Open Government Licence v3.0.