Peterborough vs Salisbury
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Peterborough (East of England) and Salisbury (South West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Peterborough rates 52/100 (grade D) and Salisbury rates 59/100 (grade C). Salisbury is the safer of the two on crime (33/100 versus 25/100). Peterborough has the stronger schools, with 53% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Peterborough works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£428 versus ~£455). 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.
Peterborough vs Salisbury: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Peterborough comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, transport, broadband. However, Salisbury performs better in crime safety and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peterborough or Salisbury better to live in?
Peterborough comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, transport, broadband. However, Salisbury performs better in crime safety and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Peterborough safer than Salisbury?
Salisbury scores higher for crime safety (33/100) compared to Peterborough (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Peterborough or Salisbury?
Peterborough has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Salisbury has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Peterborough or Salisbury?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Peterborough (~£428/month) compared to Salisbury (~£455/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.