Portsmouth vs Sheffield
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Portsmouth (South East) and Sheffield (Yorkshire and The Humber) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Portsmouth rates 50/100 (grade D) and Sheffield rates 57/100 (grade C). Sheffield has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£427 versus ~£441). 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.
Portsmouth vs Sheffield: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Portsmouth and Sheffield are closely matched overall. Portsmouth performs better in broadband and energy efficiency, while Sheffield has the advantage in schools and affordability. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portsmouth or Sheffield better to live in?
Portsmouth and Sheffield are closely matched overall. Portsmouth performs better in broadband and energy efficiency, while Sheffield has the advantage in schools and affordability. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Portsmouth safer than Sheffield?
Portsmouth and Sheffield have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Portsmouth or Sheffield?
Portsmouth has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sheffield has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Portsmouth or Sheffield?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Portsmouth (~£427/month) compared to Sheffield (~£441/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.
Related Comparisons
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.