Portsmouth vs Swansea
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Portsmouth (South East) and Swansea () 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 Swansea rates 76/100 (grade B). Swansea is the safer of the two on crime (72/100 versus 25/100). Portsmouth has the stronger schools, with 53% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£386 versus ~£427). 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 Swansea: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Swansea leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Portsmouth has the edge in transport and broadband, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portsmouth or Swansea better to live in?
Swansea leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Portsmouth has the edge in transport and broadband, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Portsmouth safer than Swansea?
Swansea scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Portsmouth (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Portsmouth or Swansea?
Portsmouth has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Portsmouth or Swansea?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Swansea (~£386/month) compared to Portsmouth (~£427/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.