Sheffield vs York

Which is better to live in? (2026)

57

Sheffield

Yorkshire and The Humber

Grade C
60

York

Yorkshire and The Humber

Grade CHigher Overall
Sheffield: 1 wins|York: 4 wins

Sheffield (Yorkshire and The Humber) and York (Yorkshire and The Humber) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Sheffield rates 57/100 (grade C) and York rates 60/100 (grade C). York works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£423 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.

Sheffield vs York: Category Comparison

Sheffield
Category
York
57/100
🏆Overall Score
BETTER60/100
25/100
🔒Crime Safety
25/100
67% Good/Outstanding
🎓Schools
67% Good/Outstanding
90/100BETTER
🚆Transport
88/100
79/100
💷Affordability
79/100
~£441/mo
🧾Monthly Bills
BETTER~£423/mo
70/100
📶Broadband
70/100
33/100
🌿Environment
BETTER41/100
25/100
🏥Healthcare
BETTER56/100

Our Verdict

York leads in 2 of 8 categories, scoring higher for environment, healthcare. That said, Sheffield has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sheffield or York better to live in?

York leads in 2 of 8 categories, scoring higher for environment, healthcare. That said, Sheffield has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Is Sheffield safer than York?

Sheffield and York have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Sheffield or York?

Sheffield has 15 schools within 3km, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. York has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Sheffield or York?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in York (~£423/month) compared to Sheffield (~£441/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.