Stoke-on-Trent vs Sunderland
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Stoke-on-Trent (West Midlands) and Sunderland (North East) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Stoke-on-Trent rates 50/100 (grade D) and Sunderland rates 57/100 (grade C). Sunderland is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 25/100). Sunderland has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Stoke-on-Trent works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£411 versus ~£415). 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.
Stoke-on-Trent vs Sunderland: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Sunderland leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Stoke-on-Trent has the edge in broadband and environment, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stoke-on-Trent or Sunderland better to live in?
Sunderland leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Stoke-on-Trent has the edge in broadband and environment, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Stoke-on-Trent safer than Sunderland?
Sunderland scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Stoke-on-Trent (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Stoke-on-Trent or Sunderland?
Stoke-on-Trent has 15 schools within 3km, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Stoke-on-Trent or Sunderland?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Stoke-on-Trent (~£411/month) compared to Sunderland (~£415/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.