Sunderland vs Swansea
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Sunderland (North East) and Swansea () are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Sunderland rates 57/100 (grade C) and Swansea rates 76/100 (grade B). Swansea is the safer of the two on crime (72/100 versus 41/100). Sunderland has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£386 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.
Sunderland vs Swansea: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Swansea leads in 8 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, transport. That said, Sunderland has the edge in , making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sunderland or Swansea better to live in?
Swansea leads in 8 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, transport. That said, Sunderland has the edge in , making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Sunderland safer than Swansea?
Swansea scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Sunderland (41/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Sunderland or Swansea?
Sunderland has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Sunderland or Swansea?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Swansea (~£386/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.