Swansea vs Wolverhampton
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Swansea () and Wolverhampton (West Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Swansea rates 76/100 (grade B) and Wolverhampton rates 47/100 (grade D). Swansea is the safer of the two on crime (72/100 versus 25/100). Wolverhampton has the stronger schools, with 40% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£386 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.
Swansea vs Wolverhampton: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Swansea comes out ahead in 7 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, affordability. However, Wolverhampton performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Swansea or Wolverhampton better to live in?
Swansea comes out ahead in 7 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, affordability. However, Wolverhampton performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Swansea safer than Wolverhampton?
Swansea scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Wolverhampton (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Swansea or Wolverhampton?
Swansea has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Wolverhampton has 15 schools nearby, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Swansea or Wolverhampton?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Swansea (~£386/month) compared to Wolverhampton (~£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.