UK Rankings 2026

UK areas ranked using official government data — from cost of living and affordability to crime rates and safety.

Cheapest places to live

Areas ranked by council tax (Band D) from lowest to highest - based on 351 ranked UK areas.

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Most expensive places to live

Where the council tax bill bites hardest. 351 areas sorted from highest to lowest.

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Best value places to live

Where your salary goes furthest, by earnings-to-council-tax ratio. 349 areas with both data points.

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Safest places to live

Areas ranked by recorded crime per 10,000 people, lowest first. Covers 303 local authorities with police data.

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Highest crime rate areas

Areas ranked by recorded crime per 10,000 people, highest first. Same dataset, sorted the other way.

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All rankings are based on official government data: council tax figures from MHCLG (England), the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government for 2026-27, and earnings from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Read more on the About page.