City comparison
New Forest vs Reading
New Forest, South East · Reading, South East
At a glance — who wins?
Cheaper rent
New Forest
£1,236/mo vs £1,579/mo
Safer
New Forest
75/100 vs 59/100
Better schools
Reading
30% vs 39%
Better transport
Reading
37/100 vs 73/100
Better broadband
Tie
100% vs 100%
New Forest · 5Reading leads on 15 of 23 metrics · 3 tiesReading · 15
Headline scores
Composite indexes, 0–100 (higher is better).
Liveability
Weighted index of safety, schools, transport, affordability and amenities.
Δ +5 pts
45
50
✓ leads
45
Liveability
Weighted index of safety, schools, transport, affordability and amenities.
Δ +5 pts
50
✓ leads
Safety
Higher = lower crime and ASB rates per 1,000 residents.
Δ -17 pts
75
✓ leads
59
75
✓ leads
Safety
Higher = lower crime and ASB rates per 1,000 residents.
Δ -17 pts
59
Transport
Higher = closer to rail, more bus stops, faster commute reach.
Δ +36 pts
37
73
✓ leads
37
Transport
Higher = closer to rail, more bus stops, faster commute reach.
Δ +36 pts
73
✓ leads
Schools
Higher = more Good/Outstanding Ofsted schools within 2 km.
Δ +30 pts
49
80
✓ leads
49
Schools
Higher = more Good/Outstanding Ofsted schools within 2 km.
Δ +30 pts
80
✓ leads
Cost of living
Native units — what residents actually pay.
Est. rent
LAD-published rent scaled by within-LAD price gradient (HMLR sales) with neighbour smoothing. Within ±15-25% of true market median; varies LSOA-to-LSOA.
Δ +£388/mo
£1,181/mo
✓ leads
£1,568/mo
£1,181/mo
✓ leads
Est. rent
LAD-published rent scaled by within-LAD price gradient (HMLR sales) with neighbour smoothing. Within ±15-25% of true market median; varies LSOA-to-LSOA.
Δ +£388/mo
£1,568/mo
Total monthly cost
Rent + council tax (1/12) + EPC-band utility estimate.
Δ +£336/mo
£1,556/mo
✓ leads
£1,892/mo
£1,556/mo
✓ leads
Total monthly cost
Rent + council tax (1/12) + EPC-band utility estimate.
Δ +£336/mo
£1,892/mo
Council tax
Δ -£93/yr
£2,469/yr
£2,376/yr
£2,469/yr
Council tax
Δ -£93/yr
£2,376/yr
Years to 10% deposit
Years for the local median earner to save a 10% deposit at the local median price.
Δ -1.1 yrs
6.0 yrs
4.9 yrs
✓ leads
6.0 yrs
Years to 10% deposit
Years for the local median earner to save a 10% deposit at the local median price.
Δ -1.1 yrs
4.9 yrs
✓ leads
Earning power
Median salary
Δ +£4,110/yr
£31,344/yr
£35,454/yr
✓ leads
£31,344/yr
Median salary
Δ +£4,110/yr
£35,454/yr
✓ leads
Rent ÷ take-home pay
How much of the local median take-home goes on rent.
Δ +11 pp
64%
✓ leads
76%
64%
✓ leads
Rent ÷ take-home pay
How much of the local median take-home goes on rent.
Δ +11 pp
76%
Jobs per resident
Workplace job count divided by working-age residents.
Δ +0.30
0.40
0.69
✓ leads
0.40
Jobs per resident
Workplace job count divided by working-age residents.
Δ +0.30
0.69
✓ leads
Safety detail
Crime per 1,000 / yr
Δ +31.1
46.6
✓ leads
77.7
46.6
✓ leads
Crime per 1,000 / yr
Δ +31.1
77.7
Schools detail
% Good/Outstanding (within 2 km)
Δ +9 pp
30%
39%
✓ leads
30%
% Good/Outstanding (within 2 km)
Δ +9 pp
39%
✓ leads
Connectivity
Nearest rail station
Δ 1.1 km
2.7 km
1.6 km
✓ leads
2.7 km
Nearest rail station
Δ 1.1 km
1.6 km
✓ leads
Commute to nearest job hub
Public-transport time to the nearest of 10 major UK job hubs.
Δ -78 min
126 min
48 min
✓ leads
126 min
Commute to nearest job hub
Public-transport time to the nearest of 10 major UK job hubs.
Δ -78 min
48 min
✓ leads
Gigabit broadband coverage
Δ 0 pp
100%
100%
100%
Gigabit broadband coverage
Δ 0 pp
100%
People & vibe
How busy and varied the neighbourhood is — what's actually around to do.
Population
—
—
—
Population
—
Population density
People per km². Higher = denser urban; lower = leafier.
1,833 / km²
6,049 / km²
1,833 / km²
Population density
People per km². Higher = denser urban; lower = leafier.
6,049 / km²
% with a degree
Δ +8 pp
31%
38%
✓ leads
31%
% with a degree
Δ +8 pp
38%
✓ leads
% working from home
Δ +8 pp
30%
38%
✓ leads
30%
% working from home
Δ +8 pp
38%
✓ leads
Restaurants nearby
Restaurants within ~5 minutes' walk (500 m).
Δ +1
0
1
✓ leads
0
Restaurants nearby
Restaurants within ~5 minutes' walk (500 m).
Δ +1
1
✓ leads
Pubs & bars nearby
Pubs and bars combined, within 500 m.
—
1
—
Pubs & bars nearby
Pubs and bars combined, within 500 m.
1
Cafés nearby
Cafés within 500 m.
Δ +1
0
1
✓ leads
0
Cafés nearby
Cafés within 500 m.
Δ +1
1
✓ leads
Supermarkets nearby
Supermarkets within 500 m.
Δ 0
0
0
0
Supermarkets nearby
Supermarkets within 500 m.
Δ 0
0
Gyms within 1 km
Δ +1
0
1
✓ leads
0
Gyms within 1 km
Δ +1
1
✓ leads
Parks within 500 m
Δ +1
0
1
✓ leads
0
Parks within 500 m
Δ +1
1
✓ leads