Liveability in Birmingham
West Midlands · ONS code E08000025
Is Birmingham a good place to live, and what is its Gera Liveability Score?
Birmingham scores 77.3 out of 100 on the Gera Liveability Score (rank 30 of 130 English local authorities), as of June 2026. The score is a weighted composite of affordability, safety, schools, connectivity and healthcare, joined by Gera from six UK government open datasets; Birmingham's strongest pillar is safety (91.1/100). Gera re-computes this quarterly.
Gera Liveability Score — Birmingham
Rank 30 of 130 English local authorities · 5.1 points above the national average of 72.2.
Score breakdown — Birmingham
| Pillar | Sub-score /100 | Weight | Real source figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability | 63.7 | 0.3 | £235,682 avg price · £2,363 Band D |
| Safety | 91.1 | 0.2 | 98.6 crimes/1,000 (West Midlands police) |
| Schools | 87.9 | 0.2 | 87.9% schools Good+ (206 graded) |
| Connectivity | 65.6 | 0.15 | Gera Broadband Index 81.9 · 94.8% gigabit |
| Healthcare | 83.6 | 0.15 | Gera GP Access Score 83.6 (Birmingham and Solihull ICB) |
Crime is published at police force level and GP access at NHS ICB level; Birmingham inherits its force’s and ICB’s figure. Every number is real UK government open data — only the composite is Gera’s. Full method at /methodology/gera-liveability-index.
Rank areas by your priorities
See how Birmingham ranks when you weight what matters to you.
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. The ranking re-computes instantly from the same real government figures behind every Gera Liveability Score — this is your personal ranking, not the default.
| # | Local authority | Your score | Avg price | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stoke-on-TrentWest Midlands | 84.5 | £152,101 | 88% |
| 2 | Southend on SeaEast of England | 84.3 | £327,030 | 89% |
| 3 | WolverhamptonWest Midlands | 82.9 | £215,264 | 90% |
| 4 | LeedsYorkshire and The Humber | 81.7 | £246,882 | 92% |
| 5 | Kingston upon HullYorkshire and The Humber | 81.4 | £135,051 | 90% |
| 6 | DoncasterYorkshire and The Humber | 81.0 | £173,624 | 96% |
| 7 | SandwellWest Midlands | 80.9 | £212,547 | 89% |
| 8 | WakefieldYorkshire and The Humber | 80.9 | £196,895 | 84% |
| 9 | Milton KeynesSouth East | 80.8 | £318,038 | 95% |
| 10 | Bracknell ForestSouth East | 80.7 | £397,667 | 100% |
Showing your top 10 of 130. Default weights match the published Gera Liveability Score; change them and the ranking is yours.
Birmingham liveability — questions and answers
- What is the Gera Liveability Score for Birmingham?
- Birmingham scores 77.3 out of 100 on the Gera Liveability Score (as of June 2026), ranking 30 of 130 English local authorities. That is 5.1 points above the national average of 72.2.
- How is the Gera Liveability Score for Birmingham calculated?
- It is a weighted composite of five normalised sub-scores: affordability 63.7/100 (weight 0.3), safety 91.1/100 (0.2), schools 87.9/100 (0.2), connectivity 65.6/100 (0.15) and healthcare 83.6/100 (0.15). Each sub-score is min-max normalised across all 130 included local authorities; see the published methodology.
- What is the average house price in Birmingham?
- The average house price in Birmingham is £235,682 (HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, April 2026), with a Band D council tax of £2,363 per year (MHCLG, 2026-27). Together these set the area’s affordability sub-score.
- What are schools like in Birmingham?
- 87.9% of state schools in Birmingham are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted (24 Outstanding, 157 Good of 206 graded schools, as of 31 May 2026).
- How fast is broadband in Birmingham?
- Birmingham has a Gera Broadband Index of 81.9 over Ofcom Connected Nations data, with 94.8% of premises gigabit-capable (Ofcom, July 2024 reference).
- Where do the Birmingham liveability figures come from?
- Every number is real UK government open data, joined by Gera: house prices (HM Land Registry), council tax (MHCLG), broadband (Ofcom), schools (Ofsted), recorded crime (Home Office, applied at West Midlands police force level) and GP access (NHS England, Birmingham and Solihull ICB). All Open Government Licence v3.0. The composite is Gera’s; the inputs are official.
Other West Midlands areas
See the full national Gera Liveability ranking, or this area’s house prices and council tax.
Find a home in Birmingham
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Browse rentals in BirminghamSources: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index (April 2026); MHCLG Council Tax 2026-27; Ofcom Connected Nations (Jul 2024); Ofsted inspection outcomes (31 May 2026); Home Office police recorded crime (year ending Dec 2025); NHS England Appointments in General Practice (April 2026). All Open Government Licence v3.0. The Gera Liveability Score is computed by GeraRent from these figures; methodology at /methodology/gera-liveability-index.