Liveability in Sandwell
West Midlands · ONS code E08000028
Is Sandwell a good place to live, and what is its Gera Liveability Score?
Sandwell scores 80.9 out of 100 on the Gera Liveability Score (rank 7 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; Sandwell's strongest pillar is healthcare (100.0/100). Gera re-computes this quarterly.
Gera Liveability Score — Sandwell
Rank 7 of 130 English local authorities · 8.7 points above the national average of 72.2.
Score breakdown — Sandwell
| Pillar | Sub-score /100 | Weight | Real source figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability | 67.6 | 0.3 | £212,547 avg price · £2,244 Band D |
| Safety | 91.1 | 0.2 | 98.6 crimes/1,000 (West Midlands police) |
| Schools | 89.1 | 0.2 | 89.1% schools Good+ (55 graded) |
| Connectivity | 63.9 | 0.15 | Gera Broadband Index 81.3 · 93.5% gigabit |
| Healthcare | 100.0 | 0.15 | Gera GP Access Score 100.0 (Black Country ICB) |
Crime is published at police force level and GP access at NHS ICB level; Sandwell 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 Sandwell 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.
Sandwell liveability — questions and answers
- What is the Gera Liveability Score for Sandwell?
- Sandwell scores 80.9 out of 100 on the Gera Liveability Score (as of June 2026), ranking 7 of 130 English local authorities. That is 8.7 points above the national average of 72.2.
- How is the Gera Liveability Score for Sandwell calculated?
- It is a weighted composite of five normalised sub-scores: affordability 67.6/100 (weight 0.3), safety 91.1/100 (0.2), schools 89.1/100 (0.2), connectivity 63.9/100 (0.15) and healthcare 100.0/100 (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 Sandwell?
- The average house price in Sandwell is £212,547 (HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, April 2026), with a Band D council tax of £2,244 per year (MHCLG, 2026-27). Together these set the area’s affordability sub-score.
- What are schools like in Sandwell?
- 89.1% of state schools in Sandwell are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted (4 Outstanding, 45 Good of 55 graded schools, as of 31 May 2026).
- How fast is broadband in Sandwell?
- Sandwell has a Gera Broadband Index of 81.3 over Ofcom Connected Nations data, with 93.5% of premises gigabit-capable (Ofcom, July 2024 reference).
- Where do the Sandwell 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, Black Country ICB). All Open Government Licence v3.0. The composite is Gera’s; the inputs are official.
Other West Midlands areas
- Stoke-on-Trent · 84.5
- Wolverhampton · 82.9
- Dudley · 80.3
- Walsall · 78.2
- Solihull · 77.7
- Birmingham · 77.3
See the full national Gera Liveability ranking, or this area’s house prices and council tax.
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Browse rentals in SandwellSources: 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.