Area report
Is City of London a good place to live?
City of London, London, England
Report completeness: 55%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
City of London scores 40 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is healthcare, scoring 100 against the English median of 54; its biggest shortfall is housing, 0 against 83.
- Nearest scored area: London, about 2 miles away, scoring 41.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 55 per cent: categories without data are excluded rather than estimated.
How detailed is this report?
Open data is published at different levels of detail, and this report always uses the most granular level available rather than pretending otherwise.
- Point-level for this exact location: Weather (from the Met Office Heathrow station, 25 km away); Healthcare (facilities within about 2 km, hospitals within about 8 km); Transport (stops within 800 m and the nearest railway station); Air quality (the 1 km grid cell containing this point).
- Council-level, covering all of City of London: Affordability, Housing, Broadband. Every postcode and town in the council shares these figures.
Research this area further with trusted open data: police.uk street-level crime map, HM Land Registry sold prices, ONS local area profiles, Ofcom broadband checker. This report is open-source intelligence: everything is built from published government and public datasets you can check yourself.
Affordability
Source: HM Land RegistryWith a ten per cent deposit, the average City of London home needs borrowing of 16.5 times a single UK median full-time salary of £39,039, beyond the 4.5 times most lenders will go to, so it takes a second income or a larger deposit. Try your own figures below.
Guidance only, using standard lending multiples and typical outgoings. Not a mortgage offer or financial advice. TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; always seek independent professional advice before financial decisions.
Housing
Source: HM Land RegistryUK House Price Index for City of London, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.
Crime and safety
Source: police.ukCrime data could not be loaded for this location.
Weather and outdoors
Source: Met OfficeOutdoor suitability
City of London averages about 1,526 sunshine hours a year, around the middle of the UK range, with relatively low rainfall for the UK (about 645 mm a year). Summer days typically reach around 24.2°C and winter nights fall to about 3.6°C.
Averages over 6 years (2020-2025) from the Met Office Heathrow station, 25 km away. How the outdoor score works. Contains Met Office data © Crown copyright.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for City of London: the share of premises that can get each service, not the share that has taken it up.
Schools and education
Source: DfE and devolved governmentsEducation data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from DfE and devolved governments, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Healthcare
Source: OpenStreetMapCounted from OpenStreetMap around this exact point; a nearby GP and pharmacy carry the most weight. How it is scored. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Employment
Source: ONS / NOMISEmployment data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from ONS / NOMIS, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Environment
Source: Defra UK-AIRDefra modelled background air for the 1 km grid cell around this point (Crown copyright), scored against the WHO 2021 guidelines.
Transport
Source: DfT NaPTANDfT NaPTAN stops around this exact point. Twelve or more stops within 800 m, and a station within 1 km, each earn full marks.
Cost of living
Source: ONSCost of living data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from ONS, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Lifestyle and amenities
Source: OpenStreetMapLifestyle data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from OpenStreetMap, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Who City of London suits
City of London suits most households about equally: from the bottom 4% for retirees to the bottom 1% for remote workers of the 539 areas we have scored.
| Household | Score | Standing | What it weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retirees | 50 | bottom 4% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Remote workers | 43 | bottom 1% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.
Stands out on
- Transport
- Healthcare
Worth checking carefully
- Affordability
- Housing
- Environment
Built only from the categories with data; 5 are still to load for this area.
How City of London compares
| Category | City of London | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability | 0 | 64 | 68 | -64 | bottom 3% |
| Weather | 72 | 72 | 72 | 0 | top 47% |
| Housing | 0 | 83 | 83 | -83 | bottom 1% |
| Transport | 100 | 75 | 75 | +25 | top 1% |
| Broadband | 69 | 88 | 88 | -19 | bottom 8% |
| Environment | 32 | 89 | 91 | -57 | bottom 1% |
| Healthcare | 100 | 54 | 52 | +46 | top 1% |
Medians and positions are across the 539 areas in our index. Safety and education are measured differently in each nation, so read those two rows against the England median only.
What City of London does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are healthcare (100, 46 above the median) and transport (100, 25 above the median).
Where it falls short. Housing (0, 83 below), affordability (0, 64 below) and environment (32, 57 below).
Near City of London, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of City of London, 5 score higher: Lewisham (52), Greenwich (50), Wandsworth (47) and 2 others. City of London scores 40. Lewisham is ahead mainly on housing (+78), while City of London keeps the advantage on transport (+22).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 1.6 miles | Westminster, London, England | 41 | Fair |
| Islington | 1.6 miles | Islington, London, England | 35 | Challenging |
| Hackney | 2.6 miles | Hackney, London, England | 46 | Fair |
| Greenwich | 4.3 miles | Greenwich, London, England | 50 | Fair |
| Lewisham | 5.2 miles | Lewisham, London, England | 52 | Fair |
| Wandsworth | 5.9 miles | Wandsworth, London, England | 47 | Fair |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ealing | Ealing, London, England | 47 | 18.4 |
| Guildford | Guildford, South East, England | 48 | 19.4 |
| Wembley | Brent, London, England | 43 | 21.6 |
| Croydon | Croydon, London, England | 54 | 23.4 |
| Oxford | Oxford, South East, England | 54 | 23.6 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in City of London actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in City of London is £712,958, 164 per cent above the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £71,296, repaying the rest costs about £4,134 a month, and needs a household income of about £142,600 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £712,958 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | -20.4%, falling |
| Against our index median | 164% above the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £71,296 |
| 15% deposit | £106,944 |
| Price to earnings | 18.3 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £4,134 on a £641,662 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Income to borrow it | About £142,600 a year at 4.5 times income |
Council-wide average across all property types; the multiple uses UK median full-time earnings (April 2025 (ONS ASHE)). Illustrative arithmetic, not a mortgage assessment or financial advice; TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Air quality in City of London, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 11.3, are above the UK 2040 target of 10. Nitrogen dioxide, at 32.8, is well inside the UK limit of 40 but above the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | City of London | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 11.3 | 10 | 5 | Above both |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 32.8 | 40 | 10 | Inside the UK limit, above the WHO guideline |
Neighbourhood background levels from the Defra 1 km model; readings beside a busy road are higher. UK figures are the legal limit (NO₂) and 2040 target (PM2.5); WHO figures are health guidelines, not law.
Questions about City of London
Is City of London a good place to live?
City of London has an overall liveability score of 40 out of 100 (fair) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 55% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on weather and broadband. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in City of London?
Recorded crime for City of London is shown in the crime and safety section, from police.uk for England and Wales or Scottish Government statistics for Scotland.
What is the weather like in City of London?
City of London averages 1,526 sunshine hours and about 645 mm of rain a year, giving an outdoor score of 72 out of 100. Summer highs average 24.2°C and winter lows 3.6°C. Based on the Met Office Heathrow station, 25 km away.
What are house prices like in City of London?
The average property price in City of London is about £712,958 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed -20.4% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Can I afford to buy a house in City of London?
The average property in City of London costs about £712,958, which is 18.3 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 0 out of 100. Mainstream lenders usually cap borrowing at around four to four and a half times income, so a ratio above that generally means a larger deposit, a second income or a cheaper property than the local average. With a ten per cent deposit, repaying the rest costs about £4,134 a month at 6% over 25 years. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in City of London?
About 88% of premises in City of London can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 80% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 69 out of 100 (Ofcom Connected Nations). These are council-area availability figures - the share of premises able to order each service, not the speed any single line achieves - so check the exact address with the Ofcom broadband checker before committing to it.
What is the air quality like in City of London?
For the 1 km grid square containing City of London, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 11.27 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 32.84 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 32 out of 100; an area meeting both guideline levels scores 100. These are modelled background concentrations for the square, not a reading taken at the roadside.
Are there GPs and dentists near City of London?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 119 GP surgeries, 25 pharmacies and 82 dentists. 76 hospitals are within about eight kilometres. That gives a healthcare score of 100 out of 100. Facilities are counted from OpenStreetMap and the score describes how close services are, not waiting times, capacity or clinical quality.
Does City of London have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Cannon Street Rail Station, about 0.3 km away, and there are 149 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 100 out of 100. Stops come from the DfT NaPTAN dataset and are counted for this exact point, so the figure measures access rather than how frequently anything runs.
Which council area is City of London in?
City of London is in the City of London local authority, London, England. It falls within the Cheap ward and the Cities of London and Westminster parliamentary constituency. Cost of living, housing, affordability, employment, broadband and education figures in this report are published at local-authority level, so every postcode and town inside City of London shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
How does City of London compare with the rest of England?
City of London sits in the bottom 1% of the 539 UK areas we have scored. The median area in the index scores 67 out of 100. It is furthest above the benchmark for its nation on healthcare and transport. It is furthest below on housing, affordability and environment. Categories are compared against the area's own nation where the samples allow it, because crime and school attainment are measured differently either side of the border.
What are the best places to live near City of London?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of City of London, the highest are Lewisham (52 out of 100, about 5 miles away), Greenwich (50 out of 100, about 4 miles away) and Wandsworth (47 out of 100, about 6 miles away). City of London itself scores 40. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to City of London?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Ealing (Ealing, London, England), Guildford (Guildford, South East, England) and Wembley (Brent, London, England). Similarity is the average gap across every category both areas have data for, with immediate neighbours excluded, so these are places that score alike rather than places that look alike or sit nearby.
What area does this report cover?
Weather, crime, local amenities, healthcare access, transport access and air quality are measured for this exact point. Cost of living, affordability, housing, employment and broadband come from official statistics for the City of London council area, so nearby postcodes and towns in the same council share those figures. Education comes from the local authority, or from the county where attainment is only published at county level. The "How detailed is this report" section explains each level.