Calculator

Area Comparison Tool

Put up to three areas side by side and score them on affordability, school distance, commute time and commute cost — with weights you can adjust to fit your priorities.

How the score works

Each area is scored from 0 to 100. For every factor, the best area gets the full weighting and the others are scaled relative to it, with lower property price, shorter school distance, shorter commute time and lower commute cost all scoring better. The weights below are relative, so they do not need to add up to 100.

The score is only a starting point

This tool reflects only the four figures you enter. It cannot capture safety, community, the quality of local schools, transport reliability, green space, broadband, healthcare access or how an area feels day to day. Use the score to structure your thinking, then research and visit the areas before deciding.

How we calculate this

For each factor (property price, school distance, commute time and commute cost) we find the best and worst value across your areas and scale every area linearly between them so that lower is better: the best area scores 1, the worst 0, and any others fall on a straight line between them. The four normalised scores are then combined using your weights, and the total is shown out of 100.

Weights are treated as relative — they do not need to add to 100. The score reflects only the four figures you enter, so it is a structured starting point, not a verdict on which area is "best" overall.

How to use the comparison

Start by naming each area and entering an average property price, the distance to your preferred school, a typical one-way commute time and the monthly commute cost. The tool then scores each area out of 100 based on your chosen weights, and highlights the best overall option. Adjust the weights to see how the ranking changes when, say, school distance matters more to you than price.

What the weights mean

The default weighting puts affordability and school distance first, with commute time and cost close behind. These are a sensible starting point for many families, but everyone's priorities differ — if you work from home most days, you might lower the commute weights and raise affordability instead.

Example

Comparing a cheaper area further from school with a pricier area closer in, the cheaper area may win on affordability while the closer one wins on school distance and commute. The weighted score brings these together into a single, transparent number so you can see the trade-off at a glance.

For a step-by-step approach beyond the numbers, read our guide on how to compare two areas before moving.

Frequently asked questions

How is the overall score calculated?

For each factor, the calculator finds the best and worst value across your areas and scales every area between them, so lower price, distance, time and cost score higher. Each factor's score is multiplied by your weighting and combined into a total out of 100.

Can I change the weights?

Yes. The default weights are affordability 30%, school distance 30%, commute time 25% and commute cost 15%, but you can adjust each one to match what matters most to you. The weights are relative, so they don't have to add up to 100.

Where do I get the figures to enter?

Use property portals for average prices, our School Distance and Commute Cost calculators for distance and cost, and a maps service for commute times. The more consistent your sources, the more useful the comparison.

Should I rely on the score alone?

No. The score only reflects the four numbers you enter. Safety, community, school quality, transport reliability and lifestyle all matter too, so use the score to structure your thinking and then research and visit each area.