City Comparison · 2026

Bradford vs Northampton 2026

West Yorkshire

Bradford

Median Salary £28,500

Cost of Living 60/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £650/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 5.8%

East Midlands

Northampton

Median Salary £30,000

Cost of Living 66/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 4.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Northampton

Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.

Best for Affordability

Bradford

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

Northampton

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Bradford

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Northampton

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Northampton

When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Bradford vs Northampton

Bradford

Bradford has the youngest average population of any UK city with a growing creative and digital sector alongside traditional manufacturing.

Full Bradford Guide →

Northampton

Northampton has excellent logistics connections and a strong financial services sector driven by Barclays and other financial firms.

Full Northampton Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bradford

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Northampton

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More Comparisons

London vs Bradford

£52,800 vs £28,500

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London vs Northampton

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Manchester vs Bradford

£36,500 vs £28,500

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Manchester vs Northampton

£36,500 vs £30,000

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Birmingham vs Bradford

£33,200 vs £28,500

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Birmingham vs Northampton

£33,200 vs £30,000

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