City Comparison · 2026

Northampton vs Luton 2026

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%

East of England

Luton

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 75/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,000/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 5.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Northampton

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

Best for Affordability

Northampton

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

Highest Headline Salary

Luton

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

Lowest Rent

Northampton

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

Best for Career Growth

Luton

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: Northampton vs Luton

Northampton

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

Full Northampton Guide →

Luton

Luton is a major aviation hub with London Luton Airport driving significant logistics and hospitality employment.

Full Luton Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Northampton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Luton

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£52,800 vs £30,000

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Manchester vs Luton

£36,500 vs £31,500

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Birmingham vs Northampton

£33,200 vs £30,000

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Birmingham vs Luton

£33,200 vs £31,500

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