City Comparison · 2026

Northampton vs Preston 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%

Lancashire

Preston

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo

Real Take-Home £23,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

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

Preston

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

Preston

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: Northampton vs Preston

Northampton

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

Full Northampton Guide →

Preston

Preston is a major Lancashire city with significant aerospace and manufacturing employment driven by BAE Systems.

Full Preston Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Northampton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Preston

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Manchester vs Preston

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Birmingham vs Northampton

£33,200 vs £30,000

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Birmingham vs Preston

£33,200 vs £29,500

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