City Comparison · 2026

Northampton vs York 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%

North Yorkshire

York

Median Salary £31,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £23,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 3.5%

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

York

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

York

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 York

Northampton

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

Full Northampton Guide →

York

York is a historic city with a strong professional services and financial sector alongside significant tourism and chocolate manufacturing heritage.

Full York Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Northampton

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Jobs in York

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