LocaleIQ

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Best Areas To Live

Best Areas to Live in Plymouth (2026)

DevonData checked against live LocaleIQ ranking for Plymouth on 28 March 2026.

The best areas to live in Plymouth in 2026 are Plymstock Radford, Plymstock Radford, Plympton St Mary, based on safety, schools, and neighbourhood wellbeing data from LocaleIQ.

Explore the full Plymouth map Check your postcode
Best city sectorPlymstock Radford (PL9 8)Plymstock Radford currently leads Plymouth on 72.8 (Top 8%).Safest shortlist pickSouthway (PL6 7)Southway is the current safety leader among the strongest sectors.Best value shortlistPlymstock Radford (PL9 8)Plymstock Radford looks stronger on score-versus-price than the most expensive winners.Needs most cautionDevonport (PL1 4)Devonport is the softest current sector and needs postcode-by-postcode checking before any move decision.

Short answer

Quick answer: where to live in Plymouth

Plymstock Radford is currently the strongest all-round area in Plymouth. After that, the most practical shortlist is Plymstock Radford, Plympton St Mary, Compton, Plympton St Mary, while Devonport needs extra caution before committing.

  • Best overall: Plymstock Radford.
  • Best for families: Plymstock Radford, Plymstock Radford, Plympton St Mary.
  • Safest current shortlist: Southway, Plymstock Radford, Plymstock Radford, Plympton Erle.
  • Best for young professionals: Compton, Plymstock Radford, Plymstock Radford.
  • Cheapest areas: Plymstock Radford, St Peter and the Waterfront, Devonport.
  • Best value shortlist: Plymstock Radford, Plymstock Radford, Plympton St Mary.
  • Best outer alternatives: Plympton St Mary, Southway, Plympton St Mary.
  • Classic areas people still search for: Peverell, Mannamead, Stonehouse, Plymstock.

Top-ranked areas in Plymouth

Live LocaleIQ ranking by postcode sector — with score breakdown, typical sold prices where we have them, and what actually drives each place up or down the table. Median price is from recent sales in that sector, not a forecast.

72.8Top 8%
#1
PL9 8Plymstock Radford
Median sold price£350k
Why it ranks

Plymstock Radford is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: families and long-stay buyers. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
78
Education
63
Wellbeing
82
Property
50
Employment
51

Top school match for this sector

Map PL9 8AA postcode analysis
72.5Top 9%
#2
PL9 9Plymstock Radford
Median sold price£285k
Why it ranks

Plymstock Radford is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: families and long-stay buyers. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
79
Education
61
Wellbeing
78
Property
50
Employment
58

Top school match for this sector

Map PL9 9AA postcode analysis
72.1Top 9%
#3
PL7 4Plympton St Mary
Median sold price£266k
Why it ranks

Plympton St Mary is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
72
Education
61
Wellbeing
89
Property
34
Employment
55

Top school match for this sector

Map PL7 4AA postcode analysis
71.3Top 11%
#4
PL3 5Compton
Median sold price£302k
Why it ranks

Compton is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is education, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
70
Education
52
Wellbeing
91
Property
52
Employment
57

Top school match for this sector

Map PL3 5AA postcode analysis
69.4Top 14%
#5
PL7 2Plympton St Mary
Median sold price£238k
Why it ranks

Plympton St Mary is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
67
Education
62
Wellbeing
82
Property
34
Employment
63

Top school match for this sector

Map PL7 2AA postcode analysis
68.3Top 16%
#6
PL9 7Plymstock Radford
Median sold price£263k
Why it ranks

Plymstock Radford is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
73
Education
58
Wellbeing
70
Property
50
Employment
59

Top school match for this sector

Map PL9 7AA postcode analysis
68.3Top 16%
#7
PL6 7Southway
Median sold price£270k
Why it ranks

Southway is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
82
Education
41
Wellbeing
78
Property
30
Employment
58

Top school match for this sector

Map PL6 7AA postcode analysis
67.7Top 17%
#8
PL7 1Plympton Erle
Median sold price£254k
Why it ranks

Plympton Erle is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
76
Education
57
Wellbeing
69
Property
34
Employment
59

Top school match for this sector

Map PL7 1AA postcode analysis
65.5Top 22%
#9
PL1 9Plymstock Radford
Median sold price£150k
Why it ranks

Plymstock Radford is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is social rented mix, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
71
Education
55
Wellbeing
67
Property
50
Employment
59

Top school match for this sector

Map PL1 9BN postcode analysis
60.7Top 35%
#10
PL7 9Plympton St Mary
Median sold price£250k
Why it ranks

Plympton St Mary is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is wellbeing, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
65
Education
58
Wellbeing
50
Property
50
Employment
52

Top school match for this sector

Map PL7 9AZ postcode analysis

Areas that need closer checking

Not blanket avoid calls — but the score gap is visible, so check at postcode level.

SectorAreaScoreRankWhy it needs more scrutiny
PL1 4Devonport28Bottom 2%Devonport is being dragged down by wellbeing and safety.
PL1 1St Peter and the Waterfront29.9Bottom 2%St Peter and the Waterfront is being dragged down by wellbeing and safety.
PL4 0St Peter and the Waterfront35.9Bottom 7%St Peter and the Waterfront is being dragged down by wellbeing and safety.
PL2 2Devonport36.1Bottom 8%Devonport is being dragged down by wellbeing and safety.
PL2 1Stoke36.1Bottom 8%Stoke is being dragged down by wellbeing and safety.
PL1 2St Peter and the Waterfront36.3Bottom 8%St Peter and the Waterfront is being dragged down by safety and wellbeing.

How Plymouth splits

What the Plymouth market is really splitting on

Hillside suburbs, dockside renewal, and eastern sprawl diverge strongly on the ranking. Right now the leading sectors are PL9 8, PL9 9, PL7 4, PL3 5, which is why this page stays at sector level first instead of repeating one broad reputation line.

Where buyers are most likely to get misled

Caution pockets are where sea views distract from softer everyday signals underneath. In the current table the weaker end is led by PL1 4, with PL1 1, PL4 0, PL2 2 also needing much harder postcode-level checking.

Why the shortlist changes once value enters the picture

Affordable Plymouth can be intelligent if the sector score stays in a credible band. That is why a value-aware shortlist usually ends up including sectors such as PL9 8, PL9 9, PL7 4 rather than simply the cheapest addresses.

Schools in Plymouth

Secondary schools

Best secondary schools to cross-check against Plymouth postcode choices
SchoolLocaleIQ scoreInspectionWhy it matters
Devonport High School for Girls97.7GoodAttainment 8 73.8, Basics 94 99.2%
Devonport High School for Boys94.3GoodAttainment 8 69.3, Basics 94 98.9%
Plymouth High School for Girls85.9GoodAttainment 8 65.5, Basics 94 97.1%
Hele's School67.9GoodAttainment 8 50.7, Basics 94 75.9%

Primary schools

Best primary schools to compare with Plymouth's strongest sectors
SchoolLocaleIQ scoreInspectionWhy it matters
Glen Park Primary School98.1OutstandingKS2 expected 92%, higher 19%
Marine Academy Primary97.9OutstandingKS2 expected 88%, higher 22%
Elburton Primary School97.2OutstandingKS2 expected 77%, higher 13%
Ernesettle Community School96.6OutstandingKS2 expected 82%, higher 8%

Shortlists by use case

Best Plymouth areas for families

Families usually compare north-west leafy belts with anything too tied to nightlife pressure. In the current data that points most clearly to PL9 8, PL9 9, PL7 4.

  • PL9 8: safety 77.6, education 62.9, overall 72.8.
  • PL9 9: safety 78.8, education 60.9, overall 72.5.
  • PL7 4: safety 71.5, education 60.7, overall 72.1.
PL9 8AA postcode analysis PL9 9AA postcode analysis PL7 4AA postcode analysis

Best Plymouth areas for schools

Devon-context schools still need pairing with sector fundamentals. In the current school snapshot, the strongest names to cross-check first are Devonport High School for Girls, Devonport High School for Boys, Glen Park Primary School, Marine Academy Primary.

  • Devonport High School for Girls is the strongest current secondary in this city-level sample.
  • Glen Park Primary School is the strongest current primary in this city-level sample.
  • The highest-scoring residential sector is not always the same place as the strongest nearby school.
Devonport High School for Girls Devonport High School for Boys Glen Park Primary School Marine Academy Primary

Best Plymouth areas for young professionals

If jobs access, rental demand and property liquidity matter most, start with Compton (PL3 5), Plymstock Radford (PL9 9), Plymstock Radford (PL9 7).

  • Compton (PL3 5): employment 57.4, property 52.4, overall 71.3.
  • Plymstock Radford (PL9 9): employment 57.7, property 50.4, overall 72.5.
  • Plymstock Radford (PL9 7): employment 59.3, property 50.4, overall 68.3.
Compton on the map Plymstock Radford on the map Plymstock Radford on the map

Cheapest areas in Plymouth

These are the lowest median-price sectors in the current Plymouth table, shown with score so you can separate value from risk.

  • Plymstock Radford (PL1 9): median price £150k, overall 65.5.
  • St Peter and the Waterfront (PL1 1): median price £150k, overall 29.9.
  • Devonport (PL1 4): median price £150k, overall 28.
PL1 9BN postcode analysis PL1 1AE postcode analysis PL1 4AB postcode analysis

Areas to avoid in Plymouth

No area should be ruled out blindly, but these sectors currently need the most caution before you commit to viewings: Devonport (PL1 4), St Peter and the Waterfront (PL1 1), St Peter and the Waterfront (PL4 0), Devonport (PL2 2).

  • Devonport (PL1 4): overall 28; weaker on wellbeing and safety.
  • St Peter and the Waterfront (PL1 1): overall 29.9; weaker on wellbeing and safety.
  • St Peter and the Waterfront (PL4 0): overall 35.9; weaker on wellbeing and safety.
  • Devonport (PL2 2): overall 36.1; weaker on wellbeing and safety.
PL1 4AB postcode analysis PL1 1AE postcode analysis PL4 0AA postcode analysis PL2 2AA postcode analysis

Classic Plymouth areas people ask about

These areas are popular in search and local conversations even when they are not always top in the score table: Peverell, Mannamead, Stonehouse, Plymstock.

  • Peverell: include this in your shortlist, then verify the exact postcode on the map.
  • Mannamead: include this in your shortlist, then verify the exact postcode on the map.
  • Stonehouse: include this in your shortlist, then verify the exact postcode on the map.
  • Plymstock: closest current sector match is PL9 8 (score 72.8).
Plymstock Radford (PL9 8)

Best outer areas near Plymouth

The Tamar-facing fringe matters for calmer fundamentals with the city still workable. Right now the sectors worth checking first are PL7 2, PL6 7, PL7 9.

  • PL7 2: about 3.3 miles from the city anchor, score 69.4.
  • PL6 7: about 3.3 miles from the city anchor, score 68.3.
  • PL7 9: about 3.3 miles from the city anchor, score 60.7.
PL7 2 on the map PL6 7 on the map PL7 9 on the map

Explore further

Explore Plymouth sectors on the mapCompare Plymouth sectors visually before you narrow to an exact address.Check PL9 8AAOpen the strongest current postcode example.Check PL1 4ABSee why one of the weaker sectors needs closer checking.Browse schools mapCompare school performance separately from postcode score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plymouth a good place to live?

Plymouth has strong and weak pockets, which is why sector and postcode-level ranking matters. The current top shortlists are Plymstock Radford (PL9 8), Plymstock Radford (PL9 9), Plympton St Mary (PL7 4), Compton (PL3 5), Plympton St Mary (PL7 2).

Where is safest in Plymouth?

Southway (PL6 7, safety 81.9), Plymstock Radford (PL9 9, safety 78.8), Plymstock Radford (PL9 8, safety 77.6), Plympton Erle (PL7 1, safety 76.5) are the strongest current safety-led options.

What areas should I avoid in Plymouth?

Treat Devonport (PL1 4), St Peter and the Waterfront (PL1 1), St Peter and the Waterfront (PL4 0), Devonport (PL2 2) as caution-first sectors. They are not automatic no-go zones, but they need postcode-level checking before any move decision.

What is the best area to live in Plymouth in 2026?

Right now the top pick is Plymstock Radford (PL9 8) on 72.8. The more practical shortlist is Plymstock Radford (PL9 8), Plymstock Radford (PL9 9), Plympton St Mary (PL7 4), Compton (PL3 5), Plympton St Mary (PL7 2).

What are the best value areas in Plymouth?

Plymstock Radford (PL9 8, score 72.8), Plymstock Radford (PL9 9, score 72.5), Plympton St Mary (PL7 4, score 72.1) are the strongest current value-led sectors because they hold up better on score than their price suggests.

Which outer areas near Plymouth look strongest right now?

Plympton St Mary (PL7 2, score 69.4), Southway (PL6 7, score 68.3), Plympton St Mary (PL7 9, score 60.7) are the strongest current outer-market options in the live table.

How should I use this Plymouth ranking before I move?

Use the sector table to build a shortlist, then open the exact postcode you are considering. Plymouth is too granular for a broad city-level answer to be enough on its own.

Compare Plymouth on the map, then check the exact postcode

The fastest way to use this page is to shortlist sectors first, then open the exact address you are considering. That is where the real move trade-offs show up.

Explore the full Plymouth map Check your postcode