Benson vs Didcot
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Didcot offers lower property prices by roughly 27%. Didcot has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Benson edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Benson
£508,330
Didcot
£398,746
Crime Rate
Benson
40.7
Didcot
40.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Benson
100.0%
Didcot
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Benson
350.1
Didcot
403.2
EPC Rating
Benson
70.9
Didcot
72
Median Income
Benson
£38,006
Didcot
£38,125
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Didcot more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £398,746 versus £508,330 in Benson. The most affordable entry point in Benson is a flat at £292,500, while in Didcot it is a flat at £214,568.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 36% pricier in Benson (£292,500 vs £214,568).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Didcot prices grew faster — 22% vs -4%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Didcot (40.5 per 1,000) compared to Benson (40.7 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Benson is violent-crime, while in Didcot it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South EastSchool quality favours Benson: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Didcot.
Benson School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Didcot School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 13 schools (9 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Benson | Didcot |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 13 |
| Primary | 2 | 9 |
| Secondary | 0 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Didcot enjoy 403.2 Mbps on average, while Benson lags behind at 350.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Benson and 96% in Didcot. Gigabit availability stands at 60.6% in Benson and 75.6% in Didcot.
Didcot is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (403 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Didcot is band C (score 72), ahead of Benson's band C (score 70.9). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,343 in Benson and £1,266 in Didcot. 64.2% of homes in Benson have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.1% in Didcot.
Didcot has more energy-efficient housing — 66.1% reach band C or above, vs 64.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Benson has a population of 5,236 while Didcot has 34,600. Median household income is £38,125 in Didcot and £38,006 in Benson. The median age is 44.8 in Benson and 44.4 in Didcot. Employment rates stand at 62.9% in Benson and 63% in Didcot.
| Indicator | Benson | Didcot |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,236 | 34,600 |
| Median Age | 44.8 | 44.4 |
| Median Household Income | £38,006 | £38,125 |
| Employment Rate | 62.9% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.2% | 69.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.6% | 43.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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