Benson vs Harwell
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Harwell is about 22% cheaper on average. Benson has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Benson edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Benson
£508,330
Harwell
£415,434
Crime Rate
Benson
40.7
Harwell
46.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Benson
100.0%
Harwell
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Benson
350.1
Harwell
403.2
EPC Rating
Benson
70.9
Harwell
72
Median Income
Benson
£38,006
Harwell
£38,125
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Harwell is £415,434, which is 22% less than Benson at £508,330. The most affordable entry point in Benson is a flat at £292,500, while in Harwell it is a flat at £224,272.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 30% pricier in Benson (£292,500 vs £224,272).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harwell prices grew faster — 2% vs -4%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Benson (40.7 per 1,000) compared to Harwell (46.6 per 1,000), a 14% difference. The most common crime category in Benson is violent-crime, while in Harwell 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 EastBenson has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Harwell. Benson has 2 schools in total, while Harwell has 1.
Benson School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Benson | Harwell |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 1 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Harwell offers faster average downloads at 403.2 Mbps, compared to 350.1 Mbps in Benson. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Benson and 96% in Harwell. Gigabit availability stands at 60.6% in Benson and 75.6% in Harwell.
Harwell is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (403 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Harwell are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 70.9 (band C) in Benson. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,343 in Benson and £1,266 in Harwell. 64.2% of homes in Benson have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.1% in Harwell.
Harwell has more energy-efficient housing — 66.1% reach band C or above, vs 64.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,125 in Harwell and £38,006 in Benson. The median age is 44.8 in Benson and 44.4 in Harwell. Employment rates stand at 62.9% in Benson and 63% in Harwell. Owner-occupancy is 70.2% in Benson versus 69.2% in Harwell.
| Indicator | Benson | Harwell |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,236 | 3,067 |
| 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
How far apart are Benson and Harwell?
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