Benson vs Wantage
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Wantage is about 17% 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
Wantage
£434,326
Crime Rate
Benson
40.7
Wantage
46.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Benson
100.0%
Wantage
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Benson
350.1
Wantage
405.2
EPC Rating
Benson
70.9
Wantage
71.4
Median Income
Benson
£38,006
Wantage
£37,481
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Wantage is £434,326, which is 17% less than Benson at £508,330. The most affordable entry point in Benson is a flat at £292,500, while in Wantage it is a flat at £242,045.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 21% pricier in Benson (£292,500 vs £242,045).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Wantage prices grew faster — 21% vs -4%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Benson (40.7 per 1,000) compared to Wantage (46.4 per 1,000), a 14% difference. The most common crime category in Benson is violent-crime, while in Wantage 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 Wantage. Benson has 2 schools in total, while Wantage has 5.
Benson School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wantage School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Benson | Wantage |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 5 |
| Primary | 2 | 4 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Wantage offers faster average downloads at 405.2 Mbps, compared to 350.1 Mbps in Benson. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Benson and 96% in Wantage. Gigabit availability stands at 60.6% in Benson and 78% in Wantage.
Wantage is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (405 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Wantage are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 70.9 (band C) in Benson. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,343 in Benson and £1,252 in Wantage. 64.2% of homes in Benson have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.4% in Wantage.
Wantage has more energy-efficient housing — 64.4% reach band C or above, vs 64.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,006 in Benson and £37,481 in Wantage. The median age is 44.8 in Benson and 44 in Wantage. Employment rates stand at 62.9% in Benson and 63% in Wantage. Owner-occupancy is 70.2% in Benson versus 67.9% in Wantage.
| Indicator | Benson | Wantage |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,236 | 13,100 |
| Median Age | 44.8 | 44 |
| Median Household Income | £38,006 | £37,481 |
| Employment Rate | 62.9% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.2% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.6% | 40.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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