Bicester vs Brackley
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Brackley offers lower property prices by roughly 6%. Bicester has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bicester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bicester
£400,967
Brackley
£377,559
Crime Rate
Bicester
63.6
Brackley
97.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bicester
100.0%
Brackley
80.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bicester
448
Brackley
400.7
EPC Rating
Bicester
71.8
Brackley
71.4
Median Income
Bicester
£36,082
Brackley
£34,420
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Brackley is £377,559, which is 6% less than Bicester at £400,967. The most affordable entry point in Bicester is a flat at £198,084, while in Brackley it is a flat at £197,407.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 10% pricier in Bicester (£371,904 vs £336,792).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brackley prices grew faster — 14% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bicester (63.6 per 1,000) compared to Brackley (97.3 per 1,000), a 53% difference. The most common crime category in Bicester is violent-crime, while in Brackley 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 EastBicester has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 80% in Brackley. Bicester has 13 schools in total, while Brackley has 5.
Bicester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Brackley School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bicester | Brackley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 5 |
| Primary | 10 | 4 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 80% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bicester offers faster average downloads at 448.0 Mbps, compared to 400.7 Mbps in Brackley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.6% of premises in Bicester and 92.7% in Brackley. Gigabit availability stands at 87% in Bicester and 76.5% in Brackley.
Bicester is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (448 vs 401 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bicester are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.8 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Brackley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,188 in Bicester and £1,196 in Brackley. 70.2% of homes in Bicester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.2% in Brackley.
Bicester has more energy-efficient housing — 70.2% reach band C or above, vs 67.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,082 in Bicester and £34,420 in Brackley. The median age is 42.4 in Bicester and 42.5 in Brackley. Employment rates stand at 65.1% in Bicester and 63.2% in Brackley. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Bicester versus 66.6% in Brackley.
| Indicator | Bicester | Brackley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,147 | 16,180 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £36,082 | £34,420 |
| Employment Rate | 65.1% | 63.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 66.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 35.1% | 36% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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