Bicester vs Kidlington
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bicester offers lower property prices by roughly 17%. Bicester has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bicester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bicester
£400,967
Kidlington
£482,476
Crime Rate
Bicester
63.6
Kidlington
63.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bicester
100.0%
Kidlington
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bicester
448
Kidlington
407.3
EPC Rating
Bicester
71.8
Kidlington
70.9
Median Income
Bicester
£36,082
Kidlington
£34,665
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Bicester is £400,967, which is 17% less than Kidlington at £482,476. The most affordable entry point in Bicester is a flat at £198,084, while in Kidlington it is a flat at £274,318.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 28% pricier in Kidlington (£274,318 vs £198,084).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Kidlington prices grew faster — 22% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bicester (63.6 per 1,000) compared to Kidlington (63.7 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Bicester is violent-crime, while in Kidlington 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 100% in Kidlington. Bicester has 13 schools in total, while Kidlington has 5.
Bicester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kidlington School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bicester | Kidlington |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 5 |
| Primary | 10 | 4 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bicester offers faster average downloads at 448.0 Mbps, compared to 407.3 Mbps in Kidlington. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.6% of premises in Bicester and 95.1% in Kidlington. Gigabit availability stands at 87% in Bicester and 76.2% in Kidlington.
Bicester is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (448 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bicester are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.8 (band C) versus 70.9 (band C) in Kidlington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,188 in Bicester and £1,259 in Kidlington. 70.2% of homes in Bicester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.1% in Kidlington.
Bicester has more energy-efficient housing — 70.2% reach band C or above, vs 67.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,082 in Bicester and £34,664.7 in Kidlington. The median age is 42.4 in Bicester and 43.8 in Kidlington. Employment rates stand at 65.1% in Bicester and 63.2% in Kidlington. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Bicester versus 67.3% in Kidlington.
| Indicator | Bicester | Kidlington |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,147 | 14,640 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 43.8 |
| Median Household Income | £36,082 | £34,664.7 |
| Employment Rate | 65.1% | 63.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 67.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 35.1% | 38.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bicester and Kidlington?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bicester or Kidlington?
Is Bicester or Kidlington safer?
Which has better schools, Bicester or Kidlington?
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