Town comparison
Botley vs Southampton
Which is better to live in? 5.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Southampton is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 28% lower. Botley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Botley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Botley
£430,994
Southampton
£337,696
Crime Rate
Botley
54.7
Southampton
120.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Botley
100.0%
Southampton
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Botley
406.8
Southampton
417.8
EPC Rating
Botley
73.2
Southampton
70
Median Income
Botley
£35,092
Southampton
£29,874
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Botley commands an average of £430,994, compared with £337,696 in Southampton – a difference of 28%. The most affordable entry point in Botley is a flat at £225,000, while in Southampton it is a flat at £174,283.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 29% pricier in Botley (£225,000 vs £174,283).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Botley prices grew faster — 26% vs 2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastBotley has a crime rate of 54.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 120% lower than Southampton at 120.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Botley is violent-crime, while in Southampton 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 EastFamilies may prefer Botley, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 88% in Southampton. There are 1 schools in Botley and 66 in Southampton.
Botley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Southampton School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 66 schools (53 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Botley | Southampton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 66 |
| Primary | 1 | 53 |
| Secondary | 0 | 13 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 88% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 417.8 Mbps in Southampton and 406.8 Mbps in Botley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Botley and 88.5% in Southampton. Gigabit availability stands at 74.5% in Botley and 80.1% in Southampton.
Southampton is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (418 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Botley, scoring 73.2 on average (band C) compared to 70 (band C) in Southampton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,092 in Botley and £1,003 in Southampton. 71% of homes in Botley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64% in Southampton.
Botley has more energy-efficient housing — 71% reach band C or above, vs 64% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,091.5 in Botley and £29,874 in Southampton. The median age is 44.2 in Botley and 38.7 in Southampton. Employment rates stand at 60.4% in Botley and 57.9% in Southampton. Owner-occupancy is 68.3% in Botley versus 47.7% in Southampton. Botley has a population of 3,143 and Southampton has 249,633.
| Indicator | Botley | Southampton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,143 | 249,633 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 38.7 |
| Median Household Income | £35,091.5 | £29,874 |
| Employment Rate | 60.4% | 57.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.3% | 47.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39% | 31.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Botley and Southampton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Botley or Southampton?
Is Botley or Southampton safer?
Which has better schools, Botley or Southampton?
Which has faster broadband, Botley or Southampton?
Keep exploring