Bourton-on-the-Water vs Chipping Norton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bourton On The Water offers lower property prices by roughly 24%. Chipping Norton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bourton On The Water edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bourton-on-the-Water
£480,214
Chipping Norton
£629,572
Crime Rate
Bourton-on-the-Water
45.0
Chipping Norton
43.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bourton-on-the-Water
100.0%
Chipping Norton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bourton-on-the-Water
359.1
Chipping Norton
443.4
EPC Rating
Bourton-on-the-Water
70.3
Chipping Norton
69.8
Median Income
Bourton-on-the-Water
£32,307
Chipping Norton
£32,981
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Bourton On The Water is £480,214, which is 24% less than Chipping Norton at £629,572. The most affordable entry point in Bourton On The Water is a flat at £280,296, while in Chipping Norton it is a flat at £235,885.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 25% pricier in Chipping Norton (£502,635 vs £376,473).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chipping Norton prices grew faster — 47% vs 44%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 43.5 offences per 1,000 people, Chipping Norton is the safer of the two – 3% lower than Bourton On The Water's 45 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bourton On The Water is violent-crime, while in Chipping Norton 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 WestBourton On The Water has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Chipping Norton. Bourton On The Water has 2 schools in total, while Chipping Norton has 3.
Bourton-on-the-Water School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Chipping Norton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bourton-on-the-Water | Chipping Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 3 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Chipping Norton offers faster average downloads at 443.4 Mbps, compared to 359.1 Mbps in Bourton On The Water. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Bourton On The Water and 96.2% in Chipping Norton. Gigabit availability stands at 67.7% in Bourton On The Water and 86.7% in Chipping Norton.
Chipping Norton is the faster of the two by 23% on average download speed (443 vs 359 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bourton On The Water are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.3 (band C) versus 69.8 (band C) in Chipping Norton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,290 in Bourton On The Water and £1,428 in Chipping Norton. 63.4% of homes in Bourton On The Water have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.4% in Chipping Norton.
Bourton On The Water has more energy-efficient housing — 63.4% reach band C or above, vs 62.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,980.8 in Chipping Norton and £32,306.7 in Bourton On The Water. The median age is 46.1 in Bourton On The Water and 46.3 in Chipping Norton. Employment rates stand at 59.3% in Bourton On The Water and 61.1% in Chipping Norton. Owner-occupancy is 66.5% in Bourton On The Water versus 66.9% in Chipping Norton.
| Indicator | Bourton-on-the-Water | Chipping Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,177 | 6,991 |
| Median Age | 46.1 | 46.3 |
| Median Household Income | £32,306.7 | £32,980.8 |
| Employment Rate | 59.3% | 61.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.5% | 66.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.6% | 38.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bourton On The Water and Chipping Norton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bourton On The Water or Chipping Norton?
Is Bourton On The Water or Chipping Norton safer?
Which has better schools, Bourton On The Water or Chipping Norton?
Which has faster broadband, Bourton On The Water or Chipping Norton?
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