Carterton vs Wantage
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Wantage is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 11% lower. Carterton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Wantage edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Carterton
£480,214
Wantage
£434,326
Crime Rate
Carterton
43.6
Wantage
46.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Carterton
83.3%
Wantage
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Carterton
446.4
Wantage
405.2
EPC Rating
Carterton
68.4
Wantage
71.4
Median Income
Carterton
£32,133
Wantage
£37,481
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £434,326, Wantage undercuts Carterton (£480,214) by around 11% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Carterton is a flat at £280,296, while in Wantage it is a flat at £242,045.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Carterton (£280,296 vs £242,045).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Carterton prices grew faster — 44% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCarterton has a crime rate of 43.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 6% lower than Wantage at 46.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Carterton 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 EastOf the 6 schools in Carterton, 83.3% are in the top two inspection bands. In Wantage, which has 5 schools, the figure is 100%.
Carterton School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) 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 | Carterton | Wantage |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 5 |
| Primary | 5 | 4 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Carterton averages 446.4 Mbps – ahead of Wantage's 405.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Carterton and 96% in Wantage. Gigabit availability stands at 84.1% in Carterton and 78% in Wantage.
Carterton is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (446 vs 405 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Wantage, scoring 71.4 on average (band C) compared to 68.4 (band C) in Carterton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,534 in Carterton and £1,252 in Wantage. 58.4% of homes in Carterton 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 58.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,481 in Wantage and £32,132.5 in Carterton. The median age is 47.3 in Carterton and 44 in Wantage. Employment rates stand at 60.3% in Carterton and 63% in Wantage. Owner-occupancy is 65.9% in Carterton versus 67.9% in Wantage. Carterton has a population of 17,765 and Wantage has 13,100.
| Indicator | Carterton | Wantage |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,765 | 13,100 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 44 |
| Median Household Income | £32,132.5 | £37,481 |
| Employment Rate | 60.3% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.9% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39% | 40.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Carterton and Wantage?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Carterton or Wantage?
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