Town comparison
Cholsey vs Oxford
Which is better to live in? 12.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Cholsey is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 27% lower. Cholsey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cholsey edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cholsey
£437,338
Oxford
£602,910
Crime Rate
Cholsey
40.3
Oxford
97.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cholsey
100.0%
Oxford
94.3%
Avg Download Speed
Cholsey
350.1
Oxford
419.1
EPC Rating
Cholsey
70.9
Oxford
70.7
Median Income
Cholsey
£38,006
Oxford
£37,224
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Oxford commands an average of £602,910, compared with £437,338 in Cholsey – a difference of 27%. The most affordable entry point in Cholsey is a flat at £307,292, while in Oxford it is a flat at £344,155.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 38% pricier in Oxford (£961,527 vs £592,367).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cholsey prices grew faster — 17% vs 8%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCholsey has a crime rate of 40.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 142% lower than Oxford at 97.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Cholsey is violent-crime, while in Oxford 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 Cholsey, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 94.3% in Oxford. There are 1 schools in Cholsey and 42 in Oxford.
Cholsey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Oxford School Inspection Breakdown
94.3% of 42 schools (35 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cholsey | Oxford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 42 |
| Primary | 1 | 35 |
| Secondary | 0 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 94.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 419.1 Mbps in Oxford and 350.1 Mbps in Cholsey. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Cholsey and 97% in Oxford. Gigabit availability stands at 60.6% in Cholsey and 77.9% in Oxford.
Oxford is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (419 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Cholsey, scoring 70.9 on average (band C) compared to 70.7 (band C) in Oxford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,343 in Cholsey and £1,219 in Oxford. 64.2% of homes in Cholsey have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.6% in Oxford.
Cholsey has more energy-efficient housing — 64.2% reach band C or above, vs 63.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,006 in Cholsey and £37,223.5 in Oxford. The median age is 44.8 in Cholsey and 40.9 in Oxford. Employment rates stand at 62.9% in Cholsey and 58.2% in Oxford. Owner-occupancy is 70.2% in Cholsey versus 57.8% in Oxford. Cholsey has a population of 3,776 and Oxford has 169,612.
| Indicator | Cholsey | Oxford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,776 | 169,612 |
| Median Age | 44.8 | 40.9 |
| Median Household Income | £38,006 | £37,223.5 |
| Employment Rate | 62.9% | 58.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.2% | 57.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.6% | 45.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cholsey and Oxford?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Cholsey or Oxford?
Is Cholsey or Oxford safer?
Which has better schools, Cholsey or Oxford?
Which has faster broadband, Cholsey or Oxford?
Keep exploring