Town comparison
Didcot vs Harwell
Which is better to live in? 2.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Didcot is about 4% cheaper on average. Didcot has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Didcot edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Didcot
£398,746
Harwell
£415,434
Crime Rate
Didcot
40.5
Harwell
46.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Didcot
100.0%
Harwell
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Didcot
403.2
Harwell
403.2
EPC Rating
Didcot
72
Harwell
72
Median Income
Didcot
£38,125
Harwell
£38,125
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Didcot more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £398,746 versus £415,434 in Harwell. The most affordable entry point in Didcot is a flat at £214,568, while in Harwell it is a flat at £224,272.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 15% pricier in Harwell (£371,278 vs £315,564).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Didcot prices grew faster — 22% vs 2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 40.5 offences per 1,000 people, Didcot is the safer of the two – 15% lower than Harwell's 46.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Didcot is violent-crime, while in Harwell 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 EastSchool quality favours Didcot: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Harwell.
Didcot School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 13 schools (9 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Didcot | Harwell |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 1 |
| Primary | 9 | 1 |
| Secondary | 4 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Didcot enjoy 403.2 Mbps on average, while Harwell lags behind at 403.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Didcot and 96% in Harwell. Gigabit availability stands at 75.6% in Didcot and 75.6% in Harwell.
Didcot is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (403 vs 403 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Didcot is band C (score 72), ahead of Harwell's band C (score 72). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,266 in Didcot and £1,266 in Harwell. 66.1% of homes in Didcot have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.1% in Harwell.
Didcot has more energy-efficient housing — 66.1% reach band C or above, vs 66.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Didcot has a population of 34,600 while Harwell has 3,067. Median household income is £38,125 in Didcot and £38,125 in Harwell. The median age is 44.4 in Didcot and 44.4 in Harwell. Employment rates stand at 63% in Didcot and 63% in Harwell.
| Indicator | Didcot | Harwell |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,600 | 3,067 |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 44.4 |
| Median Household Income | £38,125 | £38,125 |
| Employment Rate | 63% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.2% | 69.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.8% | 43.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Didcot and Harwell?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Didcot or Harwell?
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