Town comparison
Didcot vs Oxford
Which is better to live in? 9.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Didcot is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 34% lower. Didcot has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Didcot edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Didcot
£398,746
Oxford
£602,910
Crime Rate
Didcot
40.5
Oxford
97.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Didcot
100.0%
Oxford
94.3%
Avg Download Speed
Didcot
403.2
Oxford
419.1
EPC Rating
Didcot
72
Oxford
70.7
Median Income
Didcot
£38,125
Oxford
£37,224
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Oxford commands an average of £602,910, compared with £398,746 in Didcot – a difference of 34%. The most affordable entry point in Didcot is a flat at £214,568, while in Oxford it is a flat at £344,155.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 40% pricier in Oxford (£961,527 vs £580,122).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Didcot prices grew faster — 22% vs 8%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastDidcot has a crime rate of 40.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 141% lower than Oxford at 97.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Didcot 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 Didcot, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 94.3% in Oxford. There are 13 schools in Didcot and 42 in Oxford.
Didcot School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 13 schools (9 primary, 4 secondary) 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 | Didcot | Oxford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 42 |
| Primary | 9 | 35 |
| Secondary | 4 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 94.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 419.1 Mbps in Oxford and 403.2 Mbps in Didcot. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Didcot and 97% in Oxford. Gigabit availability stands at 75.6% in Didcot and 77.9% in Oxford.
Oxford is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (419 vs 403 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Didcot, scoring 72 on average (band C) compared to 70.7 (band C) in Oxford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,266 in Didcot and £1,219 in Oxford. 66.1% of homes in Didcot have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.6% in Oxford.
Didcot has more energy-efficient housing — 66.1% reach band C or above, vs 63.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,125 in Didcot and £37,223.5 in Oxford. The median age is 44.4 in Didcot and 40.9 in Oxford. Employment rates stand at 63% in Didcot and 58.2% in Oxford. Owner-occupancy is 69.2% in Didcot versus 57.8% in Oxford. Didcot has a population of 34,600 and Oxford has 169,612.
| Indicator | Didcot | Oxford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,600 | 169,612 |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 40.9 |
| Median Household Income | £38,125 | £37,223.5 |
| Employment Rate | 63% | 58.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.2% | 57.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.8% | 45.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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