Town comparison
Oxford vs Reading
Which is better to live in? 23.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Reading offers lower property prices by roughly 28%. Oxford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Reading edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Oxford
£602,910
Reading
£471,265
Crime Rate
Oxford
17.7
Reading
27.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Oxford
94.3%
Reading
95.7%
Avg Download Speed
Oxford
419.1
Reading
455.2
EPC Rating
Oxford
70.7
Reading
71.4
Median Income
Oxford
£37,224
Reading
£36,478
House Prices (2025)
Buyers will find Reading more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £471,265 versus £602,910 in Oxford. The most affordable entry point in Oxford is a flat at £344,155, while in Reading it is a flat at £236,379.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 50% pricier in Oxford (£529,046 vs £351,951).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Reading prices grew faster — 20% vs 8%.
Crime & Safety
With 17.7 offences per 1,000 people, Oxford is the safer of the two – 54% lower than Reading's 27.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Oxford is violent-crime, while in Reading it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
School quality favours Reading: 95.7% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 94.3% in Oxford.
Oxford School Inspection Breakdown
94.3% of 42 schools (35 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Reading School Inspection Breakdown
95.7% of 61 schools (48 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Oxford | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 42 | 61 |
| Primary | 35 | 48 |
| Secondary | 7 | 13 |
| % Top two bands | 94.3% | 95.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Reading enjoy 455.2 Mbps on average, while Oxford lags behind at 419.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Oxford and 97.3% in Reading. Gigabit availability stands at 77.9% in Oxford and 88.6% in Reading.
Reading is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (455 vs 419 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Reading is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Oxford's band C (score 70.7). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,219 in Oxford and £1,099 in Reading. 63.6% of homes in Oxford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.4% in Reading.
Reading has more energy-efficient housing — 66.4% reach band C or above, vs 63.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Oxford has a population of 169,612 while Reading has 203,097. Median household income is £37,223.5 in Oxford and £36,478 in Reading. The median age is 40.9 in Oxford and 40.1 in Reading. Employment rates stand at 58.2% in Oxford and 63.2% in Reading.
| Indicator | Oxford | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 169,612 | 203,097 |
| Median Age | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Median Household Income | £37,223.5 | £36,478 |
| Employment Rate | 58.2% | 63.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 57.8% | 63.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 45.9% | 43.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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