Bath vs Oxford

Which is better to live in? (2026)

62

Bath

South West

Grade C
63

Oxford

South East

Grade CHigher Overall
Bath: 4 wins|Oxford: 3 wins

Bath (South West) and Oxford (South East) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Bath rates 62/100 (grade C) and Oxford rates 63/100 (grade C). Bath works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£440 versus ~£459). The full side-by-side breakdown of crime, schools, transport, affordability, broadband, environment and healthcare is below, followed by our verdict on which area fits which kind of buyer.

Bath vs Oxford: Category Comparison

Bath
Category
Oxford
62/100
🏆Overall Score
BETTER63/100
48/100
🔒Crime Safety
48/100
60% Good/Outstanding
🎓Schools
60% Good/Outstanding
88/100BETTER
🚆Transport
85/100
72/100BETTER
💷Affordability
64/100
~£440/moBETTER
🧾Monthly Bills
~£459/mo
65/100
📶Broadband
BETTER76/100
25/100
🌿Environment
BETTER56/100
64/100BETTER
🏥Healthcare
48/100

Our Verdict

Bath and Oxford are closely matched overall. Bath performs better in transport and affordability, while Oxford has the advantage in broadband and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bath or Oxford better to live in?

Bath and Oxford are closely matched overall. Bath performs better in transport and affordability, while Oxford has the advantage in broadband and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.

Is Bath safer than Oxford?

Bath and Oxford have similar crime safety scores (48/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Bath or Oxford?

Bath has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Oxford has 15 schools nearby, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Bath or Oxford?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Bath (~£440/month) compared to Oxford (~£459/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.

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Data sources: Scores are estimated using pre-loaded data from MHCLG Indices of Deprivation, Ofsted/GIAS school ratings, DfT Transport Connectivity 2025, MHCLG council tax data, Ofgem energy price cap, and regional averages. For full live data from 20+ government sources, view the individual town reports. Data provided under the Open Government Licence v3.0.