Bristol vs Oxford

Which is better to live in? (2026)

54

Bristol

South West

Grade C
63

Oxford

South East

Grade CHigher Overall
Bristol: 2 wins|Oxford: 6 wins

Category Comparison

Bristol
Category
Oxford
54/100
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
BETTER63/100
25/100
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
BETTER48/100
60% Good/Outstanding
๐ŸŽ“Schools
60% Good/Outstanding
92/100BETTER
๐Ÿš†Transport
85/100
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
64/100
~ยฃ426/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
BETTER~ยฃ418/mo
65/100
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
BETTER76/100
33/100
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
BETTER56/100
25/100
๐ŸฅHealthcare
BETTER48/100

Our Verdict

Oxford leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, broadband, environment. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport and affordability, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol or Oxford better to live in?

Oxford leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, broadband, environment. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport and affordability, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Is Bristol safer than Oxford?

Oxford scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Bristol (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Bristol or Oxford?

Bristol 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 Bristol or Oxford?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Oxford (~ยฃ418/month) compared to Bristol (~ยฃ426/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.

Related Comparisons

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.