Cambridge (East of England) and Oxford (South East) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Cambridge rates 77/100 (grade B) and Oxford rates 63/100 (grade C). Cambridge is the safer of the two on crime (95/100 versus 48/100). Cambridge works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£443 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.
Cambridge vs Oxford: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Oxford leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport, broadband, environment. That said, Cambridge has the edge in crime safety and affordability, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambridge or Oxford better to live in?
Oxford leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport, broadband, environment. That said, Cambridge has the edge in crime safety and affordability, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Cambridge safer than Oxford?
Cambridge scores higher for crime safety (95/100) compared to Oxford (48/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Cambridge or Oxford?
Cambridge 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 Cambridge or Oxford?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cambridge (~£443/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.