Gloucester vs Oxford
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Gloucester (South West) and Oxford (South East) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Gloucester rates 53/100 (grade D) and Oxford rates 63/100 (grade C). Oxford is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 25/100). Gloucester has the stronger schools, with 80% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Gloucester works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£437 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.
Gloucester vs Oxford: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Oxford leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, affordability, broadband. That said, Gloucester has the edge in schools and transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gloucester or Oxford better to live in?
Oxford leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, affordability, broadband. That said, Gloucester has the edge in schools and transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Gloucester safer than Oxford?
Oxford scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Gloucester (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Gloucester or Oxford?
Gloucester has 15 schools within 3km, with 80% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Oxford has 15 schools nearby, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Gloucester or Oxford?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Gloucester (~£437/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.