Nottingham vs Oxford
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Nottingham (East Midlands) and Oxford (South East) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Nottingham rates 57/100 (grade C) and Oxford rates 63/100 (grade C). Oxford is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 25/100). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. 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.
Nottingham vs Oxford: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Oxford leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, broadband, environment. That said, Nottingham has the edge in schools and transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nottingham or Oxford better to live in?
Oxford leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, broadband, environment. That said, Nottingham has the edge in schools and transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Nottingham safer than Oxford?
Oxford scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Nottingham (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Nottingham or Oxford?
Nottingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Oxford has 15 schools nearby, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Nottingham or Oxford?
Monthly bills are similar in both areas (~£459/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.