Oxford vs Sunderland
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Oxford (South East) and Sunderland (North East) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Oxford rates 63/100 (grade C) and Sunderland rates 57/100 (grade C). Oxford is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 41/100). Sunderland has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£415 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.
Oxford vs Sunderland: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Oxford comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, broadband, environment. However, Sunderland performs better in schools, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oxford or Sunderland better to live in?
Oxford comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, broadband, environment. However, Sunderland performs better in schools, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Oxford safer than Sunderland?
Oxford scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Sunderland (41/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Oxford or Sunderland?
Oxford has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Oxford or Sunderland?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Sunderland (~£415/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.