Oxford vs York

Which is better to live in? (2026)

63

Oxford

South East

Grade CHigher Overall
60

York

Yorkshire and The Humber

Grade C
Oxford: 4 wins|York: 5 wins

Category Comparison

Oxford
Category
York
63/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
60/100
48/100BETTER
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
25/100
60% Good/Outstanding
๐ŸŽ“Schools
BETTER67% Good/Outstanding
85/100
๐Ÿš†Transport
BETTER88/100
64/100
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
BETTER79/100
~ยฃ418/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
BETTER~ยฃ407/mo
76/100BETTER
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
70/100
56/100BETTER
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
41/100
48/100
๐ŸฅHealthcare
BETTER56/100

Our Verdict

Oxford and York are closely matched overall. Oxford performs better in crime safety and broadband, while York has the advantage in schools and transport. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oxford or York better to live in?

Oxford and York are closely matched overall. Oxford performs better in crime safety and broadband, while York has the advantage in schools and transport. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.

Is Oxford safer than York?

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

Which has better schools, Oxford or York?

Oxford has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. York has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Oxford or York?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in York (~ยฃ407/month) compared to Oxford (~ยฃ418/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.