Town Pop. 4,755

Living in Benson: Liveability Score 46/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Benson scores 46/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, healthcare stands out most: 35/100 where the typical UK town scores 18/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 32/100 versus a median of 60/100.

Benson places 5th of 12 in the OX10 postcode district. Its healthcare score runs 9 points above the OX10 district's 26/100. Safety (93) and economic health (84) also clear 80/100. For the surrounding area, see OX10 postcode district.

46
OUT OF 100
Below Avg
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Benson scores 46 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Benson.
Or compare:
OX10 0AB OX10 1AS OX10 6AA OX10 7AA OX10 8AA OX10 9AA OX10

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
93
45.6 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 100 crimes
↓ 37% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 25 crimes
↓ 65% below national average
Other theft 20 crimes
↓ 32% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 16 crimes
↓ 50% below national average
Burglary 14 crimes
↓ 17% below national average
other 42 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Cheneys Piece 32 crimes
  2. 2 Petrol Station 17 crimes
  3. 3 Triggs Mead 15 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
56
Air Quality NO₂ 6.4 · PM2.5 6.6 · PM10 10.6 µg/m³
74
Green Space 17
Parks Ample 6
Sports Pitches Ample 6
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 2
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Ample 9

Services

Schools
30
3 schools in area · 9 within 4km
3Good
  • Benson Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Ewelme CofE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • RAF Benson Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
35
A&E departmentsJohn Radcliffe Hospital10.4 mi
Royal Berkshire Hospital11.8 mi
Stoke Mandeville Hospital16.9 mi
Hospital waitsMidlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust3.7 mi
Routine referral (median)4 wks
Treated within 18 weeks92.8%
1 GP surgery in area 2 within 4km best 'Outstanding'
GP capacity1,433 patients per GP
2dentists1pharmacy

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
32
Full fibre (FTTP)68%
available across South Oxfordshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
62.3%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
69%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.2%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 140 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
84
Employment rate67.5%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed67.5%Unemployed1.7%Retired21.2%Student2.8%Other inactive6.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial53.1%Skilled & technical32.7%Routine & elementary14.3%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications9.4%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)6.6%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)12.4%Level 3 (A levels)22%Level 4+ (degree & above)43.1%Apprenticeship4.4%Other (incl. vocational)2.2%
Home ownership63.7%
Among the least-deprived 19% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
33
Council tax South Oxfordshire · 2026-27
A £1,732
B £2,021
C £2,309
D £2,598
E £3,175
F £3,753
G £4,330
H £5,196
Energy Southern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band C
Water Thames Water
Average bill regional £489/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
19
Cholsey 4.3 mi
Didcot Parkway 6.4 mi
Appleford 6.5 mi
J6 M40 6.9 mi
J6 M40 6.9 mi
J7 M40 7.5 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
23
Pubs & Bars Adequate 3
Restaurants & Cafes Some 3
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 2
Retail Shopping Adequate 10
Takeaways Some 3
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £433,750 30
Detached £600,000 11
Semi-detached £395,000 12
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi
£399k £499k £603k £704k 2022 2023 2024 2025

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Ewelme 47 1.0 mi away ⇄
Crowmarsh Gifford 29 1.4 mi away ⇄
Wallingford 55 2.0 mi away ⇄
Warborough and Shillingford 45 2.2 mi away ⇄
Brightwell-cum-Sotwell 44 2.8 mi away ⇄
Drayton St Leonard 36 3.6 mi away ⇄
Dorchester (South Oxfordshire) 46 3.6 mi away ⇄
Chalgrove 44 3.8 mi away ⇄
Cholsey 47 3.9 mi away ⇄
Watlington (South Oxfordshire) 40 4.2 mi away ⇄
North Moreton 46 4.2 mi away ⇄
Berinsfield 48 4.6 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Benson a nice place to live?

Benson has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Benson is 46/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Benson?

Benson is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 93/100. There were 217 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Benson?

Among the top-rated schools in Benson are Benson Church of England Primary School, Ewelme CofE Primary School and RAF Benson Community Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 3 rated schools in Benson in total.

What are house prices like in Benson?

The current median house price in Benson is £433,750, around 52% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £600,000, semi-detached £395,000. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 8%. There were 30 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Benson in context

See where Benson ranks among the best places to live in Oxfordshire

Postcode districts in Benson

OX10 48 ⇄

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