Town Pop. 391

Living in Blackthorn: Liveability Score 51/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Blackthorn is 51/100, built from 9 categories. Measured against other towns, broadband stands out most: 99/100 where the typical UK town scores 60/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is bills: 29/100 versus a median of 47/100.

Blackthorn places 2nd of 13 in the OX25 postcode district. Against the wider OX25 district average of 38/100, that is 13 points above. On broadband specifically, Blackthorn sits 60 points above the OX25 district figure of 39/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: OX25 postcode district.

51
OUT OF 100
Average
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.

Blackthorn scores 51 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Blackthorn.
Or compare:
OX25 1AA OX25 2AA OX25 3AA OX25 4AA OX25 5AA OX25 6AA OX25

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
92
194.4 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 38 crimes
↑ 192% above national average
Other theft 8 crimes
↑ 231% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 7 crimes
↑ 18% above national average
Vehicle crime 7 crimes
↑ 273% above national average
Public order 5 crimes
↑ 97% above national average
other 11 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Lavender Road 12 crimes
  2. 2 Blenheim Drive 8 crimes
  3. 3 The Green 7 crimes

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

Environment
53
Air Quality NO₂ 6.141 · PM2.5 6.718 · PM10 11.694 µg/m³
73
Green Space 6
Parks Adequate 4
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
24
1 school in area · 4 within 4km
1Good
  • Five Acres Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good

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

Healthcare
25
A&E departmentsJohn Radcliffe Hospital8.8 mi
Stoke Mandeville Hospital13.4 mi
The Horton General Hospital15.9 mi
Hospital waitsMidlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1.6 mi
Routine referral (median)4 wks
Treated within 18 weeks92.8%
Nearest GP surgeryAlchester Medical Group2.2 mi
GP capacity1,936 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

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
99
Full fibre (FTTP)78.8%
available across Cherwell
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
100%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
100%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 13 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
87
Employment rate64.4%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed64.4%Unemployed1.4%Retired23.7%Student3%Other inactive7.5%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial47.3%Skilled & technical31.7%Routine & elementary21%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.9%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.9%Level 3 (A levels)15.9%Level 4+ (degree & above)36%Apprenticeship5.3%Other (incl. vocational)3.1%
Home ownership78.3%
Among the least-deprived 22% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
29
Council tax Cherwell · 2026-27
A £1,722
B £2,009
C £2,296
D £2,583
E £3,157
F £3,731
G £4,305
H £5,166
Energy Southern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band E
Water Thames Water
Average bill regional £489/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
21
Bicester Village 2.6 mi
Bicester North 3.1 mi
Islip 6.7 mi
J9 M40 4.1 mi
J9 M40 4.4 mi
J10 M40 6.6 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
37
Pubs & Bars None
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Blackthorn in the last 12 months, which isn't enough for a reliable median. Smaller villages often fall below this in any given year. Figures come from HM Land Registry Price Paid data and are updated monthly, so this may fill in later.

Nearby places

Ambrosden 51 1.0 mi away ⇄
Upper Arncott 22 1.5 mi away ⇄
Piddington (Cherwell) 30 1.9 mi away ⇄
Launton 51 2.0 mi away ⇄
Marsh Gibbon 42 2.7 mi away ⇄
Ludgershall (Buckinghamshire) 40 2.9 mi away ⇄
Bicester 66 3.1 mi away ⇄
Wendlebury 40 3.8 mi away ⇄
Grendon Underwood 40 3.9 mi away ⇄
Chesterton 47 3.9 mi away ⇄
Stratton Audley 39 4.1 mi away ⇄
Brill 38 4.1 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Blackthorn a nice place to live?

Blackthorn is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Blackthorn is 51/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Blackthorn?

Blackthorn is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 92/100. There were 76 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Blackthorn?

Among the top-rated schools in Blackthorn is Five Acres Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Blackthorn in total.

Blackthorn in context

See the best places to live in Oxfordshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Blackthorn

OX25 38 ⇄

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