Town Pop. 1,162

Living in Cold Ash: Liveability Score 50/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Cold Ash scores 50/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, broadband stands out most: 99/100 where the typical UK town scores 60/100. Cold Ash places 3rd of 8 in the RG18 postcode district.

The RG18 district averages 57/100, putting Cold Ash 7 points below its own postcode area. Its broadband score runs 19 points above the RG18 district's 80/100. Safety (94) and economic health (90) also clear 80/100. For the surrounding area, see RG18 postcode district.

50
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.

Cold Ash scores 50 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Cold Ash.
Or compare:
RG18 0AA RG18 3AA RG18 4AA RG18 9AA RG18

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
94
88.6 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 33 crimes
↓ 15% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 16 crimes
↑ 103% above national average
Burglary 15 crimes
↑ 269% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 10 crimes
↓ 43% below national average
Other theft 8 crimes
↑ 11% above national average
other 21 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Sports/Recreation Area 11 crimes
  2. 2 Hampstead Norreys Road 7 crimes
  3. 3 Billington Way 6 crimes

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

Environment
71
Air Quality NO₂ 5.6 · PM2.5 6.1 · PM10 9.9 µg/m³
76
Green Space 59
Parks Ample 8
Sports Pitches Adequate 3
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 2

Services

Schools
30
4 schools in area · 13 within 4km
4Good
  • Cold Ash St Mark's CE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Curridge Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Finian's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
    Good
  • Whitelands Park 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
11
A&E departmentsBasingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital11.4 mi
Royal Berkshire Hospital12.7 mi
Great Western Hospital19.8 mi
Hospital waitsBerkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust1.8 mi
Routine referral (median)4 wks
Treated within 18 weeks100%
A&E seen within 4 hrs99%
Nearest GP surgeryThatcham Health Centre2 mi
GP capacity1,572 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)77.3%
available across West Berkshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
98.8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
98.8%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.9%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 70 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
90
Employment rate63.9%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed63.9%Unemployed2.4%Retired22.4%Student4.4%Other inactive7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial51.6%Skilled & technical30.9%Routine & elementary17.5%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications9.6%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.8%Level 3 (A levels)18.4%Level 4+ (degree & above)42%Apprenticeship3.8%Other (incl. vocational)2.5%
Home ownership75.1%
Among the least-deprived 14% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
42
Council tax West Berkshire · 2026-27
A £1,670
B £1,948
C £2,227
D £2,505
E £3,062
F £3,618
G £4,175
H £5,010
Energy Southern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Thames Water
Average bill regional £489/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
13
Newbury Racecourse 2.9 mi
Thatcham 2.9 mi
Newbury 3.3 mi
J13 M4 2 mi
J13 M4 2.6 mi
J12 M4 8.6 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
23
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness Ample 14

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Cold Ash 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

Ashmore Green 39 0.8 mi away ⇄
Curridge 36 1.4 mi away ⇄
Hermitage 44 1.6 mi away ⇄
Thatcham 56 2.2 mi away ⇄
Upper Bucklebury 45 2.3 mi away ⇄
Chieveley 41 2.7 mi away ⇄
Newbury 55 3.3 mi away ⇄
Greenham 48 3.5 mi away ⇄
Hampstead Norreys 44 3.8 mi away ⇄
Chapel Row 48 3.9 mi away ⇄
Bishop's Green 46 4.0 mi away ⇄
Stanford Dingley 46 4.2 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Cold Ash a nice place to live?

Cold Ash is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Cold Ash is 50/100, 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 Cold Ash?

Cold Ash is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 94/100. There were 103 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Cold Ash?

Among the top-rated schools in Cold Ash are Cold Ash St Mark's CE Primary School, Curridge Primary School and St Finian's Catholic Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 4 rated schools in Cold Ash in total.

Cold Ash in context

See the best places to live in Berkshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Cold Ash

RG18 57 ⇄

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