Town Pop. 1,895

Living in Watlington (South Oxfordshire): Liveability Score 40/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Watlington (South Oxfordshire) scores 40/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 42/100 against a town median of 60/100. Among the 3 scored places sharing the OX49 postcode district, Watlington (South Oxfordshire) ranks 2nd.

Its economic health score runs 10 points below the OX49 district's 87/100. That is 10 points below the national benchmark of 50, the middle half of all UK towns and villages. Safety (91) also clears 80/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: OX49 postcode district.

40
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.

Watlington (South Oxfordshire) scores 40 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Watlington (South Oxfordshire).
Or compare:
OX49 5AA OX49

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
91
87.6 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 70 crimes
↑ 11% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 16 crimes
↑ 24% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 14 crimes
↓ 51% below national average
Public order 14 crimes
↑ 14% above national average
Other theft 13 crimes
↑ 11% above national average
other 39 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Cuxham Road 20 crimes
  2. 2 Windmill Piece 14 crimes
  3. 3 Supermarket 12 crimes

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

Environment
60
Air Quality NO₂ 5.6 · PM2.5 6.6 · PM10 10.6 µg/m³
74
Green Space 26
Parks Adequate 2
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Adequate 3
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
13
2 schools in area
1Good1Ungraded
  • Icknield Community CollegeSecondary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Watlington Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Healthcare
15
A&E departmentsJohn Radcliffe Hospital11.8 mi
Royal Berkshire Hospital13.2 mi
Stoke Mandeville Hospital13.4 mi
Hospital waitsMidlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust3.9 mi
Routine referral (median)4 wks
Treated within 18 weeks92.8%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,320 patients per GP
1dentist1pharmacy

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
42
Full fibre (FTTP)68%
available across South Oxfordshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
72%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
73.5%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 79 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
77
Employment rate61.6%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed61.6%Unemployed2.4%Retired25.6%Student2.9%Other inactive7.5%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial49%Skilled & technical35.1%Routine & elementary15.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications12.4%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.4%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.3%Level 3 (A levels)14.7%Level 4+ (degree & above)44.3%Apprenticeship4.4%Other (incl. vocational)2.4%
Home ownership69.6%
Among the least-deprived 31% 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 D
Water Thames Water
Average bill regional £489/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
16
Saunderton 8.1 mi
Cholsey 8.3 mi
Princes Risborough 8.6 mi
J6 M40 2.7 mi
J6 M40 2.8 mi
J5 M40 4 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
13
Pubs & Bars Adequate 3
Restaurants & Cafes Some 2
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping Adequate 15
Takeaways Some 1
Fitness Some 1

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £520,000 11
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced
£337k £434k £535k £633k 2022 2023 2024 2025

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

Nearby places

Pyrton 0 0.8 mi away ⇄
Lewknor 41 2.5 mi away ⇄
Ewelme 47 3.2 mi away ⇄
Chalgrove 44 3.6 mi away ⇄
Aston Rowant 35 3.6 mi away ⇄
Benson 46 4.2 mi away ⇄
Kingston Blount 36 4.4 mi away ⇄
Tetsworth 40 4.5 mi away ⇄
Stokenchurch 43 4.7 mi away ⇄
Nettlebed 39 4.8 mi away ⇄
Sydenham 42 5.1 mi away ⇄
Great Haseley 38 5.4 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Watlington (South Oxfordshire) a nice place to live?

Watlington (South Oxfordshire) has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Watlington (South Oxfordshire) is 40/100, 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 Watlington (South Oxfordshire)?

Watlington (South Oxfordshire) is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 91/100. There were 166 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Watlington (South Oxfordshire)?

Among the top-rated schools in Watlington (South Oxfordshire) is Icknield Community College, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 2 rated schools in Watlington (South Oxfordshire) in total.

What are house prices like in Watlington (South Oxfordshire)?

The current median house price in Watlington (South Oxfordshire) is £520,000, around 82% above the England and Wales average. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 37%.

Watlington (South Oxfordshire) in context

See the best places to live in Oxfordshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Watlington (South Oxfordshire)

OX49 39 ⇄

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