Oxford city centre (OX1) vs Cambridge city centre (CB1)
The two ancient university cities. Both have extreme supply constraints (planning, green belt, conservation), both have global research economies, both have property prices that defy national trends. The differences are subtler than the similarities.
Side-by-side detail
| Metric | Oxford city centre (OX1) | Cambridge city centre (CB1) |
|---|---|---|
| Average sale price | £273,301 | £390,386 |
| Median sale price | £200,000 | £315,000 |
| Sample size | 69 sales | 107 sales |
| Crime incidents (recent) | 460 | 521 |
| Avg EPC score | n/a | n/a |
| Avg annual energy cost | n/a | n/a |
| Local authority | Oxford | Cambridge |
| Country | England | England |
Bottom line
Cambridge (CB1) has the stronger tech-spinout economy (ARM, AstraZeneca, dozens of biotechs) and higher prices over the last decade. Oxford (OX1) has tighter planning constraints and a more diverse employer base (publishing, automotive, BMW Mini at Cowley). Both are high-yield, low-risk for long-hold investors and almost impossible to enter for first-time buyers without substantial capital. The right answer depends on which research economy you back; the data says both have outperformed national averages by 20+% over five years.
Full data
Oxford city centre (OX1)
Sold prices, crime, EPC, demographics
Full data
Cambridge city centre (CB1)
Sold prices, crime, EPC, demographics
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