Barton
Oxford 005 · 4 sub-areas · 9,045 residents
Oxford 005 is a residential pocket of Oxford, home to around 9,000 people with a notably high share of social housing that sets it apart from much of the city. A typical two-bedroom flat runs about £1,656 a month — still well above the UK average but below the Oxford median. Nearly a quarter of residents are under 18, giving the area a markedly family-oriented feel.
Barton is a green, lower-density part of Oxford — parks within walking distance of most addresses, a slower weekday rhythm, and a population skewed toward longer-tenure households rather than transient renters. The demographic profile leans family-aged, with a clear share of households with school-age children.
Overview
What's it like to live in Barton?
4 parks and 5 playgrounds are within five minutes' walk, so greenspace is reliably close at hand; Crime sits around the national average — neither a notable concern nor a notable selling point; Transport links are limited — a car or e-bike is a practical assumption for most regular trips; rents sit firmly in the upper bracket nationally, with a typical home letting at around £1,952 a month; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 4 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Barton in Oxford
Living in Barton
Oxford 005 sits in a part of the city where the demographic picture looks quite different from the dreaming spires and college quads that dominate Oxford's reputation. Around 40% of households here are in social housing — a share that's unusually high for Oxford and shapes the community's character. It's a settled, family-heavy area: nearly one in four residents is under 18, and couples with children make up almost a fifth of households.
Cost-wise, this is one of the more accessible parts of Oxford, though accessible is relative in a city where prices remain well above most of the UK. A two-bedroom home will cost you around £1,656 a month, and a three-bedroom closer to £2,018 — significant sums, but below what you'd pay in the more central or university-adjacent parts of the city. That said, rents rose around 7% in the past year, so the affordability window is narrowing.
The population is genuinely mixed. The ethnic diversity index sits at 56, and just under two-thirds of residents were born in the UK — both figures reflecting Oxford's status as an international city. Degree-holders make up around 39% of residents, which is high nationally but not unusual for Oxford. Unemployment is low, at around 2.6% on the claimant measure.
Practically speaking, the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 4.8 km away in straight-line terms — a short bus or cycle ride. Oxford's compact size means most errands are manageable without a car, and about 23% of residents work from home. See the streets and sub-areas below for more.
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Frequently asked
- Is Oxford 005 a nice place to live?
- It depends on what you're after. It's one of the more affordable and family-oriented parts of Oxford, with good greenspace access — 90% of residents are within walking distance of green space. The school results within catchment are weaker than the national norm, and crime is slightly above the UK average, but it's a settled community with low unemployment and strong broadband.
- What is the rent in Oxford 005?
- A one-bedroom flat runs around £1,342 a month, a two-bedroom about £1,656, and a three-bedroom roughly £2,018. Rents rose around 7% in the past year. These are estimates based on city-level data scaled by local sale prices, as official figures only go down to the council level.
- Is Oxford 005 safe?
- Crime runs at around 91 incidents per 1,000 residents a year — slightly above the UK national rate of roughly 80. It's not an especially high-crime area in absolute terms, but it sits in the fourth deprivation decile nationally, and crime tends to track deprivation. Most incidents are acquisitive rather than violent.
- What's the commute from Oxford 005 to Oxford city centre?
- Oxford is a compact city, so most of it is reachable by bike or bus within 15–20 minutes. The nearest mainline rail station is about 4.8 km away — a short bus or cycle ride. Around 35% of residents commute by car, and 23% work from home. Public transport use within the city is relatively low at 12.6%.
- Who lives in Oxford 005?
- Mostly a mix of families and younger residents — nearly a quarter of the population is under 18, and 27% are 18–34. Around 40% of households are in social housing, which is high for Oxford. The area is ethnically diverse, with about 35% of residents born outside the UK, reflecting the city's international academic and healthcare workforce.
- What schools are near Oxford 005?
- There are 40 schools within 2 km, so options aren't scarce. However, only around 43% are rated Good or Outstanding within typical catchment distance — well below the national share of around 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is about 4 km away. Individual Ofsted reports are worth checking carefully before committing to an address.
- How does Oxford 005 compare to other Oxford neighbourhoods for rent?
- It sits toward the lower end of the Oxford rental range. A two-bed at around £1,656 a month is meaningful savings versus the more central or university-adjacent parts of the city. The trade-off is weaker school ratings within catchment and a higher share of social housing than wealthier Oxford postcodes.