Oakley
Cheltenham 006 · 4 sub-areas · 6,122 residents
Cheltenham 006 is a residential pocket of Cheltenham, home to around 6,100 people and sitting notably below the UK's median two-bedroom rent. A typical two-bedroom flat lets for about £1,073 a month — well under the national benchmark of around £1,200. A high social-housing share and strong greenspace access set it apart from much of the rest of the town.
Oakley is a green, lower-density part of Cheltenham — 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 Oakley?
2 parks and 1 playgrounds are within five minutes' walk, so greenspace is reliably close at hand; Recorded crime is higher than the national norm — common for built-up urban areas, but worth weighing if you're looking for a quieter base; Public transport is genuinely strong; most errands and a fair share of social life don't need a car; rents are roughly in line with the national norm, at around £1,233 a month for a typical home; 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.
Oakley in Cheltenham
Living in Oakley
Cheltenham 006 has a noticeably different character from the spa-town image that defines much of Cheltenham. With over a third of households in social housing — around 34% — this is one of the more mixed-tenure parts of the town, and that shapes the feel on the ground: quieter, more settled, and considerably more affordable than the Regency streets closer to the centre.
The cost picture is one of the most compelling reasons to consider this area. A two-bedroom home runs roughly £1,073 a month, and a one-bedroom flat is around £851 — both meaningfully below what you'd pay in the town's more central or westerly neighbourhoods. Even a three-bedroom comes in at around £1,323, which compares well against comparable South West towns. The trade-off is that the commuter picture is largely car-dependent: around half of residents drive to work, and public transport accounts for only about 4% of journeys.
Who lives here skews toward families and longer-term residents. Around one in four residents is under 18 — higher than you'd expect in the town's younger professional zones — and couples with children make up roughly a fifth of households. Owner-occupation sits at just over 52%, which is solid but lower than Cheltenham's more affluent enclaves. The deprivation index score of 29.6 puts this area in the lower third nationally, so it's worth understanding that some pockets face real socioeconomic pressures.
Greenspace is a genuine strong point: nearly 90% of residents are within easy walking distance of a park or green area, with the average distance to greenspace just 177 metres. That's well above what most urban neighbourhoods in England can offer. Broadband is fully gigabit-capable across the area, with zero connections below the minimum standard. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on where the pricier and quieter pockets sit.
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Frequently asked
- Is Cheltenham 006 a nice place to live?
- It depends on your priorities. It's more affordable than much of Cheltenham, with excellent greenspace access — nearly 90% of residents are within easy walking distance of a park. The trade-off is a higher-than-average crime rate and a below-average share of highly rated schools nearby. It suits families and settled residents more than young professionals.
- What is the rent in Cheltenham 006?
- A one-bedroom flat runs around £851 a month, a two-bedroom around £1,073, and a three-bedroom around £1,323. These are estimates scaled from town-level data using local sale prices. The two-bed figure is below the UK national median, making this one of the more affordable parts of Cheltenham.
- Is Cheltenham 006 safe?
- The crime rate is around 98 incidents per 1,000 residents a year — above the UK national rate of roughly 80 per 1,000. It's not the highest in Cheltenham, but it's elevated. Crime tends to concentrate in specific streets rather than being spread evenly, so it's worth checking the exact area you're considering.
- What's the commute from Cheltenham 006 to Birmingham?
- By public transport, Birmingham is around 81 minutes from Cheltenham. The nearest mainline rail station is approximately 3,400 metres from the neighbourhood — realistically a short drive rather than a walk. Most residents here commute by car, with public transport used by only around 4% of workers.
- Who lives in Cheltenham 006?
- Primarily families and longer-term residents. Around one in four is under 18, and couples with children make up about a fifth of households. Over half of homes are owner-occupied, but a significant 34% are social housing — well above the Cheltenham average. It's more settled than it is transient.
- What schools are near Cheltenham 006?
- There are 43 schools within typical catchment distance, but only around 51% are rated Good or Outstanding — well below the national share of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is about 2,650 metres away. If school quality is a priority, checking individual catchment boundaries is strongly advised before choosing a street.
- How affordable is Cheltenham 006 compared to the rest of Cheltenham?
- It's one of the more affordable parts of town. A two-bedroom flat at around £1,073 a month sits below the UK national median rent. The higher social-housing share and relatively modest private rental stock keep prices lower than Cheltenham's central and western neighbourhoods.