Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
OX16 · Oxfordshire
358
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
OX12 · Oxfordshire
88
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Wantage has less crime — 88 vs 358 incidents in February 2026.
Banbury recorded substantially more crime than Wantage in February 2026 — 358 incidents compared to 88, a 4.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Banbury sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (46) and Shoplifting (44), while Wantage has more Anti-social behaviour (9) and Other theft (8). Banbury sits above the national average for recorded crime while Wantage is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on February 2026 Police data, Wantage recorded fewer crimes than Banbury — 88 vs 358 incidents. That is 75% fewer crimes. Wantage is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Banbury saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson and Shoplifting while Wantage had more Anti-social behaviour and Other theft. Overall, Wantage recorded fewer total crimes (88 vs 358).