The Office of National Statistics (ONS) published the 2021 update to the Rural Urban Classification (RUC) on the 22nd August 2025. This Oxfordshire Data Hub page explains the definitions for the classification.
Output Areas
The smallest area the RUC is produced at is Output Area (OA). Oxfordshire has 2,201 OAs each with an average population of 300 people.
Using the residential density, 64% (1410 OAs) are classed as Urban and 16% (359) are Larger rural and 20% (432) as Smaller rural.
According to Relative access (to major towns and cities), 32% (699 OAs) are further than 30 minutes’ drive from a major settlement and 68% (1,502 OAs) are nearer to a major settlement.
| Settlement class (residential density) | Relative access (to a major settlement) | Output Areas | Percentage of OAs | Population | Percentage of population |
| Urban | Nearer | 995 | 45% | 339,367 | 47% |
| Urban | Further | 415 | 19% | 130,937 | 18% |
| Larger rural | Nearer | 255 | 12% | 85,725 | 12% |
| Larger rural | Further | 104 | 5% | 33,940 | 5% |
| Smaller rural | Nearer | 252 | 11% | 81,174 | 11% |
| Smaller rural | Further | 180 | 8% | 54,132 | 7% |
Lower-layer Super Output Areas
The next largest area is Lower-layer Super Output Areas (LSOA). LSOAs are groupings of around 3 or 4 OAs. These areas follow the same method and measures as Output Areas. The below dashboard shows the four Rural Urban Classification measures.
The urban-rural flag is a broad grouping based on settlement class. In this classification, the urban areas in Oxfordshire are Oxford and the county’s larger towns. Settlement class gives more detail within the rural category by separating it into “larger” and “smaller” rural areas. Larger rural areas include the smaller towns and bigger villages, as well as some newer housing developments located on the edges of urban areas.
The Relative Access Map shows which LSOAs are within a 30‑minute drive of a large town or city (defined as having a population of over 100,000). The areas closest to Oxford, Reading, and Swindon appear as having good access. Some places that are further away also show good access if they are close to major roads such as motorways or dual carriageways.
Local Authority District
The accompanying table breaks down individual local authority districts using two main factors: settlement class and relative access. For districts, the measure works slightly differently because it is based on the number of output areas within each council. This means some settlement class categories appear in only small numbers for certain districts.
Oxford is the most urban district, reflecting its dense population. In contrast, South and West Oxfordshire are the most rural. However, the pattern changes when looking at Relative access. West Oxfordshire has the highest proportion of areas within 30 minutes of a large town or city, followed by Cherwell. This is because only certain parts of these districts fall within a 30-minute drive of Oxford, while the other districts also benefit from proximity to major towns such as Reading and Swindon.
| Council | Settlement class (population in rural Output Areas) | Relative access (population in Output Areas further from a major town or city) | ||
| Cherwell | Intermediate urban | 28.8% | Majority further from a major town or city | 55.7% |
| Oxford | Urban | 0.8% | Majority nearer to a major town or city | 0% |
| South Oxfordshire | Majority rural | 59.7% | Majority nearer to a major town or city | 4.1% |
| Vale of White Horse | Intermediate rural | 39.1% | Majority nearer to a major town or city | 20.2% |
| West Oxfordshire | Majority rural | 55.9% | Majority further from a major town or city | 83.4% |
Cherwell
In Cherwell, 71% of residents live in Urban OAs, 8% in Larger rural areas, and 21% in Smaller rural areas. For the access measure, the district divides broadly into north and south. Bicester and the southern areas lie near the major settlement of Oxford, while northern areas are further from large settlements.
Oxford
Oxford is almost entirely urban, with over 99% of its OAs classified as Urban. Only four (0.8%) are classed as Larger rural, covering Wolvercote where lower housing density reflects the presence of Port Meadow and surrounding farmland. All areas are classified as being near a major settlement because Oxford itself is one.
South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire is predominantly rural (60%). Nearly all OAs (96%) are close to major settlements due to the district’s position between Oxford and Reading. Urban areas (40%, or 186 OAs) include Didcot, Henley, Thame, and areas bordering southern Oxford. Larger rural areas comprise 29% (135 OAs), and Smaller Rural areas account for the remainder. Only 4% (19 OAs), located in villages south of Didcot, are further than 30 minutes from a major settlement.
Vale of White Horse
Vale of White Horse is classified as Intermediate rural, with 80% of OAs near major towns including Oxford, Reading, and Swindon. Urban OAs represent 61% (264 OAs); Larger rural areas make up 19% (82 OAs); and Smaller rural areas form the remaining 20% (85 OAs). Around 79% of OAs are within 30 minutes of a major settlement. Areas further away include those near Wantage and Blewbury, while areas near trunk roads such as the A34 and A420 benefit from extended drive-time accessibility.
West Oxfordshire
West Oxfordshire is predominantly rural, with 56% of residents living in Rural OAs and 83% living more than 30 minutes from a major settlement. Urban OAs account for 44% (159 OAs), largely around Carterton and Witney. Rural areas are split evenly between Larger (103 OAs) and Smaller (102 OAs) Rural categories. Areas closer to major settlements lie in the east of the district, particularly near Woodstock and Eynsham, which have shorter drive times into Oxford via the A40 and A44.
Sources and Further Reading
Source: ONS Rural-Urban Classification 2021 (table Local Authority Districts (2024) in EW | Open Geography Portal
This Oxfordshire Data Hub page explains the definitions for the classification.