GeraRent · Area head-to-head
Reading vs Windsor and Maidenhead: which is the better place to live?
Is Reading or Windsor and Maidenhead a better place to live?
As of June 2026, comparing Reading and Windsor and Maidenhead across house prices, crime, schools, broadband and GP access, Reading wins overall with a Gera Liveability Score of 78/100 versus 71.7/100. Gera computes this head-to-head from six UK government open datasets and re-runs it quarterly.
| Measure | Reading | Windsor and Maidenhead | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gera Liveability Score | 78/100 | 71.7/100 | Reading |
| Better value | 52.2 | 55.8 | Windsor and Maidenhead |
| For families | 94.5 | 89.5 | Reading |
| For commuters | 80.1 | 54.6 | Reading |
| For healthcare access | 70 | 70 | Level |
| Avg house price | £345,112 | £565,201 | Reading (cheaper) |
| Band D council tax | £2,613 | £1,953 | Windsor and Maidenhead (lower) |
| Schools Good/Outstanding | 92.3% | 84% | Reading |
| Crime per 1,000 | 64.1 | 64.1 | Level |
| Gigabit broadband | 96.2% | 82.6% | Reading |
| Gera GP Access score | 70 | 70 | Level |
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Reading wins overall: Gera Liveability Score 78/100 vs 71.7/100.
| Verdict | Reading | Windsor and Maidenhead | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 78 | 71.7 | Reading (+6.3) |
| Better value | 52.2 | 55.8 | Windsor and Maidenhead (+3.6) |
| For families | 94.5 | 89.5 | Reading (+5) |
| For commuters | 80.1 | 54.6 | Reading (+25.5) |
| For healthcare access | 70 | 70 | Level |
| Measure | Reading | Windsor and Maidenhead |
|---|---|---|
| Avg house price | £345,112 | £565,201 |
| Band D council tax | £2,613 | £1,953 |
| Schools Good/Outstanding | 92.3% | 84% |
| Crime per 1,000 | 64.1 | 64.1 |
| Gigabit broadband | 96.2% | 82.6% |
| Gera GP Access score | 70 | 70 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Reading or Windsor and Maidenhead a better place to live overall?
- Reading scores higher overall: a Gera Liveability Score of 78/100 versus 71.7/100 (Gera, June 2026), a gap of 6.3 points.
- Which is cheaper to rent and buy, Reading or Windsor and Maidenhead?
- On affordability — average house price plus Band D council tax — Windsor and Maidenhead is better value. Average house prices are £345,112 in Reading and £565,201 in Windsor and Maidenhead; Band D council tax is £2,613 versus £1,953 (HM Land Registry + MHCLG, June 2026).
- Is Reading or Windsor and Maidenhead better for families?
- Weighting schools (60%) and safety (40%), Reading comes out ahead for families. Reading has 92.3% of schools rated Good or Outstanding and a crime rate of 64.1 per 1,000; Windsor and Maidenhead has 84% and 64.1 per 1,000 (Ofsted + Home Office, June 2026).
- Which has better broadband, Reading or Windsor and Maidenhead?
- For connectivity, Reading has 96.2% gigabit-capable premises and Windsor and Maidenhead has 82.6% (Ofcom, June 2026). Reading leads on the commuter blend of broadband (70%) and affordability (30%).
- Is GP access better in Reading or Windsor and Maidenhead?
- On the Gera GP Access score, Reading scores 70 (West and North London ICB) and Windsor and Maidenhead scores 70 (West and North London ICB). The two are level for GP access (NHS England, June 2026).
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Contains public sector information published by GeraRent and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Gera Liveability Index — joined UK government open data (June 2026, published 2026-06-19).