What it's like to live in Eton

Only 12.6% of homes in the borough are socially rented, below the England figure of 17.1%, and just 1.2% are council-owned. Two thirds are owner-occupied. That tells you plainly: social homes here are scarce and turnover is slow.

The biggest social landlords in the area are Housing Solutions with 3,581 homes and Abri Group with 3,294, followed by The Riverside Group, Metropolitan Housing Trust and A2Dominion South.

Average weekly social rents for 2024/25 were £128 for a one bed, £147 for two and £168 for three. Private rents in this part of Berkshire are far higher, which is part of why swaps are worth chasing.

The age mix across the borough leans slightly older than England, with 27.9% aged 45 to 64 and 18.5% over 65.

Eton Porny C of E First School is in the town itself, and there are several more primaries within a mile, including St George's School Windsor Castle, Trinity St Stephen's Church of England First School and Saint Edward's Catholic First School. A Polish Saturday school also runs about a mile away.

For older children, The Green Room School is 0.7 miles away and Churchmead School is 1.3 miles, with Long Close School & Nursery at a similar distance. Check catchments and admissions with the council before you commit, as being close does not guarantee a place.

Outdoor space is easy. Barnes Pool, South Meadow and Brocas Park are all within a third of a mile, and the swan and duck feeding area by the river is a reliable free afternoon out.

Across the wider borough, 19.2% of residents are under 16, a shade above the England average.

Eton is a walking place first. The high street, the river, the parks and Windsor town centre are all within half a mile or so, and the bridge into Windsor is for pedestrians and cyclists.

For trains, Windsor & Eton Riverside is about 0.3 miles away and Windsor & Eton Central about 0.4 miles, giving you two separate lines from one small town. Slough station is 1.7 miles off, and Datchet 1.4 miles. That is an unusually good spread of options for a place of this size.

Buses run from Windsor Bridge, about 0.2 miles away, with more stops at Riverside Rail Station and Castle Hill.

If you drive, be realistic: the streets are narrow and old, parking is tight, and visitor traffic is part of life here. Many households manage well without a car.

The riverside is the main draw. Brocas Park and South Meadow give you open grass and Thames views, and the walk over the bridge into Windsor takes minutes.

Eton's high street has plenty of pubs and places to eat for a town this size, including No 19 Eton Wine Bar, the Christopher Hotel, Henry VI, The Cockpit and The George Inn. Windsor adds more, with bars, The Scotch, Labyrinth nightclub and the annual Windsor & Eton Pride.

For shopping there is Windsor Royal about half a mile away, plus The Village Shopping Centre and the Observatory Shopping Centre in Slough within a couple of miles.

The Old Court Artspace, under a mile off, covers films and arts events. Gyms are scattered close by, from small personal training studios in Eton to Wrens Club and Gas Station Fitness in Windsor.

The Windsor and Maidenhead area does well on work. Around 61.7% of adults are in employment, above the England figure of 57.4%, and unemployment sits at 3.1% against 3.5% nationally. Benefit claims among 16 to 64 year olds were 2.5% in August 2026, compared with 4% across England.

Eton itself is small, so most jobs are elsewhere. Hospitality, retail and tourism around Windsor are visible employers, and Windsor Royal and the Slough shopping centres add more.

The two Windsor stations and Slough station make commuting practical without a car, which matters if you are weighing up work further afield. Slough is a major employment centre less than two miles away.