Ampthill vs Bedford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Bedford is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 66% lower. Ampthill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ampthill edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ampthill
£717,486
Bedford
£432,760
Crime Rate
Ampthill
48.6
Bedford
77.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ampthill
100.0%
Bedford
95.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ampthill
361
Bedford
434.4
EPC Rating
Ampthill
72.7
Bedford
71.5
Median Income
Ampthill
£34,566
Bedford
£33,416
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £432,760, Bedford undercuts Ampthill (£717,486) by around 66% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Ampthill is a flat at £239,864, while in Bedford it is a flat at £180,246.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 33% pricier in Ampthill (£239,864 vs £180,246).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ampthill prices grew faster — 99% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandAmpthill has a crime rate of 48.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 60% lower than Bedford at 77.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Ampthill is violent-crime, while in Bedford it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in East of EnglandOf the 4 schools in Ampthill, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Bedford, which has 27 schools, the figure is 95%.
Ampthill School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (2 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bedford School Inspection Breakdown
95% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ampthill | Bedford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 27 |
| Primary | 2 | 20 |
| Secondary | 2 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 95% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Bedford averages 434.4 Mbps – ahead of Ampthill's 361.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Ampthill and 97% in Bedford. Gigabit availability stands at 65.3% in Ampthill and 82.1% in Bedford.
Bedford is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (434 vs 361 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Ampthill, scoring 72.7 on average (band C) compared to 71.5 (band C) in Bedford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Ampthill and £1,111 in Bedford. 69.9% of homes in Ampthill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Bedford.
Ampthill has more energy-efficient housing — 69.9% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,566 in Ampthill and £33,416 in Bedford. The median age is 42 in Ampthill and 41.6 in Bedford. Employment rates stand at 62.5% in Ampthill and 61.3% in Bedford. Owner-occupancy is 67% in Ampthill versus 62.7% in Bedford. Ampthill has a population of 8,825 and Bedford has 97,226.
| Indicator | Ampthill | Bedford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,825 | 97,226 |
| Median Age | 42 | 41.6 |
| Median Household Income | £34,566 | £33,416 |
| Employment Rate | 62.5% | 61.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 67% | 62.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34% | 34.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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