Ampthill vs Cranfield
Which is better to live in? Distance: 5.7 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Cranfield wins on house prices with a 86% gap. Ampthill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ampthill edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ampthill
£717,486
Cranfield
£385,169
Crime Rate
Ampthill
48.6
Cranfield
48.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ampthill
100.0%
Cranfield
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ampthill
361
Cranfield
324.9
EPC Rating
Ampthill
72.7
Cranfield
73.4
Median Income
Ampthill
£34,566
Cranfield
£34,685
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £385,169, Cranfield undercuts Ampthill (£717,486) by around 86% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Ampthill is a flat at £239,864, while in Cranfield it is a flat at £121,583.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 97% pricier in Ampthill (£239,864 vs £121,583).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ampthill prices grew faster — 99% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Ampthill experience less crime overall, with a rate of 48.6 per 1,000 versus 48.9 per 1,000 in Cranfield. The most common crime category in Ampthill is violent-crime, while in Cranfield 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 Cranfield, which has 2 schools, the figure is 100%.
Ampthill School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (2 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cranfield School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ampthill | Cranfield |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Ampthill averages 361.0 Mbps – ahead of Cranfield's 324.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Ampthill and 90.2% in Cranfield. Gigabit availability stands at 65.3% in Ampthill and 58.9% in Cranfield.
Ampthill is the faster of the two by 11% on average download speed (361 vs 325 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Cranfield, scoring 73.4 on average (band C) compared to 72.7 (band C) in Ampthill. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Ampthill and £1,067 in Cranfield. 69.9% of homes in Ampthill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 73% in Cranfield.
Cranfield has more energy-efficient housing — 73% reach band C or above, vs 69.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,685.3 in Cranfield and £34,566 in Ampthill. The median age is 42 in Ampthill and 41 in Cranfield. Employment rates stand at 62.5% in Ampthill and 63% in Cranfield. Owner-occupancy is 67% in Ampthill versus 62.9% in Cranfield. Ampthill has a population of 8,825 and Cranfield has 7,053.
| Indicator | Ampthill | Cranfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,825 | 7,053 |
| Median Age | 42 | 41 |
| Median Household Income | £34,566 | £34,685.3 |
| Employment Rate | 62.5% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 67% | 62.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34% | 34.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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