Ampthill vs Houghton Regis
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Houghton Regis offers lower property prices by roughly 116%. Ampthill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ampthill edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ampthill
£717,486
Houghton Regis
£331,625
Crime Rate
Ampthill
48.6
Houghton Regis
48.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ampthill
100.0%
Houghton Regis
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ampthill
361
Houghton Regis
417.4
EPC Rating
Ampthill
72.7
Houghton Regis
73.9
Median Income
Ampthill
£34,566
Houghton Regis
£35,716
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Houghton Regis is £331,625, which is 116% less than Ampthill at £717,486. The most affordable entry point in Ampthill is a flat at £239,864, while in Houghton Regis it is a flat at £176,484.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 43% pricier in Ampthill (£643,937 vs £448,787).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ampthill prices grew faster — 99% vs 44%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 48.6 offences per 1,000 people, Ampthill is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Houghton Regis's 48.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Ampthill is violent-crime, while in Houghton Regis 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 EnglandAmpthill has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Houghton Regis. Ampthill has 4 schools in total, while Houghton Regis has 7.
Ampthill School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (2 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Houghton Regis School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ampthill | Houghton Regis |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 7 |
| Primary | 2 | 6 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Houghton Regis offers faster average downloads at 417.4 Mbps, compared to 361.0 Mbps in Ampthill. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Ampthill and 94.3% in Houghton Regis. Gigabit availability stands at 65.3% in Ampthill and 79.6% in Houghton Regis.
Houghton Regis is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (417 vs 361 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Houghton Regis are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.9 (band C) versus 72.7 (band C) in Ampthill. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Ampthill and £1,083 in Houghton Regis. 69.9% of homes in Ampthill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Houghton Regis.
Houghton Regis has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 69.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,716 in Houghton Regis and £34,566 in Ampthill. The median age is 42 in Ampthill and 42.5 in Houghton Regis. Employment rates stand at 62.5% in Ampthill and 63.8% in Houghton Regis. Owner-occupancy is 67% in Ampthill versus 71.2% in Houghton Regis.
| Indicator | Ampthill | Houghton Regis |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,825 | 18,057 |
| Median Age | 42 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £34,566 | £35,716 |
| Employment Rate | 62.5% | 63.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67% | 71.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34% | 33.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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