Ampthill vs Leighton Buzzard
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Leighton Buzzard is about 79% cheaper on average. Ampthill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ampthill edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ampthill
£717,486
Leighton Buzzard
£401,597
Crime Rate
Ampthill
48.6
Leighton Buzzard
48.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ampthill
100.0%
Leighton Buzzard
86.7%
Avg Download Speed
Ampthill
361
Leighton Buzzard
343.6
EPC Rating
Ampthill
72.7
Leighton Buzzard
72.2
Median Income
Ampthill
£34,566
Leighton Buzzard
£35,594
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Leighton Buzzard is £401,597, which is 79% less than Ampthill at £717,486. The most affordable entry point in Ampthill is a flat at £239,864, while in Leighton Buzzard it is a flat at £187,233.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 28% pricier in Ampthill (£239,864 vs £187,233).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ampthill prices grew faster — 99% vs 31%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Ampthill (48.6 per 1,000) compared to Leighton Buzzard (48.7 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Ampthill is violent-crime, while in Leighton Buzzard 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 86.7% in Leighton Buzzard. Ampthill has 4 schools in total, while Leighton Buzzard has 16.
Ampthill School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (2 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Leighton Buzzard School Inspection Breakdown
86.7% of 16 schools (11 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ampthill | Leighton Buzzard |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 16 |
| Primary | 2 | 11 |
| Secondary | 2 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 86.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Ampthill offers faster average downloads at 361.0 Mbps, compared to 343.6 Mbps in Leighton Buzzard. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Ampthill and 92.6% in Leighton Buzzard. Gigabit availability stands at 65.3% in Ampthill and 63.2% in Leighton Buzzard.
Ampthill is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (361 vs 344 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Ampthill are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.7 (band C) versus 72.2 (band C) in Leighton Buzzard. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Ampthill and £1,162 in Leighton Buzzard. 69.9% of homes in Ampthill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.6% in Leighton Buzzard.
Ampthill has more energy-efficient housing — 69.9% reach band C or above, vs 68.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,593.5 in Leighton Buzzard and £34,566 in Ampthill. The median age is 42 in Ampthill and 43 in Leighton Buzzard. Employment rates stand at 62.5% in Ampthill and 62.7% in Leighton Buzzard. Owner-occupancy is 67% in Ampthill versus 70.6% in Leighton Buzzard.
| Indicator | Ampthill | Leighton Buzzard |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,825 | 42,736 |
| Median Age | 42 | 43 |
| Median Household Income | £34,566 | £35,593.5 |
| Employment Rate | 62.5% | 62.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 67% | 70.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34% | 37.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Ampthill and Leighton Buzzard?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Ampthill or Leighton Buzzard?
Is Ampthill or Leighton Buzzard safer?
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