Ampthill vs Olney
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Olney offers lower property prices by roughly 4%. Ampthill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ampthill edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ampthill
£717,486
Olney
£688,210
Crime Rate
Ampthill
48.6
Olney
87.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ampthill
100.0%
Olney
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ampthill
361
Olney
432.7
EPC Rating
Ampthill
72.7
Olney
74.8
Median Income
Ampthill
£34,566
Olney
£34,924
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Olney is £688,210, which is 4% less than Ampthill at £717,486. The most affordable entry point in Ampthill is a flat at £239,864, while in Olney it is a flat at £231,873.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 39% pricier in Ampthill (£481,224 vs £346,415).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ampthill prices grew faster — 99% vs 66%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 48.6 offences per 1,000 people, Ampthill is the safer of the two – 79% lower than Olney's 87.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Ampthill is violent-crime, while in Olney 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 Olney. Ampthill has 4 schools in total, while Olney has 2.
Ampthill School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (2 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Olney School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ampthill | Olney |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 2 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Olney offers faster average downloads at 432.7 Mbps, compared to 361.0 Mbps in Ampthill. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Ampthill and 94.5% in Olney. Gigabit availability stands at 65.3% in Ampthill and 83.9% in Olney.
Olney is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (433 vs 361 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Olney are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 74.8 (band C) versus 72.7 (band C) in Ampthill. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Ampthill and £1,006 in Olney. 69.9% of homes in Ampthill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 79.1% in Olney.
Olney has more energy-efficient housing — 79.1% reach band C or above, vs 69.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,924 in Olney and £34,566 in Ampthill. The median age is 42 in Ampthill and 39 in Olney. Employment rates stand at 62.5% in Ampthill and 63.8% in Olney. Owner-occupancy is 67% in Ampthill versus 54.8% in Olney.
| Indicator | Ampthill | Olney |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,825 | 6,600 |
| Median Age | 42 | 39 |
| Median Household Income | £34,566 | £34,924 |
| Employment Rate | 62.5% | 63.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67% | 54.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34% | 35.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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