Arlesey vs Shefford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 3.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Shefford offers lower property prices by roughly 20%. Arlesey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Arlesey edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Arlesey
£476,109
Shefford
£396,529
Crime Rate
Arlesey
48.6
Shefford
49.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Arlesey
100.0%
Shefford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Arlesey
454.9
Shefford
452.5
EPC Rating
Arlesey
73.9
Shefford
73.9
Median Income
Arlesey
£35,716
Shefford
£35,716
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Shefford is £396,529, which is 20% less than Arlesey at £476,109. The most affordable entry point in Arlesey is a flat at £194,333, while in Shefford it is a flat at £198,879.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 5% pricier in Shefford (£387,431 vs £366,909).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Arlesey prices grew faster — 81% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Arlesey (48.6 per 1,000) compared to Shefford (49.1 per 1,000), a 1% difference. The most common crime category in Arlesey is violent-crime, while in Shefford 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 EnglandArlesey has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Shefford. Arlesey has 1 schools in total, while Shefford has 3.
Arlesey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Shefford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (1 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Arlesey | Shefford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 3 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Arlesey offers faster average downloads at 454.9 Mbps, compared to 452.5 Mbps in Shefford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Arlesey and 96% in Shefford. Gigabit availability stands at 89.6% in Arlesey and 87.8% in Shefford.
Arlesey is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (455 vs 453 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Arlesey are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.9 (band C) versus 73.9 (band C) in Shefford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,083 in Arlesey and £1,083 in Shefford. 71.3% of homes in Arlesey have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Shefford.
Arlesey has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 71.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,716 in Arlesey and £35,716 in Shefford. The median age is 42.5 in Arlesey and 42.5 in Shefford. Employment rates stand at 63.8% in Arlesey and 63.8% in Shefford. Owner-occupancy is 71.2% in Arlesey versus 71.2% in Shefford.
| Indicator | Arlesey | Shefford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,027 | 7,317 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £35,716 | £35,716 |
| Employment Rate | 63.8% | 63.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.2% | 71.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 33.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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