Bedford vs Biggleswade
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Biggleswade offers lower property prices by roughly 8%. Biggleswade has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Biggleswade edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bedford
£432,760
Biggleswade
£399,954
Crime Rate
Bedford
77.7
Biggleswade
48.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bedford
95.0%
Biggleswade
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bedford
434.4
Biggleswade
414.6
EPC Rating
Bedford
71.5
Biggleswade
73.9
Median Income
Bedford
£33,416
Biggleswade
£35,716
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Biggleswade is £399,954, which is 8% less than Bedford at £432,760. The most affordable entry point in Bedford is a flat at £180,246, while in Biggleswade it is a flat at £205,398.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 12% pricier in Biggleswade (£205,398 vs £180,246).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Biggleswade prices grew faster — 43% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Biggleswade (48.7 per 1,000) compared to Bedford (77.7 per 1,000), a 60% difference. The most common crime category in Bedford is violent-crime, while in Biggleswade 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 EnglandBiggleswade has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 95% in Bedford. Bedford has 27 schools in total, while Biggleswade has 5.
Bedford School Inspection Breakdown
95% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Biggleswade School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (3 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bedford | Biggleswade |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 5 |
| Primary | 20 | 3 |
| Secondary | 7 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 95% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bedford offers faster average downloads at 434.4 Mbps, compared to 414.6 Mbps in Biggleswade. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Bedford and 91.8% in Biggleswade. Gigabit availability stands at 82.1% in Bedford and 80.6% in Biggleswade.
Bedford is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (434 vs 415 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Biggleswade are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.9 (band C) versus 71.5 (band C) in Bedford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,111 in Bedford and £1,083 in Biggleswade. 68.5% of homes in Bedford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Biggleswade.
Biggleswade has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,716 in Biggleswade and £33,416 in Bedford. The median age is 41.6 in Bedford and 42.5 in Biggleswade. Employment rates stand at 61.3% in Bedford and 63.8% in Biggleswade. Owner-occupancy is 62.7% in Bedford versus 71.2% in Biggleswade.
| Indicator | Bedford | Biggleswade |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,226 | 21,592 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £33,416 | £35,716 |
| Employment Rate | 61.3% | 63.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.7% | 71.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.7% | 33.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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