Town comparison
Bedford vs Cranfield
Which is better to live in? 7.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Cranfield offers lower property prices by roughly 12%. Cranfield has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cranfield edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bedford
£432,760
Cranfield
£385,169
Crime Rate
Bedford
77.7
Cranfield
48.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bedford
95.0%
Cranfield
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bedford
434.4
Cranfield
324.9
EPC Rating
Bedford
71.5
Cranfield
73.4
Median Income
Bedford
£33,416
Cranfield
£34,685
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Cranfield is £385,169, which is 12% less than Bedford at £432,760. The most affordable entry point in Bedford is a flat at £180,246, while in Cranfield it is a flat at £121,583.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 48% pricier in Bedford (£180,246 vs £121,583).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bedford prices grew faster — 37% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 48.9 offences per 1,000 people, Cranfield is the safer of the two – 59% lower than Bedford's 77.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bedford is violent-crime, while in Cranfield 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 EnglandCranfield has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 95% in Bedford. Bedford has 27 schools in total, while Cranfield has 2.
Bedford School Inspection Breakdown
95% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cranfield School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bedford | Cranfield |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 2 |
| Primary | 20 | 1 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 95% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bedford offers faster average downloads at 434.4 Mbps, compared to 324.9 Mbps in Cranfield. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Bedford and 90.2% in Cranfield. Gigabit availability stands at 82.1% in Bedford and 58.9% in Cranfield.
Bedford is the faster of the two by 34% on average download speed (434 vs 325 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Cranfield are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.4 (band C) versus 71.5 (band C) in Bedford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,111 in Bedford and £1,067 in Cranfield. 68.5% of homes in Bedford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 73% in Cranfield.
Cranfield has more energy-efficient housing — 73% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,685.3 in Cranfield and £33,416 in Bedford. The median age is 41.6 in Bedford and 41 in Cranfield. Employment rates stand at 61.3% in Bedford and 63% in Cranfield. Owner-occupancy is 62.7% in Bedford versus 62.9% in Cranfield.
| Indicator | Bedford | Cranfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,226 | 7,053 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 41 |
| Median Household Income | £33,416 | £34,685.3 |
| Employment Rate | 61.3% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.7% | 62.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.7% | 34.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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