Bedford vs Olney
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Bedford is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 37% lower. Bedford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Olney edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bedford
£432,760
Olney
£688,210
Crime Rate
Bedford
77.7
Olney
87.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bedford
95.0%
Olney
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bedford
434.4
Olney
432.7
EPC Rating
Bedford
71.5
Olney
74.8
Median Income
Bedford
£33,416
Olney
£34,924
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Olney commands an average of £688,210, compared with £432,760 in Bedford – a difference of 37%. The most affordable entry point in Bedford is a flat at £180,246, while in Olney it is a flat at £231,873.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 22% pricier in Olney (£231,873 vs £180,246).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Olney prices grew faster — 66% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandBedford has a crime rate of 77.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 12% lower than Olney at 87.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bedford 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 EnglandFamilies may prefer Olney, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 95% in Bedford. There are 27 schools in Bedford and 2 in Olney.
Bedford School Inspection Breakdown
95% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 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 | Bedford | Olney |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 2 |
| Primary | 20 | 2 |
| Secondary | 7 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 95% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 434.4 Mbps in Bedford and 432.7 Mbps in Olney. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Bedford and 94.5% in Olney. Gigabit availability stands at 82.1% in Bedford and 83.9% in Olney.
Bedford is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (434 vs 433 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Olney, scoring 74.8 on average (band C) compared to 71.5 (band C) in Bedford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,111 in Bedford and £1,006 in Olney. 68.5% of homes in Bedford 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 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,924 in Olney and £33,416 in Bedford. The median age is 41.6 in Bedford and 39 in Olney. Employment rates stand at 61.3% in Bedford and 63.8% in Olney. Owner-occupancy is 62.7% in Bedford versus 54.8% in Olney. Bedford has a population of 97,226 and Olney has 6,600.
| Indicator | Bedford | Olney |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,226 | 6,600 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 39 |
| Median Household Income | £33,416 | £34,924 |
| Employment Rate | 61.3% | 63.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.7% | 54.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.7% | 35.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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