Bedford vs Raunds
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Raunds is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 31% lower. Bedford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bedford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bedford
£432,760
Raunds
£329,908
Crime Rate
Bedford
77.7
Raunds
97.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bedford
95.0%
Raunds
66.7%
Avg Download Speed
Bedford
434.4
Raunds
451
EPC Rating
Bedford
71.5
Raunds
73.5
Median Income
Bedford
£33,416
Raunds
£31,402
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Bedford commands an average of £432,760, compared with £329,908 in Raunds – a difference of 31%. The most affordable entry point in Bedford is a flat at £180,246, while in Raunds it is a flat at £181,562.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 67% pricier in Bedford (£585,794 vs £350,914).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bedford prices grew faster — 37% vs -9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandBedford has a crime rate of 77.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 25% lower than Raunds at 97.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bedford is violent-crime, while in Raunds 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 Bedford, where 95% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 66.7% in Raunds. There are 27 schools in Bedford and 4 in Raunds.
Bedford School Inspection Breakdown
95% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Raunds School Inspection Breakdown
66.7% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bedford | Raunds |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 4 |
| Primary | 20 | 3 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 95% | 66.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 451.0 Mbps in Raunds and 434.4 Mbps in Bedford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Bedford and 95.4% in Raunds. Gigabit availability stands at 82.1% in Bedford and 88.8% in Raunds.
Raunds is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (451 vs 434 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Raunds, scoring 73.5 on average (band C) compared to 71.5 (band C) in Bedford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,111 in Bedford and £1,082 in Raunds. 68.5% of homes in Bedford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Raunds.
Raunds has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,416 in Bedford and £31,402 in Raunds. The median age is 41.6 in Bedford and 42.4 in Raunds. Employment rates stand at 61.3% in Bedford and 61.8% in Raunds. Owner-occupancy is 62.7% in Bedford versus 65% in Raunds. Bedford has a population of 97,226 and Raunds has 10,231.
| Indicator | Bedford | Raunds |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,226 | 10,231 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £33,416 | £31,402 |
| Employment Rate | 61.3% | 61.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.7% | 65% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.7% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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