Town comparison
Bedford vs Sandy
Which is better to live in? 7.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Sandy is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 1% lower. Sandy has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bedford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bedford
£432,760
Sandy
£430,467
Crime Rate
Bedford
77.7
Sandy
48.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bedford
95.0%
Sandy
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bedford
434.4
Sandy
401.5
EPC Rating
Bedford
71.5
Sandy
73.9
Median Income
Bedford
£33,416
Sandy
£35,292
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £430,467, Sandy undercuts Bedford (£432,760) by around 1% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bedford is a flat at £180,246, while in Sandy it is a flat at £138,420.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 30% pricier in Bedford (£180,246 vs £138,420).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Sandy prices grew faster — 40% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandSandy has a crime rate of 48.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 60% lower than Bedford at 77.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bedford is violent-crime, while in Sandy 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 EnglandOf the 27 schools in Bedford, 95% are in the top two inspection bands. In Sandy, which has 5 schools, the figure is 75%.
Bedford School Inspection Breakdown
95% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sandy School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bedford | Sandy |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 5 |
| Primary | 20 | 4 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 95% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Bedford averages 434.4 Mbps – ahead of Sandy's 401.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Bedford and 93.2% in Sandy. Gigabit availability stands at 82.1% in Bedford and 76.8% in Sandy.
Bedford is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (434 vs 402 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Sandy, scoring 73.9 on average (band C) compared to 71.5 (band C) in Bedford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,111 in Bedford and £1,118 in Sandy. 68.5% of homes in Bedford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 72.3% in Sandy.
Sandy has more energy-efficient housing — 72.3% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,292 in Sandy and £33,416 in Bedford. The median age is 41.6 in Bedford and 43.6 in Sandy. Employment rates stand at 61.3% in Bedford and 62.8% in Sandy. Owner-occupancy is 62.7% in Bedford versus 69.7% in Sandy. Bedford has a population of 97,226 and Sandy has 11,375.
| Indicator | Bedford | Sandy |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,226 | 11,375 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 43.6 |
| Median Household Income | £33,416 | £35,292 |
| Employment Rate | 61.3% | 62.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.7% | 69.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.7% | 38.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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