Town comparison
Bedford vs Silsoe
Which is better to live in? 9.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Bedford is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Silsoe has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Silsoe edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bedford
£432,760
Silsoe
£525,137
Crime Rate
Bedford
77.7
Silsoe
48.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bedford
95.0%
Silsoe
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bedford
434.4
Silsoe
361
EPC Rating
Bedford
71.5
Silsoe
72.7
Median Income
Bedford
£33,416
Silsoe
£34,566
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Silsoe commands an average of £525,137, compared with £432,760 in Bedford – a difference of 18%. The most affordable entry point in Bedford is a flat at £180,246, while in Silsoe it is a flat at £222,229.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 19% pricier in Silsoe (£222,229 vs £180,246).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bedford prices grew faster — 37% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandSilsoe has a crime rate of 48.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 59% lower than Bedford at 77.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bedford is violent-crime, while in Silsoe 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 Silsoe, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 95% in Bedford. There are 27 schools in Bedford and 1 in Silsoe.
Bedford School Inspection Breakdown
95% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Silsoe School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bedford | Silsoe |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 1 |
| Primary | 20 | 1 |
| Secondary | 7 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 95% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 434.4 Mbps in Bedford and 361.0 Mbps in Silsoe. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Bedford and 93.5% in Silsoe. Gigabit availability stands at 82.1% in Bedford and 65.3% in Silsoe.
Bedford is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (434 vs 361 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Silsoe, scoring 72.7 on average (band C) compared to 71.5 (band C) in Bedford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,111 in Bedford and £1,097 in Silsoe. 68.5% of homes in Bedford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.9% in Silsoe.
Silsoe has more energy-efficient housing — 69.9% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,566 in Silsoe and £33,416 in Bedford. The median age is 41.6 in Bedford and 42 in Silsoe. Employment rates stand at 61.3% in Bedford and 62.5% in Silsoe. Owner-occupancy is 62.7% in Bedford versus 67% in Silsoe. Bedford has a population of 97,226 and Silsoe has 3,419.
| Indicator | Bedford | Silsoe |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,226 | 3,419 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 42 |
| Median Household Income | £33,416 | £34,566 |
| Employment Rate | 61.3% | 62.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.7% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.7% | 34% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bedford and Silsoe?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bedford or Silsoe?
Is Bedford or Silsoe safer?
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