Bletchley vs Dunstable
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bletchley offers lower property prices by roughly 16%. Dunstable has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bletchley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bletchley
£321,464
Dunstable
£381,810
Crime Rate
Bletchley
87.3
Dunstable
48.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bletchley
100.0%
Dunstable
90.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bletchley
474.2
Dunstable
367.6
EPC Rating
Bletchley
72.6
Dunstable
71.9
Median Income
Bletchley
£35,198
Dunstable
£34,575
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Bletchley is £321,464, which is 16% less than Dunstable at £381,810. The most affordable entry point in Bletchley is a flat at £167,828, while in Dunstable it is a flat at £172,345.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 30% pricier in Dunstable (£611,291 vs £430,332).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Dunstable prices grew faster — 45% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Dunstable (48.7 per 1,000) compared to Bletchley (87.3 per 1,000), a 79% difference. The most common crime category in Bletchley is violent-crime, while in Dunstable 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 South EastBletchley has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90% in Dunstable. Bletchley has 15 schools in total, while Dunstable has 13.
Bletchley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 15 schools (13 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dunstable School Inspection Breakdown
90% of 13 schools (9 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bletchley | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 15 | 13 |
| Primary | 13 | 9 |
| Secondary | 2 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bletchley offers faster average downloads at 474.2 Mbps, compared to 367.6 Mbps in Dunstable. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.5% of premises in Bletchley and 96.2% in Dunstable. Gigabit availability stands at 93.5% in Bletchley and 66.9% in Dunstable.
Bletchley is the faster of the two by 29% on average download speed (474 vs 368 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bletchley are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.6 (band C) versus 71.9 (band C) in Dunstable. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,124 in Bletchley and £1,145 in Dunstable. 72.4% of homes in Bletchley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.3% in Dunstable.
Bletchley has more energy-efficient housing — 72.4% reach band C or above, vs 69.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,197.5 in Bletchley and £34,574.7 in Dunstable. The median age is 41.2 in Bletchley and 42.8 in Dunstable. Employment rates stand at 62.7% in Bletchley and 62.6% in Dunstable. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Bletchley versus 68.4% in Dunstable.
| Indicator | Bletchley | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,018 | 34,498 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 42.8 |
| Median Household Income | £35,197.5 | £34,574.7 |
| Employment Rate | 62.7% | 62.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.4% | 37.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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