Buckingham vs Leighton Buzzard
Which is better to live in? Distance: 15.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Leighton Buzzard offers lower property prices by roughly 12%. Leighton Buzzard has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Buckingham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Buckingham
£450,558
Leighton Buzzard
£401,597
Crime Rate
Buckingham
59.2
Leighton Buzzard
48.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Buckingham
100.0%
Leighton Buzzard
86.7%
Avg Download Speed
Buckingham
389.6
Leighton Buzzard
343.6
EPC Rating
Buckingham
71.2
Leighton Buzzard
72.2
Median Income
Buckingham
£35,777
Leighton Buzzard
£35,594
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Leighton Buzzard is £401,597, which is 12% less than Buckingham at £450,558. The most affordable entry point in Buckingham is a flat at £207,655, while in Leighton Buzzard it is a flat at £187,233.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 11% pricier in Buckingham (£207,655 vs £187,233).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Leighton Buzzard prices grew faster — 31% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Leighton Buzzard (48.7 per 1,000) compared to Buckingham (59.2 per 1,000), a 22% difference. The most common crime category in Buckingham is violent-crime, while in Leighton Buzzard 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 EastBuckingham has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 86.7% in Leighton Buzzard. Buckingham has 7 schools in total, while Leighton Buzzard has 16.
Buckingham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Leighton Buzzard School Inspection Breakdown
86.7% of 16 schools (11 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Buckingham | Leighton Buzzard |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 16 |
| Primary | 5 | 11 |
| Secondary | 2 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 86.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Buckingham offers faster average downloads at 389.6 Mbps, compared to 343.6 Mbps in Leighton Buzzard. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.9% of premises in Buckingham and 92.6% in Leighton Buzzard. Gigabit availability stands at 75.5% in Buckingham and 63.2% in Leighton Buzzard.
Buckingham is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (390 vs 344 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Leighton Buzzard are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.2 (band C) versus 71.2 (band C) in Buckingham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,214 in Buckingham and £1,162 in Leighton Buzzard. 68% of homes in Buckingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.6% in Leighton Buzzard.
Leighton Buzzard has more energy-efficient housing — 68.6% reach band C or above, vs 68% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,776.5 in Buckingham and £35,593.5 in Leighton Buzzard. The median age is 42.9 in Buckingham and 43 in Leighton Buzzard. Employment rates stand at 63.3% in Buckingham and 62.7% in Leighton Buzzard. Owner-occupancy is 67.5% in Buckingham versus 70.6% in Leighton Buzzard.
| Indicator | Buckingham | Leighton Buzzard |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,296 | 42,736 |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 43 |
| Median Household Income | £35,776.5 | £35,593.5 |
| Employment Rate | 63.3% | 62.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.5% | 70.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38% | 37.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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