Town comparison
Buckingham vs Milton Keynes
Which is better to live in? 9.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Milton Keynes offers lower property prices by roughly 14%. Buckingham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Buckingham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Buckingham
£450,558
Milton Keynes
£394,137
Crime Rate
Buckingham
59.2
Milton Keynes
87.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Buckingham
100.0%
Milton Keynes
96.6%
Avg Download Speed
Buckingham
389.6
Milton Keynes
479.6
EPC Rating
Buckingham
71.2
Milton Keynes
74.8
Median Income
Buckingham
£35,777
Milton Keynes
£34,924
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Milton Keynes more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £394,137 versus £450,558 in Buckingham. The most affordable entry point in Buckingham is a flat at £207,655, while in Milton Keynes it is a flat at £186,310.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 11% pricier in Buckingham (£207,655 vs £186,310).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Buckingham prices grew faster — 28% vs 17%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 59.2 offences per 1,000 people, Buckingham is the safer of the two – 47% lower than Milton Keynes's 87.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Buckingham is violent-crime, while in Milton Keynes 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 EastSchool quality favours Buckingham: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 96.6% in Milton Keynes.
Buckingham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Milton Keynes School Inspection Breakdown
96.6% of 72 schools (60 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Buckingham | Milton Keynes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 72 |
| Primary | 5 | 60 |
| Secondary | 2 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 96.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Milton Keynes enjoy 479.6 Mbps on average, while Buckingham lags behind at 389.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.9% of premises in Buckingham and 98.6% in Milton Keynes. Gigabit availability stands at 75.5% in Buckingham and 95% in Milton Keynes.
Milton Keynes is the faster of the two by 23% on average download speed (480 vs 390 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Milton Keynes is band C (score 74.8), ahead of Buckingham's band C (score 71.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,214 in Buckingham and £1,006 in Milton Keynes. 68% of homes in Buckingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 79.1% in Milton Keynes.
Milton Keynes has more energy-efficient housing — 79.1% reach band C or above, vs 68% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Buckingham has a population of 14,296 while Milton Keynes has 194,584. Median household income is £35,776.5 in Buckingham and £34,924 in Milton Keynes. The median age is 42.9 in Buckingham and 39 in Milton Keynes. Employment rates stand at 63.3% in Buckingham and 63.8% in Milton Keynes.
| Indicator | Buckingham | Milton Keynes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,296 | 194,584 |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 39 |
| Median Household Income | £35,776.5 | £34,924 |
| Employment Rate | 63.3% | 63.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.5% | 54.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38% | 35.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Buckingham and Milton Keynes?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Buckingham or Milton Keynes?
Is Buckingham or Milton Keynes safer?
Which has better schools, Buckingham or Milton Keynes?
Which has faster broadband, Buckingham or Milton Keynes?
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