Clapham (Bedford) vs Higham Ferrers

Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.7 miles apart.

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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Higham Ferrers wins on house prices with a 61% gap. Higham Ferrers has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Clapham (bedford) edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

Clapham (Bedford)

£500,968

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Higham Ferrers

£311,873

Crime Rate

Clapham (Bedford)

77.5

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Higham Ferrers

75.4

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

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Clapham (Bedford)

100.0%

Higham Ferrers

50.0%

Avg Download Speed

Clapham (Bedford)

446.2

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Higham Ferrers

486

EPC Rating

Clapham (Bedford)

71.5

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Higham Ferrers

72.5

Median Income

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Clapham (Bedford)

£33,416

Higham Ferrers

£32,409

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in East of England

Property in Clapham (bedford) commands an average of £500,968, compared with £311,873 in Higham Ferrers – a difference of 61%. The most affordable entry point in Clapham (bedford) is a semi-detached at £366,961, while in Higham Ferrers it is a flat at £169,000.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: flat homes are 172% pricier in Clapham (bedford) (£460,258 vs £169,000).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Higham Ferrers prices grew faster — 47% vs 5%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in East of England

Residents of Higham Ferrers experience less crime overall, with a rate of 75.4 per 1,000 versus 77.5 per 1,000 in Clapham (bedford). The most common crime category in Clapham (bedford) is violent-crime, while in Higham Ferrers 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 England

Families may prefer Clapham (bedford), where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 50% in Higham Ferrers. There are 1 schools in Clapham (bedford) and 4 in Higham Ferrers.

Clapham (Bedford) School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Higham Ferrers School Inspection Breakdown

50% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Metric	Clapham (Bedford)	Higham Ferrers
Total Schools	1	4
Primary	1	3
Secondary	0	1
% Top two bands	100%	50%

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 486.0 Mbps in Higham Ferrers and 446.2 Mbps in Clapham (bedford). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.1% of premises in Clapham (bedford) and 98.8% in Higham Ferrers. Gigabit availability stands at 86.9% in Clapham (bedford) and 96.6% in Higham Ferrers.

Higham Ferrers is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (486 vs 446 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Energy efficiency favours Higham Ferrers, scoring 72.5 on average (band C) compared to 71.5 (band C) in Clapham (bedford). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,111 in Clapham (bedford) and £1,096 in Higham Ferrers. 68.5% of homes in Clapham (bedford) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.9% in Higham Ferrers.

Higham Ferrers has more energy-efficient housing — 69.9% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £33,416 in Clapham (bedford) and £32,409 in Higham Ferrers. The median age is 41.6 in Clapham (bedford) and 42 in Higham Ferrers. Employment rates stand at 61.3% in Clapham (bedford) and 61.5% in Higham Ferrers. Owner-occupancy is 62.7% in Clapham (bedford) versus 63.9% in Higham Ferrers. Clapham (bedford) has a population of 4,502 and Higham Ferrers has 8,825.

Indicator	Clapham (Bedford)	Higham Ferrers
Population	4,502	8,825
Median Age	41.6	42
Median Household Income	£33,416	£32,409
Employment Rate	61.3%	61.5%
Owner Occupied	62.7%	63.9%
Degree-Level Qualified	34.7%	30.7%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Clapham (bedford) and Higham Ferrers?

Clapham (bedford) and Higham Ferrers are approximately 10.7 miles apart as the crow flies.

Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Clapham (bedford) or Higham Ferrers?

Higham Ferrers is cheaper, with an average house price of £311,873.

Is Clapham (bedford) or Higham Ferrers safer?

Higham Ferrers has the lower crime rate at 75.4 per 1,000 residents.

Which has better schools, Clapham (bedford) or Higham Ferrers?

Clapham (bedford) has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.

Which has faster broadband, Clapham (bedford) or Higham Ferrers?

Higham Ferrers has faster average broadband at 486.0 Mbps.

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