Cranfield vs Dunstable
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Dunstable offers lower property prices by roughly 1%. Dunstable has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cranfield edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cranfield
£385,169
Dunstable
£381,810
Crime Rate
Cranfield
48.9
Dunstable
48.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cranfield
100.0%
Dunstable
90.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cranfield
324.9
Dunstable
367.6
EPC Rating
Cranfield
73.4
Dunstable
71.9
Median Income
Cranfield
£34,685
Dunstable
£34,575
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Dunstable is £381,810, which is 1% less than Cranfield at £385,169. The most affordable entry point in Cranfield is a flat at £121,583, while in Dunstable it is a flat at £172,345.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 29% pricier in Dunstable (£172,345 vs £121,583).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Dunstable prices grew faster — 45% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Dunstable (48.7 per 1,000) compared to Cranfield (48.9 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Cranfield 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 East of EnglandCranfield has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90% in Dunstable. Cranfield has 2 schools in total, while Dunstable has 13.
Cranfield School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 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 | Cranfield | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 13 |
| Primary | 1 | 9 |
| Secondary | 1 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Dunstable offers faster average downloads at 367.6 Mbps, compared to 324.9 Mbps in Cranfield. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.2% of premises in Cranfield and 96.2% in Dunstable. Gigabit availability stands at 58.9% in Cranfield and 66.9% in Dunstable.
Dunstable is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (368 vs 325 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Cranfield are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.4 (band C) versus 71.9 (band C) in Dunstable. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,067 in Cranfield and £1,145 in Dunstable. 73% of homes in Cranfield have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.3% in Dunstable.
Cranfield has more energy-efficient housing — 73% reach band C or above, vs 69.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,685.3 in Cranfield and £34,574.7 in Dunstable. The median age is 41 in Cranfield and 42.8 in Dunstable. Employment rates stand at 63% in Cranfield and 62.6% in Dunstable. Owner-occupancy is 62.9% in Cranfield versus 68.4% in Dunstable.
| Indicator | Cranfield | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,053 | 34,498 |
| Median Age | 41 | 42.8 |
| Median Household Income | £34,685.3 | £34,574.7 |
| Employment Rate | 63% | 62.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.9% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.6% | 37.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cranfield and Dunstable?
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