Bedford: house prices, jobs and local statistics

Detached

£567,193

Semi-detached

£351,158

Terraced

£279,834

Flat or maisonette

£160,624

First-time buyers

£275,319

The claimant count is people claiming unemployment-related benefits as a share of residents aged 16 to 64; the unemployment rate is the survey measure of people out of work and looking. Pay is for full-time employees who live in the area.

• Residents

  135,443 in 1991 → 194,976 in 2024 (+44.0%)

  England over the same years: +22.4%

• Average house price

  £165,549 in 2005 → £333,824 in 2026 (+101.6%)

  England over the same years: +85.9%

• Median weekly pay

  £370 in 2008 → £689 in 2025 (+86.6%)

  England over the same years: +63.7%

• Employment rate

  77.3% in 2004 → 81.0% in 2023 (+4.8%)

  England over the same years: +4.4%

• Claimant count

  2.2% in 2001 → 4.4% in 2025 (+100.0%)

  England over the same years: +60.0%

• Disposable income per head

  £11,291 in 1997 → £24,626 in 2024 (+118.1%)

  England over the same years: +143.8%

40 official indicators are published for Bedford; 33 of them have a better and a worse direction and are ranked here. A rank of 1st is the best (lowest unemployment, highest pay, and so on).

Where it ranks best

• Economic inactivity · Economy & work13.3% (2023) · 29th lowest of 348
• 4G coverage · Connectivity & access100.0% (January 2026) · 30th highest of 361
• No qualifications · Education & skills3.6% (2023) · 40th lowest of 293
• High-growth businesses · Economy & work5.6% (2024) · 63rd highest of 361

Where it ranks worst

• Adult obesity · Health & wellbeing36.5% (2024/25) · 284th lowest of 296
• Claimant count · Economy & work4.4% (2025) · 292nd lowest of 361
• Productivity · Economy & work£33.6 per hour (2023) · 285th highest of 361
• Library within a 30-minute walk · Connectivity & access61% (May 2024) · 234th highest of 318

• Life expectancy (male) (2025)80.2 years · England 80.0 · 64th highest of 151
• Life expectancy (female) (2025)83.4 years · England 83.8 · 81st highest of 151
• Healthy life expectancy (male) (2022 - 24)62.5 years · England 60.9 · 49th highest of 151
• Healthy life expectancy (female) (2022 - 24)62.7 years · England 61.3 · 47th highest of 151
• Under-75 mortality, all causes (2025)336.0 per 100k · England 321.0 · 81st lowest of 151
• Adult smoking prevalence (2024)12.4% · England 10.4 · 112th lowest of 148
• Adults overweight or obese (2024/25)72.9% · England 64.6 · 139th lowest of 153

• School readiness (good development at Reception) (2024/25)68.6% · England 68.3 · 69th highest of 153
• GCSE Attainment 8 score (2024/25)44.3 score · England 46.0 · 104th highest of 153
• 16–17 year-olds NEET or activity not known (2025/26)4.1% · England 5.8 · 54th lowest of 150
• Children in absolute low-income families (2024/25)17.8% · England 19.8 · 70th lowest of 153