House prices in Bedford
The median price paid for a home in Bedford was £340,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 1,942 sales. House prices in Bedford did not change 0.0% in the year to September 2026, and are 15.2% higher than five years earlier. In the 12 months to September 2026, the median price in Bedford was 2% higher than the median for East of England (£332,500). The average private rent in Bedford was £1,173 a month in August 2026, 3.0% up on a year earlier (ONS). Bedford had 8.3 crimes per 100 people recorded by the police in the 12 months to August 2026.
House prices in Bedford
The median price paid in Bedford was £340,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 1,942 sales, or £3,757 per square metre of floor area.
By type of home
| Type | Median price | Sales | Per m² | 1 year | 5 years | East of England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £485,000 | 562 | £3,957 | 0.0% | +10.7% | £457,500 |
| Semi-detached | £340,000 | 631 | £3,810 | +1.5% | +16.0% | £340,062 |
| Terraced | £288,250 | 490 | £3,672 | +1.1% | +20.1% | £300,000 |
| Flats | £180,000 | 259 | £3,221 | +2.9% | +12.5% | £200,000 |
Compared with East of England and England
Median price
Price per m² of floor area
| Area | Median price | 1 year | 5 years | Per m² | Per m², 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | £340,000 | 0.0% | +15.2% | £3,757 | +1.4% |
| East of England | £332,500 | −2.2% | +5.6% | £3,841 | −0.7% |
| England | £285,000 | −1.4% | +5.6% | £3,333 | −0.6% |
By floor area, homes in Bedford sold for a median £3,757 per m² in the 12 months to September 2026, 2% lower than the figure for East of England (£3,841).
Bedford has the 105th highest median price of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 22nd highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Its 0.0% change over the year is the 107th smallest price fall of 317 in England and Wales, and the 13th biggest rise of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Rents in Bedford
The average private rent in Bedford was £1,173 a month in August 2026, 3.0% up on a year earlier. Rents in Bedford are 33.1% higher than five years earlier (August 2026 against August 2021).
Bedford has the 130th highest average rent of 316 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 18th lowest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
How many homes sell in Bedford
1,706 homes were sold in Bedford in the 12 months to September 2026, 0.87 for every 100 people living there. In the 12 months to June 2026, sales in Bedford were 5.5% down on the year before and 42.9% lower than five years earlier.
That is the 73rd fewest sales per person of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 9th fewest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Home sales per 100 people: sales recorded by HM Land Registry, less those not at full market value, against ONS's population estimate.
Crime in Bedford
The police recorded 16,031 crimes in Bedford in the 12 months to August 2026, 8.3 for every 100 people living or working there. Recorded crime in Bedford rose 5.3% in the 12 months to August 2026 compared with the 12 months before, and is 8.2% higher than three years earlier.
| Kind of crime | Per 100 people |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3.41 |
| Anti-social behaviour, damage, drugs and public order | 3.27 |
| Theft and vehicle crime | 1.22 |
| Burglary and robbery | 0.43 |
Bedford has the 116th highest crime rate of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures, and the 14th highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
The figure for England leaves out Gloucestershire and Greater Manchester, whose police have not published every month.
Street crime from police.uk. People are those living there plus those coming in to work, so town and city centres aren't overstated.
Deprivation in Bedford
Bedford is the 141st most deprived of 296 local authorities in England on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is the most deprived).
| Part of the index | Rank of 296 (1 = most deprived) |
|---|---|
| Overall | 141st |
| Income | 128th |
| Employment | 158th |
| Education and skills | 126th |
| Health | 125th |
| Crime | 152nd |
| Barriers to housing and services | 93rd |
| Living environment | 182nd |
Broadband and mobile in Bedford
85.4% of premises in Bedford can get gigabit broadband and 97.7% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more), by Ofcom's latest figures. 75.1% can get full fibre, and 0.6% get under 10 Mbit/s. Its gigabit coverage is the 115th lowest of 318 local authorities in England and Wales.
Premises able to get gigabit broadband
87.5% of premises in Bedford get good 4G indoors from all four mobile networks (England: 91.2%).
People moving in and out in Bedford
In the year ending June 2025, 10,498 people moved to Bedford from elsewhere in the UK and 10,187 moved away, a net gain of 311 (1.6 per 1,000 residents).
Most moved in from
- Central Bedfordshire 1,573
- Luton 1,067
- Milton Keynes 614
Most moved out to
- Central Bedfordshire 1,163
- North Northamptonshire 1,030
- Milton Keynes 584
Moves within the UK only (ONS internal migration); people arriving from or leaving for abroad aren't counted.
Questions about Bedford
How much does a house cost in Bedford?
The median price paid for a home in Bedford was £340,000 in the 12 months to September 2026. By type: detached £485,000; semi-detached £340,000; terraced £288,250; flats £180,000.
Are house prices in Bedford going up?
In the year to September 2026, the median price in Bedford did not change 0.0%, and over five years it rose 15.2%. Across East of England prices fell 2.2% over the same year.
How much is rent in Bedford?
The average private rent in Bedford was £1,173 a month in August 2026. 1 bed £800; 2 bed £1,029; 3 bed £1,260; 4+ bed £1,806.
Is Bedford a safe place to live?
Bedford had 8.3 crimes per 100 people in the 12 months to August 2026, the 116th highest of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures. The figure for East of England was 7.2. Crime varies a lot from street to street: look up a postcode on the map for its own figures.
Can you get full fibre broadband in Bedford?
75.1% of premises in Bedford can get full fibre and 85.4% can get gigabit broadband, by Ofcom's latest figures.
Nearby areas
- Central Bedfordshire 21 km
- Milton Keynes 21 km
- Huntingdonshire 26 km
- North Northamptonshire 28 km
- North Hertfordshire 31 km
Sources: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, ONS (private rents, population estimates, internal migration), police.uk, MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025, Ofcom Connected Nations. Figures updated November 2026. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right; Office for National Statistics and police.uk data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.