Bedford, in numbers

Average home prices reached £334,000 in Bedford.

Bedford council area. July 2026. Every figure carries its own date.

Bedford Borough includes Bedford, Kempston and rural communities. The local programme separates open visitor services, current Greyfriars road works and approved venue repairs, while tracking a significant change in homelessness support.

The short version

Average home price over time

August 1996 to July 2026

Bedford council area · Cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: January 1995 to July 2026. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

From To

Shown on this chart: £53,264 in August 1996; £333,824 in July 2026. 526.7% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Full history context

Average home prices rose from £54,000 to £334,000 between January 1995 and July 2026.

July 2025 to July 2026: £12,000 more per home (3.9% higher).

Cash prices, before allowing for inflation. Changes do not show affordability without local earnings and household circumstances.

Data table and workings

Published UK House Price Index average price, all property types and all buyers, not seasonally adjusted. Entire series comes from the 2026-07 official full-file release, preserving its historical revisions and exact area codes. It is a mix-adjusted average, not the median price paid.

Prices are in pounds at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

Whole local authority area; not a typical home listing or the budget needed by a first-time buyer.

Provisional estimates can be revised. Historical boundaries follow the exact published source code; no old-code series has been relabelled.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Average home price over time — Bedford council area: full reviewed history
Period	£
January 1995	54,092
February 1995	53,773
March 1995	53,575
April 1995	52,654
May 1995	52,439
June 1995	51,026
July 1995	52,133
August 1995	52,028
September 1995	53,205
October 1995	52,252
November 1995	52,111
December 1995	51,156
January 1996	50,517
February 1996	51,485
March 1996	51,481
April 1996	51,849
May 1996	51,365
June 1996	51,689
July 1996	53,020
August 1996	53,264
September 1996	53,795
October 1996	53,632
November 1996	53,705
December 1996	54,518
January 1997	54,023
February 1997	54,178
March 1997	55,600
April 1997	56,984
May 1997	58,041
June 1997	58,513
July 1997	59,163
August 1997	59,718
September 1997	59,738
October 1997	59,706
November 1997	59,834
December 1997	60,746
January 1998	61,878
February 1998	62,421
March 1998	62,312
April 1998	62,179
May 1998	61,766
June 1998	63,078
July 1998	65,085
August 1998	67,678
September 1998	67,532
October 1998	67,751
November 1998	67,895
December 1998	67,858
January 1999	68,001
February 1999	68,213
March 1999	68,872
April 1999	68,970
May 1999	69,354
June 1999	71,203
July 1999	71,893
August 1999	73,203
September 1999	73,246
October 1999	73,563
November 1999	74,291
December 1999	75,864
January 2000	76,969
February 2000	77,583
March 2000	77,674
April 2000	81,096
May 2000	83,853
June 2000	86,402
July 2000	87,754
August 2000	89,257
September 2000	90,203
October 2000	88,708
November 2000	87,734
December 2000	87,863
January 2001	90,474
February 2001	90,921
March 2001	91,724
April 2001	91,459
May 2001	93,164
June 2001	95,613
July 2001	97,783
August 2001	100,467
September 2001	100,380
October 2001	100,552
November 2001	100,497
December 2001	102,205
January 2002	103,065
February 2002	105,677
March 2002	107,620
April 2002	111,501
May 2002	113,518
June 2002	115,519
July 2002	117,995
August 2002	120,093
September 2002	122,117
October 2002	122,832
November 2002	123,467
December 2002	125,992
January 2003	128,346
February 2003	131,282
March 2003	133,399
April 2003	134,167
May 2003	135,886
June 2003	134,054
July 2003	136,378
August 2003	137,743
September 2003	142,238
October 2003	142,816
November 2003	143,139
December 2003	143,252
January 2004	146,893
February 2004	146,471
March 2004	148,032
April 2004	147,278
May 2004	150,927
June 2004	153,933
July 2004	155,328
August 2004	156,916
September 2004	159,031
October 2004	159,206
November 2004	158,943
December 2004	158,577
January 2005	162,582
February 2005	165,040
March 2005	163,085
April 2005	162,916
May 2005	162,381
June 2005	164,497
July 2005	164,221
August 2005	165,286
September 2005	166,852
October 2005	166,189
November 2005	165,902
December 2005	165,549
January 2006	164,634
February 2006	165,859
March 2006	164,348
April 2006	166,972
May 2006	167,382
June 2006	168,862
July 2006	169,431
August 2006	171,774
September 2006	176,470
October 2006	177,946
November 2006	177,387
December 2006	175,193
January 2007	175,620
February 2007	179,307
March 2007	181,195
April 2007	182,763
May 2007	181,202
June 2007	181,998
July 2007	185,322
August 2007	186,835
September 2007	191,711
October 2007	191,347
November 2007	193,308
December 2007	190,465
January 2008	190,881
February 2008	190,234
March 2008	188,066
April 2008	186,579
May 2008	184,559
June 2008	183,201
July 2008	183,439
August 2008	183,025
September 2008	178,624
October 2008	170,670
November 2008	163,546
December 2008	161,354
January 2009	160,358
February 2009	156,887
March 2009	154,246
April 2009	150,472
May 2009	153,642
June 2009	156,595
July 2009	158,750
August 2009	159,647
September 2009	161,468
October 2009	164,771
November 2009	165,687
December 2009	165,578
January 2010	165,235
February 2010	164,687
March 2010	164,657
April 2010	166,516
May 2010	168,993
June 2010	171,880
July 2010	174,333
August 2010	174,807
September 2010	175,653
October 2010	173,780
November 2010	170,459
December 2010	169,765
January 2011	168,316
February 2011	168,294
March 2011	168,719
April 2011	169,897
May 2011	169,879
June 2011	167,697
July 2011	169,839
August 2011	171,950
September 2011	171,557
October 2011	168,221
November 2011	169,290
December 2011	169,294
January 2012	167,329
February 2012	167,485
March 2012	168,198
April 2012	172,215
May 2012	173,575
June 2012	175,752
July 2012	175,133
August 2012	174,811
September 2012	173,737
October 2012	174,526
November 2012	173,559
December 2012	175,073
January 2013	175,374
February 2013	172,500
March 2013	169,919
April 2013	171,308
May 2013	174,735
June 2013	177,256
July 2013	177,399
August 2013	177,960
September 2013	179,490
October 2013	179,492
November 2013	182,368
December 2013	183,724
January 2014	184,310
February 2014	183,147
March 2014	182,257
April 2014	185,964
May 2014	189,241
June 2014	192,989
July 2014	194,412
August 2014	195,091
September 2014	197,218
October 2014	198,782
November 2014	199,531
December 2014	199,895
January 2015	201,238
February 2015	205,347
March 2015	206,888
April 2015	206,648
May 2015	208,128
June 2015	208,476
July 2015	212,392
August 2015	212,815
September 2015	215,095
October 2015	215,206
November 2015	219,897
December 2015	221,707
January 2016	225,336
February 2016	224,319
March 2016	226,987
April 2016	230,581
May 2016	235,473
June 2016	238,447
July 2016	241,126
August 2016	243,032
September 2016	247,219
October 2016	248,163
November 2016	250,478
December 2016	250,757
January 2017	250,046
February 2017	251,567
March 2017	255,269
April 2017	257,675
May 2017	256,906
June 2017	256,271
July 2017	260,110
August 2017	263,175
September 2017	264,176
October 2017	263,140
November 2017	260,636
December 2017	261,769
January 2018	261,785
February 2018	265,042
March 2018	263,606
April 2018	265,495
May 2018	267,017
June 2018	268,452
July 2018	270,632
August 2018	270,670
September 2018	271,232
October 2018	268,961
November 2018	267,654
December 2018	269,230
January 2019	265,740
February 2019	264,694
March 2019	264,512
April 2019	266,844
May 2019	267,233
June 2019	263,606
July 2019	262,315
August 2019	262,208
September 2019	263,552
October 2019	264,683
November 2019	266,516
December 2019	267,301
January 2020	265,692
February 2020	261,720
March 2020	259,834
April 2020	263,227
May 2020	264,670
June 2020	261,159
July 2020	259,409
August 2020	261,275
September 2020	266,787
October 2020	267,250
November 2020	267,383
December 2020	268,204
January 2021	271,755
February 2021	272,417
March 2021	274,032
April 2021	273,959
May 2021	273,946
June 2021	276,099
July 2021	276,742
August 2021	285,001
September 2021	287,992
October 2021	290,732
November 2021	288,577
December 2021	291,546
January 2022	293,899
February 2022	297,582
March 2022	300,396
April 2022	304,502
May 2022	302,705
June 2022	302,298
July 2022	306,184
August 2022	313,442
September 2022	317,328
October 2022	320,375
November 2022	320,717
December 2022	316,560
January 2023	314,176
February 2023	312,343
March 2023	316,379
April 2023	313,536
May 2023	311,897
June 2023	308,987
July 2023	312,228
August 2023	314,900
September 2023	315,485
October 2023	315,357
November 2023	313,947
December 2023	310,405
January 2024	309,118
February 2024	310,138
March 2024	313,562
April 2024	306,563
May 2024	303,818
June 2024	304,154
July 2024	311,579
August 2024	315,417
September 2024	316,776
October 2024	314,148
November 2024	313,548
December 2024	314,676
January 2025	312,533
February 2025	314,900
March 2025	312,633
April 2025	315,457
May 2025	311,863
June 2025	315,981
July 2025	321,327
August 2025	326,332
September 2025	326,611
October 2025	328,432
November 2025	327,595
December 2025	328,374
January 2026	322,542
February 2026	325,741
March 2026	327,908
April 2026	330,486
May 2026	335,169
June 2026	331,319
July 2026	333,824

Source →

People living in the area

196,398

Mid-2025 · Bedford council area

Show the workings

Published mid-year estimate for the whole local authority area. This is not automatically the population of the named city settlement.

All usual residents

Source and method →

Average home price

£334,000

July 2026 · Bedford council area

Show the workings

Shown to the nearest £1,000. Published value: £333,824.

Homes in the local authority area

Source and method →

Average monthly rent

£1,173

August 2026 · Bedford council area

Show the workings

Official local housing data feed. House prices are provisional, not seasonally adjusted; rents use the Price Index of Private Rents. Local short-term estimates are variable. Country references use only the explicitly country-coded ctry object, never the local place object.

Homes in the local authority area

Source and method →

Compare nearby places and England →

Look beneath the average

Homes rented privately

5.8% to 47.9%

Homes rented privately ranged from 5.8% in Wootton & Kempston Rural to 47.9% in Greyfriars — a gap of 42.2 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 28 of 28 current wards with comparable figures.

A larger private-rented sector changes the mix of housing advice, enforcement and tenant support needed. It does not tell us whether individual homes are affordable or safe.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

Homes rented privately · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
Wootton & Kempston Rural	5.8%	195	3,385
Wixams & Wilstead	8.2%	383	4,685
Putnoe	9.1%	300	3,310
Bromham	9.7%	289	2,988
Brickhill	9.9%	368	3,721
Great Barford	11.3%	166	1,471
Biddenham	11.3%	140	1,234
Shortstown	12.2%	322	2,647
Wyboston	12.3%	179	1,460
Renhold & Ravensden	12.3%	188	1,533
Clapham & Oakley	12.5%	361	2,895
Riseley	12.5%	206	1,651
Sharnbrook	12.8%	213	1,664
Kempston North	13.3%	224	1,685
Goldington	13.7%	469	3,413
Great Denham	13.8%	248	1,801
Kempston West	14.9%	257	1,721
Kempston South	16.4%	255	1,559
Harrold	17.1%	303	1,771
Kempston Central & East	20.1%	775	3,855
Kingsbrook	22.6%	971	4,296
Riverfield	23.5%	395	1,682
Queens Park	30.6%	935	3,055
Cauldwell	31.8%	1,454	4,566
De Parys	31.9%	945	2,961
Castle & Newnham	32.2%	1,209	3,753
Harpur	38.7%	1,632	4,218
Greyfriars	47.9%	949	1,980

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

People reporting bad or very bad health

1.6% to 6.5%

People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 1.6% in Biddenham to 6.5% in Goldington — a gap of 4.9 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 28 of 28 current wards with comparable figures.

Residents described their own health. Differences in age matter, so this is a prompt to investigate needs, not a score for local health services.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

People reporting bad or very bad health · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
Biddenham	1.6%	52	3,160
Great Denham	2.2%	102	4,737
Kempston West	2.6%	114	4,345
Shortstown	3.1%	211	6,781
Renhold & Ravensden	3.3%	130	3,928
Wootton & Kempston Rural	3.3%	294	8,784
Great Barford	3.4%	117	3,461
Wixams & Wilstead	3.5%	429	12,237
Kempston South	3.6%	148	4,099
Bromham	3.7%	262	7,084
Riverfield	3.7%	149	3,995
Clapham & Oakley	3.8%	267	7,020
Harrold	3.8%	164	4,261
Castle & Newnham	3.9%	318	8,069
Brickhill	4%	359	9,009
Sharnbrook	4%	158	3,913
Putnoe	4.2%	336	8,090
Riseley	4.2%	169	3,990
Wyboston	4.5%	161	3,552
De Parys	4.6%	331	7,127
Queens Park	4.8%	474	9,779
Kempston Central & East	5%	480	9,660
Kempston North	5.2%	215	4,153
Cauldwell	5.4%	648	12,056
Greyfriars	5.7%	237	4,188
Kingsbrook	6%	640	10,673
Harpur	6.5%	580	8,864
Goldington	6.5%	539	8,232

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

People aged 65 or over

6% to 28.2%

People aged 65 or over ranged from 6% in Great Denham to 28.2% in Sharnbrook — a gap of 22.2 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 28 of 28 current wards with comparable figures.

Age helps locate demand for accessible homes, transport and support. Being older does not itself mean someone needs care.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

People aged 65 or over · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
Great Denham	6%	284	4,727
Queens Park	8.6%	840	9,785
Greyfriars	9%	378	4,190
Cauldwell	9.5%	1,145	12,037
Kempston West	9.8%	427	4,351
Shortstown	10.8%	733	6,781
Kingsbrook	12.6%	1,347	10,672
Wixams & Wilstead	14.2%	1,741	12,230
Kempston Central & East	15.2%	1,464	9,657
Riverfield	15.5%	620	3,994
Wootton & Kempston Rural	16%	1,409	8,798
Renhold & Ravensden	16.3%	643	3,944
Castle & Newnham	16.6%	1,339	8,082
Goldington	16.8%	1,383	8,208
Harpur	17.1%	1,517	8,873
Biddenham	17.8%	564	3,171
Kempston South	18.8%	772	4,107
De Parys	18.8%	1,341	7,127
Kempston North	19.8%	825	4,161
Harrold	20.7%	884	4,261
Clapham & Oakley	21%	1,474	7,014
Brickhill	23.2%	2,087	8,999
Great Barford	23.7%	818	3,454
Riseley	24%	952	3,971
Wyboston	25.7%	913	3,549
Bromham	26.1%	1,847	7,076
Putnoe	27%	2,178	8,070
Sharnbrook	28.2%	1,103	3,916

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

Explore all 28 wards →

What could change things?

The action plan connects local evidence to proposed next steps. Announced projects and proposed responses are shown separately.

strength

Use the opened visitor centre to connect local activity

The former shop now houses information and ticketing services.

Residents and visitors can find more of the borough’s offer.

Evidence

What could help →

weakness

Maintain the Corn Exchange before problems grow

The refurbishment case identifies a tired complex needing investment.

A venue needs safe reliable facilities as well as programming.

Evidence

What could help →

opportunity

Make Greyfriars easier to cross and reach

The current scheme adds walking and cycling infrastructure.

A gateway should work for residents as well as traffic.

Evidence

What could help →

Read the action plan →

Local work to follow

Greyfriars, Bedford

Greyfriars road and public-space works

Resurfacing and walking and cycling improvements are part of the wider gateway scheme.

Works underway September–October 2026 · evidence dated 2026-09-17

Responsible body: Bedford Borough Council

What the source says: Overnight closures were scheduled through 28 October; completion is not yet inferred.

Progress, funding and source

Cost: Not established by the evidence checked.
Funding: Not established by the evidence checked.
Area covered: Named project location only. No official impact boundary has been matched to current wards; proximity does not establish a ward-wide benefit.

No verified ward footprint is assigned.

Greyfriars September construction update →

Source checked 2026-10-17. A plan or announcement is not proof of completion.

Make Greyfriars easier to cross and reach →

How to track delivery →

Mayes Yard, Bedford town centre

What’s On Bedford Borough

A visitor information and box-office space has opened in the former Debenhams building.

Opened 28 May 2025 · source does not state a status date

Responsible body: Bedford Borough Council

What the source says: This completed ground-floor use is separate from wider redevelopment proposals.

Progress, funding and source

Cost: Not established by the evidence checked.
Funding: Not established by the evidence checked.
Area covered: Named project location only. No official impact boundary has been matched to current wards; proximity does not establish a ward-wide benefit.

No verified ward footprint is assigned.

Town-centre programme report February 2026 →

Source checked 2026-10-17. A plan or announcement is not proof of completion.

Use the opened visitor centre to connect local activity →

Connect local skills to local opportunities →

Target support where disadvantages overlap →

How to track delivery →

Bedford Corn Exchange

Corn Exchange refurbishment

An approved business case provides for refurbishment of the performance complex.

Business case and allocation approved; completion not verified · source does not state a status date

Responsible body: Bedford Borough Council

What the source says: The decision provides up to £2.5 million across 2025/26–2026/27; approval is not finished work.

Progress, funding and source

Cost: Not established by the evidence checked.
Funding: Not established by the evidence checked.
Area covered: Named project location only. No official impact boundary has been matched to current wards; proximity does not establish a ward-wide benefit.

No verified ward footprint is assigned.

Corn Exchange refurbishment decision 1802 →

Source checked 2026-10-17. A plan or announcement is not proof of completion.

Maintain the Corn Exchange before problems grow →

Target support where disadvantages overlap →

How to track delivery →

All reviewed projects →

What this local evidence covers

28 of 28 wards

Have at least one valid census comparison with the whole council. Missing measures stay visible.

Read the neighbourhood evidence →

3 reviewed plans and projects

1 have a source-dated stage; 0 have some funding evidence; 0 have some cost evidence. These counts do not prove that funding or costs are complete.

Check each project →

0 verified ward links

Project locations cannot be treated as a map of who benefits. Each record explains any verified ward association.

Read the sources and limits →

What is still missing

The reviewed local schemes are a selected evidence collection, not a complete council capital programme.

Current service capacity, incomes, waiting lists, school demand and project outcomes need additional verified local evidence before firm claims can be made.

Selected local projects, not the complete council programme. Project status is the dated source position; a planned opening date does not prove completion.

Action steps are UK Facts proposals for scrutiny and delivery, not adopted council promises or funded commitments.

Project locations do not establish ward-wide impact. Missing cost or funding means unverified, not zero.

Traceable sources and calculations support review; this is not independent AQuA Book assurance or certification.