Town Pop. 18,917

Living in Bideford: Liveability Score 44/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Bideford comes out at 44/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is healthcare: 49/100 against a national town median of 18/100. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 52/100 against a town median of 88/100.

Bideford places 3rd of 8 in the EX39 postcode district. Its healthcare score runs 9 points above the EX39 district's 40/100. Transport (18) and bills (29) all fall below 30/100. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the EX39 postcode district.

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Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Bideford scores 44 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Bideford.

Or compare:

EX39 1AA EX39 2AA EX39 3AA EX39 4AB EX39 5AA EX39 6AA EX39 9DY EX39

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety

96.1 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3

Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months

Violence and sexual offences 725 crimes

↑ 15% above national average

Anti-social behaviour 344 crimes

↑ 20% above national average

Criminal damage and arson 170 crimes

↑ 32% above national average

Shoplifting 168 crimes

↑ 14% above national average

Public order 122 crimes

≈ similar to national average

other 289 crimes

Highest-crime locations

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1 Supermarket 151 crimes
2 The Quay 89 crimes
3 Parking Area 62 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment

Air Quality NO₂ 3.2 · PM2.5 4.7 · PM10 8.5 µg/m³

Green Space 29

Parks Ample 17

Sports Pitches Ample 15

Allotments Adequate 2

Golf Courses None

Tennis Courts Some 2

Bowling Greens Adequate 2

Playgrounds Ample 23

Services

Schools

5 schools in area · 8 within 4km

5Good

Bideford CollegeSecondary · inspected 2022
Good
East-the-Water Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
Good
St Helen's Church of England SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
Good
St Mary's CofE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
Good
West Croft SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
Good

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare

A&E departmentsNorth Devon District Hospital7.7 mi

Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford)35.7 mi

Liskeard Community Hospital38.6 mi

Hospital waitsRoyal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust0.3 mi

Routine referral (median)12 wks

Treated within 18 weeks62.7%

A&E seen within 4 hrs70.6%

2 GP surgeries in area 3 within 4km best 'Good'

GP capacity1,305 patients per GP

3dentists3pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband

Full fibre (FTTP)63.2%

available across Torridge

Gigabit-capable · incl. cable

81.1%

Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)

81.1%

Superfast (30+ Mbps)

98.8%

Ofcom Connected Nations · 446 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health

Employment rate54.3%

Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+

Economic activity (16+)

Employed54.3%Unemployed2.8%Retired27.3%Student3.2%Other inactive12.3%

Occupation mix

Professional & managerial28.8%Skilled & technical36%Routine & elementary35.1%

Highest qualification (16+)

No qualifications18.7%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.4%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.1%Level 3 (A levels)18.5%Level 4+ (degree & above)25.3%Apprenticeship7.5%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%

Home ownership65%

Among the most-deprived 39% of areas in England

Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD

Bills

Council tax Torridge · 2026-27

A £1,734

B £2,023

C £2,312

D £2,601

E £3,179

F £3,757

G £4,335

H £5,202

Energy South West England region

Typical bill regional £1,641/yr

Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026

Typical home efficiency local EPC band D

Water South West Water

Average bill regional £600/yr

Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Barnstaple 7.6 mi

Chapelton 8.2 mi

Umberleigh 10.1 mi

No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Pubs & Bars Ample 11

Restaurants & Cafes Ample 24

Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 8

Retail Shopping Ample 98

Takeaways Ample 14

Fitness Adequate 4

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type	Median price	Sales
All dwellings	£223,500	156
Detached	£325,000	39
Semi-detached	£243,500	24
Terraced	£195,000	79
Flat / Maisonette	£126,250	14

5-year monthly trend

All Detached Semi Terraced Flat

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Frequently asked questions

Is Bideford a nice place to live?

Bideford has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Bideford is 44/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Bideford?

Bideford has crime levels around the national average. Our safety score is 52/100. There were 1,818 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Bideford?

Among the top-rated schools in Bideford are Bideford College, East-the-Water Community Primary School and St Helen's Church of England School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 5 rated schools in Bideford in total.

What are house prices like in Bideford?

The current median house price in Bideford is £223,500, around 22% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £325,000, semi-detached £243,500, terraced £195,000, flat £126,250. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 3%. There were 156 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Bideford in context

See where Bideford ranks among the best places to live in Devon

Postcode districts in Bideford

EX39 43 ⇄

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