Town Pop. 13,829

Living in Biggleswade: Liveability Score 53/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Biggleswade scores 53/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is lifestyle: 61/100 against a national town median of 21/100. Safety falls furthest short: 66/100 where the typical UK town reaches 88/100.

No other settlement in the SG18 postcode district scores higher. Biggleswade leads all 8. The SG18 district averages 47/100, putting Biggleswade 6 points above its own postcode area. On lifestyle specifically, Biggleswade sits 8 points above the SG18 district figure of 53/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: SG18 postcode district.

53
OUT OF 100
Average
Score for:

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.

Biggleswade scores 53 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Biggleswade.
Or compare:
SG18 0AA SG18 1AP SG18 8AA SG18 9AA SG18

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
66
79 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 323 crimes
↓ 30% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 214 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Shoplifting 147 crimes
↑ 36% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 91 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Public order 75 crimes
↓ 17% below national average
other 243 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Shopping Area 88 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 83 crimes
  3. 3 Bonds Lane 76 crimes

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

Environment
64
Air Quality NO₂ 7.9 · PM2.5 7.1 · PM10 12.2 µg/m³
70
Green Space 50
Parks Ample 67
Sports Pitches Ample 9
Allotments None
Golf Courses Adequate 2
Tennis Courts Ample 7
Bowling Greens Adequate 2
Playgrounds Ample 25

Services

Schools
37
6 schools in area · 10 within 4km
4Good2Ungraded
  • Biggleswade AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Ivel Valley School & CollegeSpecial · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Lawnside AcademyPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Andrew's CofE VC Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
    Good
  • Edward Peake CofE VC SchoolSecondary · inspected 2025
    Ungraded
  • Stratton SchoolSecondary · inspected 2025
    Ungraded

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

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

Healthcare
28
A&E departmentsBedford Hospital South Wing8.7 mi
Lister Hospital9.9 mi
Luton and Dunstable Hospital15.3 mi
Hospital waitsCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust7.3 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs71.1%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity2,540 patients per GP
4dentists3pharmacies

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
74
Full fibre (FTTP)68.3%
available across Central Bedfordshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
94.5%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
94.9%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.9%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 441 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
58
Employment rate63.9%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed63.9%Unemployed2.7%Retired22.3%Student2.7%Other inactive8.3%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial39.8%Skilled & technical34.3%Routine & elementary26%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications16.5%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.9%Level 3 (A levels)18.3%Level 4+ (degree & above)30.7%Apprenticeship6.3%Other (incl. vocational)2.4%
Home ownership67.5%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
40
Council tax Central Bedfordshire · 2026-27
A £1,677
B £1,957
C £2,236
D £2,516
E £3,075
F £3,634
G £4,193
H £5,032
Energy Eastern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band C
Water Affinity Water
Average bill regional £490/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
53
Biggleswade 0.4 mi
Sandy 3.1 mi
Arlesey 4.1 mi
J10 A1(M) 5 mi
J10 A1(M) 5.7 mi
J9 A1(M) 8.4 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
61
Pubs & Bars Ample 23
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 24
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 14
Retail Shopping Ample 103
Takeaways Ample 25
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 £340,000 187
Detached £500,000 38
Semi-detached £375,000 53
Terraced £312,500 62
Flat / Maisonette £200,000 34
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£161k £284k £411k £534k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Broom (Central Bedfordshire) 37 1.9 mi away ⇄
Upper Caldecote 37 2.1 mi away ⇄
Langford (Central Bedfordshire) 45 2.3 mi away ⇄
Dunton 42 2.3 mi away ⇄
Beeston (Central Bedfordshire) 42 3.0 mi away ⇄
Ickwell 40 3.1 mi away ⇄
Southill 41 3.3 mi away ⇄
Northill 37 3.4 mi away ⇄
Potton 48 3.4 mi away ⇄
Sandy 52 3.8 mi away ⇄
Henlow 48 3.9 mi away ⇄
Clifton (Central Bedfordshire) 51 4.0 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Biggleswade a nice place to live?

Biggleswade is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Biggleswade is 53/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Biggleswade?

Biggleswade has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 66/100. There were 1,093 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Biggleswade?

Among the top-rated schools in Biggleswade are Biggleswade Academy, Ivel Valley School & College and Lawnside Academy, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 6 rated schools in Biggleswade in total.

What are house prices like in Biggleswade?

The current median house price in Biggleswade is £340,000, around 19% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £500,000, semi-detached £375,000, terraced £312,500, flat £200,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 3%. There were 187 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Biggleswade in context

See where Biggleswade ranks among the best places to live in Bedfordshire

Postcode districts in Biggleswade

SG18 47 ⇄

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