Town Pop. 7,472

Living in Bude: Liveability Score 44/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Bude is 44/100, built from 9 categories. Transport is where Bude most outperforms the national norm: 39/100 against a median of 21/100 across UK towns. Economic health falls furthest short: 38/100 where the typical UK town reaches 67/100.

No other settlement in the EX23 postcode district scores higher. Bude leads all 6. The EX23 district averages 37/100, putting Bude 7 points above its own postcode area. On transport specifically, Bude sits 17 points above the EX23 district figure of 22/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: EX23 postcode district.

44
OUT OF 100
Below Avg
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.

Bude scores 44 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Bude.
Or compare:
EX23 0AA EX23 3AN EX23 8AA EX23 9AA EX23

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
63
101.4 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 321 crimes
↑ 29% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 96 crimes
↓ 16% below national average
Shoplifting 78 crimes
↑ 33% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 65 crimes
↑ 28% above national average
Other theft 62 crimes
↑ 34% above national average
other 136 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Supermarket 131 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 32 crimes
  3. 3 Petrol Station 22 crimes

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

Environment
65
Air Quality NO₂ 2.4 · PM2.5 4.6 · PM10 8.1 µg/m³
83
Green Space 22
Parks Ample 7
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments None
Golf Courses Adequate 2
Tennis Courts Ample 8
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Adequate 4

Services

Schools
27
4 schools in area · 5 within 4km
2Good2Ungraded
  • Budehaven Community SchoolSecondary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Stratton Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Bude Primary Academy - InfantsPrimary · inspected 2025
    Ungraded
  • Bude Primary Academy - JuniorsPrimary · 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
34
A&E departmentsLiskeard Community Hospital24.9 mi
Bodmin Hospital25.5 mi
North Devon District Hospital27.3 mi
Hospital waitsRoyal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust0.1 mi
Routine referral (median)8 wks
Treated within 18 weeks73.7%
A&E seen within 4 hrs79.6%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Outstanding'
GP capacity2,156 patients per GP
1dentist2pharmacies

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
43
Full fibre (FTTP)62.7%
available across Cornwall
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
72.5%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
72.5%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
97.1%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 235 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
38
Employment rate48.3%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed48.3%Unemployed2.9%Retired34%Student3.1%Other inactive11.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial31.8%Skilled & technical37.9%Routine & elementary30.3%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications16.8%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.3%Level 3 (A levels)18.3%Level 4+ (degree & above)27.5%Apprenticeship6.5%Other (incl. vocational)2.7%
Home ownership63.4%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
30
Council tax Cornwall · 2026-27
A £1,727
B £2,015
C £2,303
D £2,591
E £3,167
F £3,743
G £4,318
H £5,182
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 C
Water South West Water
Average bill regional £600/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
39
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

No nearby stations or motorway junctions found.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
39
Pubs & Bars Adequate 6
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 19
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 6
Retail Shopping Ample 52
Takeaways Adequate 6
Fitness Ample 5

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £355,000 59
Detached £427,750 26
Semi-detached £300,000 16
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£148k £281k £419k £552k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Stratton (Cornwall) 44 0.9 mi away ⇄
Poughill 41 1.1 mi away ⇄
Marhamchurch 38 1.7 mi away ⇄
Widemouth Bay 33 2.6 mi away ⇄
Kilkhampton 31 4.0 mi away ⇄
Week St Mary 36 5.7 mi away ⇄
Chilsworthy (Torridge) 37 7.1 mi away ⇄
Holsworthy 43 8.1 mi away ⇄
Bradworthy 30 8.4 mi away ⇄
Hartland 42 12 mi away ⇄
Woolfardisworthy 33 12 mi away ⇄
Boscastle 34 12 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Bude a nice place to live?

Bude has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Bude 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 Bude?

Bude has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 63/100. There were 758 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Bude?

Among the top-rated schools in Bude are Budehaven Community School and Stratton Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 4 rated schools in Bude in total.

What are house prices like in Bude?

The current median house price in Bude is £355,000, around 25% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £427,750, semi-detached £300,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 17%. There were 59 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Bude in context

See where Bude ranks among the best places to live in Cornwall

Postcode districts in Bude

EX23 37 ⇄

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