Town Pop. 1,256

Living in Harrold: Liveability Score 40/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Harrold is 40/100, built from 9 categories. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is healthcare: 44/100 against a national town median of 18/100. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 19/100 against a town median of 60/100.

That makes it the 11th highest-scoring of the 20 places in the MK43 postcode district. On healthcare specifically, Harrold sits 13 points above the MK43 district figure of 31/100. That sits 10 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the middle half of the towns and villages we score. For the surrounding area, see MK43 postcode district.

40
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.

Harrold scores 40 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Harrold.
Or compare:
MK43 0AA MK43 1AA MK43 2AA MK43 6AZ MK43 7AA MK43 8AA MK43 9AA MK43

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
81
86.8 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 41 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Anti-social behaviour 18 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Criminal damage and arson 16 crimes
↑ 87% above national average
Shoplifting 7 crimes
↓ 28% below national average
Burglary 6 crimes
↑ 37% above national average
other 21 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 White Lane 20 crimes
  2. 2 Peach'S Close 14 crimes
  3. 3 Hall Close 11 crimes

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

Environment
54
Air Quality NO₂ 5.3 · PM2.5 6.6 · PM10 11.4 µg/m³
74
Green Space 9
Parks Adequate 2
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Adequate 4

Services

Schools
17
2 schools in area
1Good1Ungraded
  • Harrold Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Carlton CofE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded

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

Healthcare
44
A&E departmentsBedford Hospital South Wing7.3 mi
Northampton General Hospital11.4 mi
Milton Keynes University Hospital12.9 mi
Hospital waitsKettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust5.5 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks64.4%
A&E seen within 4 hrs80.2%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity2,250 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

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
19
Full fibre (FTTP)70.4%
available across Bedford
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
35.8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
35.8%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.3%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 35 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
75
Employment rate61.1%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed61.1%Unemployed2%Retired25%Student4.3%Other inactive7.5%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial54.8%Skilled & technical30.6%Routine & elementary14.6%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications11.3%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)7.9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.2%Level 3 (A levels)16.1%Level 4+ (degree & above)43.9%Apprenticeship4.8%Other (incl. vocational)1.7%
Home ownership70.6%
Among the least-deprived 37% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
45
Council tax Bedford · 2026-27
A £1,648
B £1,923
C £2,197
D £2,472
E £3,021
F £3,571
G £4,120
H £4,944
Energy Eastern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Anglian Water
Average bill regional £498/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
3
Bedford 7.2 mi
Wellingborough 7.5 mi
Bedford St Johns 7.9 mi
J14 M1 10.6 mi
J14 M1 10.7 mi
J14 M1 10.8 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
17
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes Some 3
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £315,000 13
5-year monthly trend
All
£310k £354k £400k £445k 2022 2023 2024 2025

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

Nearby places

Carlton (Bedford) 37 0.9 mi away ⇄
Felmersham 36 2.5 mi away ⇄
Pavenham 36 2.6 mi away ⇄
Turvey 36 2.8 mi away ⇄
Sharnbrook 45 3.0 mi away ⇄
Lavendon 42 3.0 mi away ⇄
Bozeat 43 3.1 mi away ⇄
Stevington 34 3.3 mi away ⇄
Podington 34 3.6 mi away ⇄
Oakley (Bedford) 44 4.2 mi away ⇄
Wollaston 44 4.5 mi away ⇄
Wymington 34 4.8 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Harrold a nice place to live?

Harrold has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Harrold is 40/100, 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 Harrold?

Harrold is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 81/100. There were 109 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Harrold?

Among the top-rated schools in Harrold is Harrold Primary Academy, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 2 rated schools in Harrold in total.

What are house prices like in Harrold?

The current median house price in Harrold is £315,000, around 11% above the England and Wales average.

Harrold in context

See the best places to live in Bedfordshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Harrold

MK43 42 ⇄

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