Town Pop. 917

Living in Heath and Reach: Liveability Score 42/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Heath and Reach comes out at 42/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is broadband: 97/100 against a national town median of 60/100. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 68/100 against a town median of 88/100.

Among the 14 scored places sharing the LU7 postcode district, Heath and Reach ranks 3rd. It scores 12 points below the LU7 postcode district as a whole, which averages 54/100. On broadband specifically, Heath and Reach sits 52 points above the LU7 district figure of 45/100. For the surrounding area, see LU7 postcode district.

42
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.

Heath and Reach scores 42 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Heath and Reach.
Or compare:
LU7 0AA LU7 1AA LU7 2AB LU7 3AA LU7 4AD LU7 6AG LU7 9AA LU7

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
68
182.1 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 44 crimes
↑ 44% above national average
Other theft 23 crimes
↑ 305% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 21 crimes
↑ 51% above national average
Vehicle crime 20 crimes
↑ 354% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 18 crimes
↑ 188% above national average
other 41 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Clifford Close 26 crimes
  2. 2 Thrift Road 14 crimes
  3. 3 Mile Tree Road 12 crimes

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

Environment
65
Air Quality NO₂ 6.8 · PM2.5 7 · PM10 11.7 µg/m³
72
Green Space 50
Parks Adequate 4
Sports Pitches None
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
26
4 schools in area · 18 within 4km
3Good1Ungraded
  • Heathwood Lower SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Oak Bank SchoolSpecial · inspected 2024
    Good
  • St Leonards CE AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Dovery AcademyPrimary · 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
9
A&E departmentsMilton Keynes University Hospital6.2 mi
Luton and Dunstable Hospital8.2 mi
Stoke Mandeville Hospital11.6 mi
Hospital waitsCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust6.6 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs71.1%
Nearest GP surgeryDr Henderson and Partners1.9 mi
GP capacity2,324 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
97
Full fibre (FTTP)68.3%
available across Central Bedfordshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
98.9%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
98.9%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 29 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
68
Employment rate61.5%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed61.5%Unemployed2.7%Retired23.5%Student2.9%Other inactive9.4%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial44.1%Skilled & technical34.7%Routine & elementary21.2%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.9%Level 3 (A levels)18.5%Level 4+ (degree & above)33%Apprenticeship6.7%Other (incl. vocational)2.7%
Home ownership76.9%
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 D
Water Affinity Water
Average bill regional £490/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
10
Leighton Buzzard 2.2 mi
Bow Brickhill 4.4 mi
Fenny Stratford 4.6 mi
J12 M1 5.9 mi
J13 M1 6.1 mi
J13 M1 6.1 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
19
Pubs & Bars Adequate 3
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Heath and Reach in the last 12 months, which isn't enough for a reliable median. Smaller villages often fall below this in any given year. Figures come from HM Land Registry Price Paid data and are updated monthly, so this may fill in later.

Nearby places

Great Brickhill 43 1.8 mi away ⇄
Leighton Buzzard 57 1.8 mi away ⇄
Soulbury 41 2.6 mi away ⇄
Stoke Hammond 43 2.7 mi away ⇄
Little Brickhill 46 2.8 mi away ⇄
Hockliffe 33 3.3 mi away ⇄
Woburn 44 3.4 mi away ⇄
Billington (Central Bedfordshire) 34 3.7 mi away ⇄
Stanbridge 35 3.7 mi away ⇄
Bow Brickhill 46 4.1 mi away ⇄
Tilsworth 32 4.2 mi away ⇄
Wing (Buckinghamshire) 54 4.2 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Heath and Reach a nice place to live?

Heath and Reach has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Heath and Reach is 42/100, 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 Heath and Reach?

Heath and Reach has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 68/100. There were 167 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Heath and Reach?

Among the top-rated schools in Heath and Reach are Heathwood Lower School, Oak Bank School and St Leonards CE Academy, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 4 rated schools in Heath and Reach in total.

Heath and Reach in context

See the best places to live in Bedfordshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Heath and Reach

LU7 54 ⇄

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