Town Pop. 79,153

Living in High Wycombe: Liveability Score 59/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

High Wycombe comes out at 59/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is healthcare: 77/100 against a national town median of 18/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is safety: 38/100 versus a median of 88/100.

That is the highest score of the 4 places in the HP10 postcode district. The HP10 district averages 52/100, putting High Wycombe 7 points above its own postcode area. Its healthcare score runs 34 points above the HP10 district's 43/100. For the surrounding area, see HP10 postcode district.

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.

High Wycombe scores 59 but individual postcodes tell the full story

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

Or compare:

HP10 0AA HP10 8AA HP10 9AA HP10 HP11 HP12 HP13

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety

106.2 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 3,018 crimes

↑ 14% above national average

Anti-social behaviour 1,032 crimes

↓ 14% below national average

Shoplifting 962 crimes

↑ 56% above national average

Other theft 701 crimes

↑ 44% above national average

Public order 642 crimes

↑ 25% above national average

other 2,049 crimes

Highest-crime locations

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1 Petrol Station 528 crimes
2 Parking Area 452 crimes
3 Supermarket 401 crimes

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

Environment

Air Quality NO₂ 9.6 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 11.5 µg/m³

Green Space 59

Parks Ample 31

Sports Pitches Ample 46

Allotments Ample 7

Golf Courses Adequate 2

Tennis Courts Ample 24

Bowling Greens Adequate 2

Playgrounds Ample 41

Services

Schools

Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 34 in area · 35 within 4km

5Outstanding15Good4Requires Improvement2Inadequate8Ungraded

AspireAlternative provision · inspected 2022
Outstanding
Bowerdean Nursery SchoolNursery · inspected 2023
Outstanding
Chepping View Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
Outstanding
John Hampden Grammar SchoolSecondary · inspected 2022
Outstanding
Wycombe High SchoolSecondary · inspected 2024
Outstanding
Abbey View Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Booker Hill Primary School & NurseryPrimary · inspected 2023
Good
Castlefield SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Chiltern Wood SchoolSpecial · inspected 2024
Good
Cressex Community SchoolSecondary · inspected 2024
Good

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

A&E departmentsWexham Park Hospital7.8 mi

Stoke Mandeville Hospital10.4 mi

Hillingdon Hospital11.9 mi

Hospital waitsMidlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1 mi

Routine referral (median)4 wks

Treated within 18 weeks92.8%

9 GP surgeries in area 11 within 4km best 'Good'

GP capacity2,461 patients per GP

17dentists12pharmacies

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)72.7%

available across Buckinghamshire

Gigabit-capable · incl. cable

85%

Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)

88.2%

Superfast (30+ Mbps)

99.9%

Ofcom Connected Nations · 1,527 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health

Employment rate62.7%

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

Economic activity (16+)

Employed62.7%Unemployed4.1%Retired14.4%Student5.8%Other inactive13%

Occupation mix

Professional & managerial40.8%Skilled & technical32.7%Routine & elementary26.5%

Highest qualification (16+)

No qualifications17.7%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)12.8%Level 3 (A levels)15.3%Level 4+ (degree & above)36.7%Apprenticeship4.6%Other (incl. vocational)3%

Home ownership59.4%

Around the England average for deprivation

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

Bills

Council tax Buckinghamshire · 2026-27

A £1,685

B £1,965

C £2,246

D £2,527

E £3,089

F £3,650

G £4,212

H £5,054

Energy Southern 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

High Wycombe 0.4 mi

Bourne End 4 mi

Marlow 4 mi

J4 M40 1.1 mi

J4 M40 1.6 mi

J3 M40 3.3 mi

Lifestyle

Pubs & Bars Ample 23

Restaurants & Cafes Ample 69

Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 83

Retail Shopping Ample 384

Takeaways Ample 94

Fitness Ample 24

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House Prices

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

Type	Median price	Sales
All dwellings	£380,000	447
Detached	£572,500	75
Semi-detached	£412,400	161
Terraced	£375,000	89
Flat / Maisonette	£217,750	122

5-year monthly trend

All Detached Semi Terraced Flat

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

Frequently asked questions

Is High Wycombe a nice place to live?

High Wycombe is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for High Wycombe is 59/100, 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 High Wycombe?

High Wycombe has above-average crime levels. Our safety score is 38/100. There were 8,404 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in High Wycombe?

Among the top-rated schools in High Wycombe are Aspire, Bowerdean Nursery School and Chepping View Primary Academy, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 34 rated schools in High Wycombe in total.

What are house prices like in High Wycombe?

The current median house price in High Wycombe is £380,000, around 33% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £572,500, semi-detached £412,400, terraced £375,000, flat £217,750. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 15%. There were 447 sales recorded in the past 12 months.