Town Pop. 20,090

Living in Houghton Regis: Liveability Score 53/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Houghton Regis comes out at 53/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Measured against other towns, schools stands out most: 66/100 where the typical UK town scores 23/100. Safety falls furthest short: 40/100 where the typical UK town reaches 88/100.

Among the 5 scored places sharing the LU5 postcode district, Houghton Regis ranks 3rd. Broadband (81) sits at 80/100 or above. On the national picture that lands Houghton Regis in the top quarter of all the places we score. Wider context for the surrounding area: LU5 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.

Houghton Regis scores 53 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Houghton Regis.
Or compare:
LU5 4AA LU5 5AA LU5 6AA LU5 7AA LU5 LU6

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
40
103.7 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 800 crimes
↑ 20% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 430 crimes
↑ 41% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 151 crimes
↑ 10% above national average
Vehicle crime 143 crimes
↑ 48% above national average
Public order 132 crimes
≈ similar to national average
other 427 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Parking Area 123 crimes
  2. 2 Morpeth Crescent 78 crimes
  3. 3 Houghton Road 77 crimes

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

Environment
60
Air Quality NO₂ 9.1 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 12.2 µg/m³
69
Green Space 38
Parks Ample 22
Sports Pitches Ample 5
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Ample 15

Services

Schools
66
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 17 in area · 35 within 4km
12Good5Ungraded
  • Chalton Lower SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Chantry Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Hadrian AcademyPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Houghton Regis Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Lime Tree Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • St Martin De Porres Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • St Vincent's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • The Academy of Central BedfordshireAlternative provision · inspected 2024
    Good
  • The Chalk Hills AcademySecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • The Chiltern SchoolSpecial · inspected 2023
    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
54
A&E departmentsLuton and Dunstable Hospital1.2 mi
Milton Keynes University Hospital11.2 mi
Lister Hospital12.1 mi
Hospital waitsEast And North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust1 mi
Routine referral (median)10 wks
Treated within 18 weeks68.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs74.7%
1 GP surgery in area 9 within 4km best 'Requires improvement'
GP capacity2,000 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
81
Full fibre (FTTP)68.3%
available across Central Bedfordshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
95.5%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
95.5%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.3%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 355 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
37
Employment rate63.5%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed63.5%Unemployed3.8%Retired14.9%Student4.5%Other inactive13.2%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial30.6%Skilled & technical35%Routine & elementary34.4%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications21.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)12.9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.9%Level 3 (A levels)16.4%Level 4+ (degree & above)26%Apprenticeship5.7%Other (incl. vocational)3%
Home ownership60.1%
Among the most-deprived 40% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
46
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
46
Leagrave 2.7 mi
Harlington 3.8 mi
Luton 4.9 mi
J11A M1 1.5 mi
J11A M1 1.7 mi
J11 M1 2.2 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
52
Pubs & Bars Adequate 7
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 7
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 8
Retail Shopping Adequate 18
Takeaways Adequate 6
Fitness Some 1

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £315,000 131
Detached £429,995 15
Semi-detached £335,000 49
Terraced £295,000 51
Flat / Maisonette £165,500 16
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£148k £256k £368k £476k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Dunstable 58 1.7 mi away ⇄
Chalton 0 2.0 mi away ⇄
Tebworth 33 2.2 mi away ⇄
Tilsworth 32 2.5 mi away ⇄
Totternhoe 39 2.7 mi away ⇄
Toddington 41 2.8 mi away ⇄
Hockliffe 33 3.1 mi away ⇄
Stanbridge 35 3.2 mi away ⇄
Eaton Bray and Edlesborough 43 3.8 mi away ⇄
Luton 65 3.9 mi away ⇄
Kensworth 35 3.9 mi away ⇄
Caddington 56 4.1 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Houghton Regis a nice place to live?

Houghton Regis is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Houghton Regis 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 Houghton Regis?

Houghton Regis has above-average crime levels. Our safety score is 40/100. There were 2,083 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Houghton Regis?

Among the top-rated schools in Houghton Regis are Chalton Lower School, Chantry Primary Academy and Hadrian Academy, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 17 rated schools in Houghton Regis in total.

What are house prices like in Houghton Regis?

The current median house price in Houghton Regis is £315,000, around 11% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £429,995, semi-detached £335,000, terraced £295,000, flat £165,500. There were 131 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Houghton Regis in context

See where Houghton Regis ranks among the best places to live in Bedfordshire

Postcode districts in Houghton Regis

LU5 55 ⇄
LU6 57 ⇄

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