Town Pop. 201

Living in Upper Dean: Liveability Score 43/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Upper Dean is 43/100, built from 9 categories. Broadband is where Upper Dean most outperforms the national norm: 99/100 against a median of 60/100 across UK towns. Furthest below the national norm is transport, at 3/100 against a town median of 21/100.

That makes it the 15th highest-scoring of the 30 places in the PE28 postcode district. Its categories are unusually uneven: 96 points separate broadband (99) from transport (3), a wider spread than about nine in ten UK towns. Its broadband score runs 52 points above the PE28 district's 47/100. For the surrounding area, see PE28 postcode district.

43
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.

Upper Dean scores 43 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Upper Dean.
Or compare:
PE28 0AA PE28 2AA PE28 3AA PE28 4AB PE28 5AA PE28 9AA PE28

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
95
164.2 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 11 crimes
↑ 64% above national average
Vehicle crime 6 crimes
↑ 523% above national average
Drugs 4 crimes
↑ 503% above national average
Burglary 4 crimes
↑ 469% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 3 crimes
≈ similar to national average
other 5 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 High Street 6 crimes
  2. 2 Brook Lane 3 crimes
  3. 3 B645 3 crimes

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

Environment
64
Air Quality NO₂ 5.1 · PM2.5 6.6 · PM10 11.5 µg/m³
74
Green Space 40
Parks Adequate 2
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
6
1 school in area
1Good
  • Eileen Wade Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsBedford Hospital South Wing11.5 mi
Kettering General Hospital13.5 mi
Northampton General Hospital18 mi
Hospital waitsCambridgeshire And Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust3.2 mi
Routine referral (median)22 wks
Treated within 18 weeks37.2%
Nearest GP surgeryKimbolton Medical Centre3.2 mi
GP capacity1,682 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
99
Full fibre (FTTP)70.4%
available across Bedford
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
100%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
100%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 10 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
87
Employment rate58.2%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed58.2%Unemployed1.8%Retired29.7%Student3%Other inactive7.3%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial53.1%Skilled & technical34.8%Routine & elementary12.2%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications10.7%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)7%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)12.6%Level 3 (A levels)16.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)46.1%Apprenticeship4.6%Other (incl. vocational)2.4%
Home ownership83.1%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
40
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 E
Water Anglian Water
Average bill regional £498/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
3
Wellingborough 8.9 mi
St Neots 10.3 mi
Bedford 11.2 mi
J14 A1(M) 10.6 mi
J15 A1(M) 12.1 mi
J15 A1(M) 13.1 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
10
Pubs & Bars None
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Upper Dean 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

Hargrave 49 1.9 mi away ⇄
Tilbrook 0 2.2 mi away ⇄
Riseley (Bedford) 41 3.1 mi away ⇄
Kimbolton 45 3.2 mi away ⇄
Catworth 30 4.2 mi away ⇄
Keysoe Row 41 4.6 mi away ⇄
Raunds 51 4.6 mi away ⇄
Little Staughton 38 4.6 mi away ⇄
Backnoe End 0 4.7 mi away ⇄
Stanwick 51 4.8 mi away ⇄
Great Staughton 37 5.5 mi away ⇄
Higham Ferrers 52 5.5 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Upper Dean a nice place to live?

Upper Dean has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Upper Dean is 43/100, 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 Upper Dean?

Upper Dean is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 95/100. There were 33 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Upper Dean?

Among the top-rated schools in Upper Dean is Eileen Wade Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Upper Dean in total.

Upper Dean in context

See the best places to live in Bedfordshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Upper Dean

PE28 40 ⇄

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