Town Pop. 757

Living in Willington (Bedford): Liveability Score 34/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Willington (Bedford) scores 34/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 9/100 versus a median of 60/100. Willington (Bedford) places 9th of 16 in the MK44 postcode district.

That sits 16 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the bottom quarter of the towns and villages we score. Below 30/100: healthcare (6), lifestyle (12), schools (13) and transport (22). For the surrounding area, see MK44 postcode district.

34
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.

Willington (Bedford) scores 34 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Willington (Bedford).
Or compare:
MK44 1AA MK44 2AA MK44 3AA MK44 5AB MK44

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
76
124.2 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Anti-social behaviour 39 crimes
↑ 239% above national average
Violence and sexual offences 14 crimes
↓ 44% below national average
Burglary 11 crimes
↑ 314% above national average
Other theft 9 crimes
↑ 92% above national average
Vehicle crime 8 crimes
↑ 121% above national average
other 13 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Chapel Lane 22 crimes
  2. 2 Church End 15 crimes
  3. 3 Burrsholt 12 crimes

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

Environment
55
Air Quality NO₂ 6.662 · PM2.5 6.964 · PM10 12.591 µg/m³
71
Green Space 18
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
13
1 school in area · 4 within 4km
1Good
  • Sheerhatch Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
    Good

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
6
A&E departmentsBedford Hospital South Wing3.6 mi
Lister Hospital15.7 mi
Milton Keynes University Hospital16.6 mi
Hospital waitsEast And North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust1.8 mi
Routine referral (median)10 wks
Treated within 18 weeks68.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs74.7%
Nearest GP surgeryGreat Barford Surgery1.8 mi
GP capacity1,777 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
9
Full fibre (FTTP)70.4%
available across Bedford
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
0.6%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
0.6%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
93.6%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 22 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
69
Employment rate55.2%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed55.2%Unemployed1.8%Retired32.6%Student2.8%Other inactive7.6%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial47.3%Skilled & technical37.3%Routine & elementary15.3%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications14.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.2%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.3%Level 3 (A levels)17.4%Level 4+ (degree & above)38.5%Apprenticeship6.7%Other (incl. vocational)1.7%
Home ownership81.4%
Among the least-deprived 39% 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
22
Bedford St Johns 3.9 mi
Sandy 4.1 mi
Bedford 4.4 mi
J10 A1(M) 10.9 mi
J10 A1(M) 11.5 mi
J13 M1 12.1 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
12
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 1
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping Some 2
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Willington (Bedford) 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

Cople 34 0.9 mi away ⇄
Moggerhanger 31 1.8 mi away ⇄
Great Barford 43 1.8 mi away ⇄
Cardington 31 1.9 mi away ⇄
Workhouse End 32 1.9 mi away ⇄
Blunham 23 2.6 mi away ⇄
Shortstown 43 2.7 mi away ⇄
Salph End 32 2.8 mi away ⇄
Northill 37 3.1 mi away ⇄
Cotton End 35 3.3 mi away ⇄
Bedford 59 3.4 mi away ⇄
Ickwell 40 3.5 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Willington (Bedford) a nice place to live?

Willington (Bedford) has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Willington (Bedford) is 34/100, 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 Willington (Bedford)?

Willington (Bedford) is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 76/100. There were 94 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Willington (Bedford)?

Among the top-rated schools in Willington (Bedford) is Sheerhatch Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Willington (Bedford) in total.

Willington (Bedford) in context

See the best places to live in Bedfordshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Willington (Bedford)

MK44 35 ⇄

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