Town Pop. 1,559

Living in Wilstead: Liveability Score 43/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Wilstead is 43/100, built from 9 categories. Schools is where Wilstead most outperforms the national norm: 41/100 against a median of 23/100 across UK towns. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 35/100 against a town median of 60/100.

Wilstead places 10th of 19 in the MK45 postcode district. Its categories are unusually uneven: 91 points separate safety (94) from healthcare (3), a wider spread than about nine in ten UK towns. The MK45 district averages 48/100, putting Wilstead 5 points below its own postcode area. Wider context for the surrounding area: MK45 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.

Wilstead scores 43 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Wilstead.
Or compare:
MK45 1AA MK45 2AA MK45 3AA MK45 4AA MK45 5AA MK45 6AG MK45 9AB MK45

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
94
29.5 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 21 crimes
↓ 59% below national average
Vehicle crime 8 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Anti-social behaviour 6 crimes
↓ 75% below national average
Burglary 4 crimes
↓ 26% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 3 crimes
↓ 72% below national average
other 4 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Maple Close 4 crimes
  2. 2 Church Farm Avenue 4 crimes
  3. 3 Town Close 4 crimes

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

Environment
54
Air Quality NO₂ 6.5 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 12.2 µg/m³
72
Green Space 15
Parks Ample 8
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Adequate 4

Services

Schools
41
2 schools in area · 10 within 4km
2Good
  • Lakeview SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Wilstead Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good

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

Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsBedford Hospital South Wing3.2 mi
Luton and Dunstable Hospital12.3 mi
Milton Keynes University Hospital12.6 mi
Hospital waitsCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust3.6 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs71.1%
Nearest GP surgeryLondon Road Surgery3.3 mi
GP capacity1,961 patients per GP
0dentists1pharmacy

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
35
Full fibre (FTTP)70.4%
available across Bedford
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
66.9%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
69.4%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 68 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
81
Employment rate51.7%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed51.7%Unemployed1.4%Retired37.9%Student2.4%Other inactive6.6%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial44.2%Skilled & technical32%Routine & elementary23.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications20.5%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.1%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)12.5%Level 3 (A levels)16.2%Level 4+ (degree & above)31.4%Apprenticeship7.3%Other (incl. vocational)2%
Home ownership85.2%
Among the least-deprived 25% 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 C
Water Anglian Water
Average bill regional £498/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
12
Kempston Hardwick 2.7 mi
Stewartby 3.4 mi
Bedford St Johns 3.6 mi
J13 M1 7.6 mi
J13 M1 8 mi
J12 M1 8.6 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
29
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes Some 1
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways Some 2
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Wilstead 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

Wixams 44 1.4 mi away ⇄
Cotton End 35 1.6 mi away ⇄
Houghton Conquest 29 1.7 mi away ⇄
Kempston Hardwick 41 2.1 mi away ⇄
Shortstown 43 2.3 mi away ⇄
Haynes 34 2.6 mi away ⇄
Stewartby 43 3.0 mi away ⇄
Cardington 31 3.0 mi away ⇄
Kempston 56 3.3 mi away ⇄
Maulden 49 3.6 mi away ⇄
Clophill 44 3.6 mi away ⇄
Wootton (Bedford) 54 3.7 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Wilstead a nice place to live?

Wilstead has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Wilstead 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 Wilstead?

Wilstead is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 94/100. There were 46 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Wilstead?

Among the top-rated schools in Wilstead are Lakeview School and Wilstead Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 2 rated schools in Wilstead in total.

Wilstead in context

See the best places to live in Bedfordshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Wilstead

MK45 48 ⇄

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