Heath and Reach’s story
20 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Heath and Reach’s built-up area.
20% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Heath and ReachBedfordshire
A village of 1,451 in Bedfordshire, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Des Blenkinsopp · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,451
Census 2021 · Central Bedfordshire council
Median home
£420K
61 sales in 3 years
Median age
50.9
27% are 65+ · Bedfordshire 15%
Degree level
35%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Heath and Reach a good place to live?
Heath and Reach’s best grade is for safety — police record 10.6 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 6.7 home and vehicle crimes. Schools are its weak spot — primary results beat 8% of towns in England; secondary results beat 58% of towns in England. The median home sold for £420,000, 6.4 times what households in the Central Bedfordshire council area earn in a year. Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B− for health, C+ for walkability and B− for hazard risk.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · incomes and life expectancy, ONS · commuting, Census 2021 · flood risk, Environment Agency. Heath and Reach has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
StrongestASafety
What makes Heath and Reach stand out
The 3 things Heath and Reach does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade II*, including Heath Manor; 5.7 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
37% of commuters travel under 5 km.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.5 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Heath and Reach grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Heath and Reach is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SafetyVery little crime by comparisonAOpen →Jobs & income2.1% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 8% of towns in England; secondary results beat 58% of towns in EnglandCOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesC+Open →Cost of livingNear typical for the towns comparedBOpen →Hazard risk0.3% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB−Open →HealthLife expectancy 81.2 for men, 83.1 for womenB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryMore history than most townsB+Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 3.3 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsA−Open →Civic life3.4 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Heath and Reach.
Safety
Heath and Reach has less crime per resident than 89% of UK towns
The 12 months to August 2026 brought 49 recorded crimes inside Heath and Reach’s built-up area, and 7 reports of anti-social behaviour. For its size, Heath and Reach records less crime per resident than 79% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 2.8 reports per 1,000, below both Bedfordshire’s towns (10.3) and England’s towns (7.8). Of all the crimes, 22% were violence and sexual offences.
10.6violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 79% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Other theft12
Violence & sexual11
Public order6
Vehicle crime6
Damage & arson5
Shoplifting4
Robbery2
Burglary1
Anti-social7
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
10.6
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.8
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
49
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
SchoolsC
Exam results at Heath and Reach’s schools trail 71% of towns in England
The town has one school, shown below. At the 4 primary schools within 3 km, 50% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Its one primary school teaches 117 pupils.
CSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Leonards CE AcademyLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 117 | – |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
More of the land in Heath and Reach is conservation area than in Bedfordshire’s towns or England’s towns: 24%
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
A fifth of homes date from before 1919. Relative to its size, Heath and Reach keeps 138 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, above Bedfordshire’s towns (40) and England’s towns (39) alike. Historic England’s list names 20 listed buildings locally: 1 Grade II*.
20listed buildingsB+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II19
Among them · Grade II*
- Heath Manor Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
20%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
138
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Only 12% of commuters in Heath and Reach go to work without a car, fewer than in Bedfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 45% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
A household here earns £69K a year before tax, on average. The car took 85% of commuters, above both Bedfordshire’s towns (77%) and England’s towns (70%); what’s more, the census counted 45% of workers working mainly from home. 8% of commuters who live in Heath and Reach also work there.
12%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving85%
On foot9%
Train2%
Bicycle1%
37%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
45%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£69K
mean household income, before tax
2.1%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 41% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
HousingCost of living grade B
Private renting is less common in Heath and Reach than in Bedfordshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 9%
Owners make up 81% of households, above both Bedfordshire’s towns (64%) and England’s towns (61%). Social renters account for 10% of households. Private rents average £1,250 a month across the Central Bedfordshire council area.
£420Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Heath and Reach£420K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £543,500 | 28 |
| Semi-detached | £366,037 | 20 |
| Terraced | £325,000 | 10 |
81%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,250
average private rent a month, Central Bedfordshire council area
£2,407
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
83% of residents say their health is good or very good
The nearest A&E to Heath and Reach is Milton Keynes Hospital, 6.5 miles away. The town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.9 miles away. Disability touches 15% of the town’s population.
83%good or very good healthB−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Heath and Reach | Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 84% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
81.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.1
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These shares come straight from the census, without allowing for age, and young towns benefit; the Health Grade instead weighs age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
Who lives here
Older residents shape Heath and Reach: 27% are 65 or over, above Bedfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
People aged 15 to 24 are nearly a tenth of the population. Line up the people of Heath and Reach by age and the one in the middle is 50.9. 35% of adults hold a degree, higher than Bedfordshire’s towns (32%) and near England’s towns (34%).
50.9median age
Heath and ReachBedfordshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
27%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar15%
Degree level35%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Heath and Reach | Bedfordshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 20% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.5% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 18% | 29% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 27% | 15% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 35% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Bedfordshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Leighton Buzzard Light Railway and 3 more in and around Heath and Reach
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Heath and Reach. Best known first.
Heritage railwayLeighton Buzzard Light Railway3.4 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumLeighton Buzzard Railway Museum3.4 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumWoburn Heritage Museum4.9 km outside town, to the northeastArt galleryArt galleryWoburn Art Gallery4.8 km outside town, to the northeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Leighton Buzzard Light Railway: G-Man at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Heath and Reach
14pages on Heath and Reach
The big questions
SafetyA10.6 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingBMedian home £420K · rent £1,250 a monthHousing12 sold in 12 months · busiest street Woburn RoadSchoolsC1 state schoolHealthB−Life expectancy 81.2 (men), 83.1 (women)Work & commuteB+63% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB−0.3% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Heath and Reach’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Leighton BuzzardStoke HammondHockliffeWingAspley GuiseStewkleyBletchleyHeath and Reach
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heath and Reach | 1,451 | — | — | B | A | B− |
| Leighton Buzzard | 42,736 | 1.9 | B+ | B+ | C+ | B− |
| Stoke Hammond | 1,155 | 2.8 | — | C+ | C+ | A |
| Hockliffe | 1,068 | 3.1 | — | A− | C+ | B− |
| Wing | 2,979 | 4.2 | A | B | B+ | A− |
| Aspley Guise | 2,114 | 4.6 | — | C+ | B+ | A− |
| Stewkley | 1,421 | 4.7 | — | C | B | A |
| Bletchley | 45,018 | 4.8 | C− | B− | D | C− |
Stoke Hammond, Hockliffe, Aspley Guise and Stewkley have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Heath and Reach
How many listed buildings are there in Heath and Reach?
That is 5.7 times the typical UK town for its size.
Is Heath and Reach expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £420,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £325,000, semi-detached houses £366,037 and detached houses £543,500. Household incomes are higher than in 86% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B.
Are schools in Heath and Reach good?
GCSE results beat 58% of towns in England, and primary results trail 92% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Central Bedfordshire council.
About Heath and Reach
Village in Bedfordshire, England
Heath and Reach is a built-up area of 1,451 people, in the Central Bedfordshire council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 1,451 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- County
- Bedfordshire
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004062
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.