Upper Caldecote’s story
6 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Upper Caldecote’s built-up area.
11% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Upper CaldecoteBedfordshire
Some 1,333 people live in this village, in Bedfordshire, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Robin Hall · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,333
Census 2021 · Central Bedfordshire council
Median home
£430K
69 sales in 3 years
Median age
48.9
24% are 65+ · Bedfordshire 15%
Degree level
32%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
7%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Upper Caldecote a good place to live?
Work and incomes are strong: the mean household earns £68,112 a year. Its schools fall short: primary results beat 7% of towns in England; secondary results beat 18% of towns in England. Buying the median home, at £430,000, takes 6.6 years of household income in the Central Bedfordshire council area. Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for safety and B for health. Walkability is weaker too: 7% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport.
Figures: income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021. Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Upper Caldecote has its subject grades alone.
What makes Upper Caldecote stand out
The 3 things Upper Caldecote does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
7% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.6 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Primary results, towns in England
Schools
Primary results trail 94%
of towns in England, on Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths
Secondary results beat 18%. Department for Education.
How Upper Caldecote grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Upper Caldecote is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Upper Caldecote has its subject grades alone.
SchoolsPrimary results beat 7% of towns in England; secondary results beat 18% of towns in EnglandDOpen →WalkabilityAmong the weakest of the towns comparedDOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentB+Open →HealthLife expectancy 82.2 for men, 84.6 for womenBOpen →SafetyLess crime than in most townsBOpen →Cost of livingRent £1,250 a monthB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 3.7 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsA−Open →Civic life5.3 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 Upper Caldecote.
SchoolsD
Results at Upper Caldecote’s schools trail 92% of towns in England
At the 3 primary schools within 3 km, nearly half of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Its only school is listed below. Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 41.5, and 35% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths.
DSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldecote Church of England AcademyLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 85 | – |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Upper Caldecote is a driving town: 90% of commuters go by car, above Bedfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 34% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Unemployment benefit claims came to 2% of 16 to 64s in 2026, below both Bedfordshire’s towns (2.4%) and England’s towns (2.3%). A third of commuters travelled under 5 km to work. About 4% of its commuters stay in Upper Caldecote for work. For every resident in work, Upper Caldecote has 0.8 jobs.
7%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
On foot3%
Train3%
Bicycle1%
33%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
34%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£68K
mean household income, before tax
2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 8% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
All 6 of Upper Caldecote’s listed buildings are Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Homes from before 1919 make up 11% of the total. Relative to its size, Upper Caldecote keeps 45 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, above both Bedfordshire’s towns (40) and England’s towns (39).
6listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II6
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
11%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
45
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
Bad health is less common in Upper Caldecote than in Bedfordshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 3.1% of residents
Women here live to 84.6 on average and men to 82.2 (2019–23). Upper Caldecote has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.6 miles away. The nearest A&E to Upper Caldecote is Bedford Hospital, 7.8 miles away.
83%good or very good healthBHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Upper Caldecote | Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 84% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.1% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 15% | 17% |
82.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.6
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Because the census answers ignore age, a younger population lifts them; that is why the Health Grade is built on age-adjusted measures like life expectancy and early deaths.
Safety
Upper Caldecote records more burglary and damage per resident than Bedfordshire’s towns or England’s towns, at 12.3 per 1,000 a year
36% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences. Violence came to 15.5 per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Bedfordshire’s towns (18.8) and England’s towns (22). Police recorded 39 crimes inside Upper Caldecote’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 17 reports of anti-social behaviour.
15.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearBSafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 40% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual14
Vehicle crime5
Other crime5
Drugs4
Damage & arson3
Public order3
Other theft2
Burglary1
Anti-social17
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.
15.5
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
12.3
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
10.5
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
39
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.
HousingCost of living grade B−
Few households rent privately in Upper Caldecote: 8%, fewer than in Bedfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
Home ownership stands at 78% of households. 13% live in social housing, below Bedfordshire’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. 69 standard sales inside Upper Caldecote’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £430,000.
£430Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Upper Caldecote£430K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £485,000 | 33 |
| Semi-detached | £375,000 | 29 |
| Terraced | £287,500 | 7 |
78%
of households own their home · England 61%
8%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,250
average private rent a month, Central Bedfordshire council area
£2,416
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Who lives here
Children make up only 15% of Upper Caldecote, fewer than in Bedfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
24% of residents are 65 or over, above both Bedfordshire’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (18%). Ages in Upper Caldecote split evenly at 48.9: half are older, half younger. Aged 15 to 24: 11% of residents.
48.9median age
Upper CaldecoteBedfordshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications15%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level32%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Upper Caldecote | Bedfordshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 20% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 29% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 15% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 15% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.3% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 32% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Bedfordshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →The Shuttleworth Collection and 4 more in and around Upper Caldecote
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Upper Caldecote. Best known first.
MuseumMuseumThe Shuttleworth Collection1.3 km outside town, to the southwest
Historic houseShortmead House1.3 km outside town, to the east
Historic houseThe Mansion House1.9 km outside town, to the southwest
Historic houseMoggerhanger House3.8 km outside town, to the northwestGardenGardenThe Swiss Garden1.4 km outside town, to the southwest
Historic houseShortmead House1.3 km outside town, to the eastHistoric houseThe Mansion House1.9 km outside town, to the southwestHistoric houseMoggerhanger House3.8 km outside town, to the northwestGardenGardenThe Swiss Garden1.4 km outside town, to the southwestPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- Shortmead House: Richard a slade, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Mansion House: Giles Keen, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Moggerhanger House: John Brightley, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Upper Caldecote
14pages on Upper Caldecote
The big questions
SafetyB15.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £430K · rent £1,250 a monthHousing15 sold in 12 months · busiest street Biggleswade RoadSchoolsD1 state schoolHealthBLife expectancy 82.2 (men), 84.6 (women)Work & commuteB+54% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Upper Caldecote’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BiggleswadeSandyLangfordBlunhamPottonCliftonSheffordUpper Caldecote
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Caldecote | 1,333 | — | — | B− | B | B |
| Biggleswade | 21,945 | 1.8 | B− | B+ | B− | C+ |
| Sandy | 11,375 | 2.4 | C+ | A− | C | C |
| Langford | 3,712 | 3.2 | B | B− | B | B |
| Blunham | 1,391 | 3.6 | — | B− | D− | B |
| Potton | 5,229 | 4 | B | B+ | B+ | A− |
| Clifton | 2,769 | 4.3 | B | B | C+ | B+ |
| Shefford | 7,317 | 4.5 | B | B+ | C | A− |
Blunham has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Upper Caldecote
Are schools in Upper Caldecote good?
One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Central Bedfordshire council.
Is Upper Caldecote expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £430,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £287,500, semi-detached houses £375,000 and detached houses £485,000. Household incomes are higher than in 86% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B−.
Does Upper Caldecote flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Upper Caldecote
Village in Bedfordshire, England
Upper Caldecote is a built-up area of 1,333 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
- 1,333 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- County
- Bedfordshire
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003703
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.