OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Central Bedfordshire

Economic profile. Data last updated 2026-03-28.

Central Bedfordshire supports 112,450 workplace jobs with median earnings 11% above the England average.

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Population

315,877

↑ 25.1%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

112,450

Median Annual Earnings

£36,622

66th of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£304,999

↑ 1.8%66th of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£63,509

80th of 391

England: £63,763

Source: ONS, Nomis, HM Land Registry, 2024-2025·Last updated March 2026

Demographics & Population

Mid-year population estimates (2024) and Census 2021 age profile.

Mid-year population estimate of 315,877. Population has grown by 25.1% over five years, significantly above the England rate of 11.4%.

Population

315,877

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

61.9%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

19.9%

Over 65

18.2%

Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, Census 2021, 2024·Last updated March 2026

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £36,622 are above the England median of £33,080.

Median Annual

£36,622

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£10,954

90th Percentile

N/A

90/10 Ratio

N/A

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 39.4% (male median £46,176, female median £27,972). This is significantly above the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

39.4%

England: 28.2%

Source: ASHE via Nomis, 2025·Last updated March 2026

Industry Structure

Location quotients and shift-share analysis for Central Bedfordshire's economy.

The most specialised sectors are Transport & storage (LQ 1.90) and Mining & quarrying (LQ 1.89). Transport & storage shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Professional, scientific & technical underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Wholesale & retail trade

Most Specialised

Transport & storage

England: LQ 1.90

Fastest Growing

Transport & storage

Specialised Sectors

8

England: LQ > 1.25

Source: BRES via Nomis, 2020-2024·Last updated March 2026

Housing & Property Market

Estimated house prices for Central Bedfordshire vs England, 2015-2025.

The median house price of £304,999 is above the England median of £290,000. The price-to-earnings ratio is 8.3x. Prices have risen 1.8% over the past year.

Median Price

£304,999

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

12-Month Change

1.8%

Source: HM Land Registry, Census 2021, 2015-2025·Last updated March 2026

Benchmark to national figures

Comparing Central Bedfordshire to England and Great Britain averages.

Central Bedfordshire's median earnings of £36,622 are 11% above the England average of £32,909. House prices are 11% above the England median. The claimant rate of 2.7% is lower than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£36,622

England: £32,909(11% above)
GB: £32,401(13% above)

Median house price

£304,999

England: £274,076(11% above)
GB: £269,841(13% above)

Claimant rate

2.7%

England: 3.6%(0.9pp lower)
GB: 3.5%(0.8pp lower)

GVA per job

£63,509

England: £61,178(4% above)
GB: £61,125(4% above)

Working-age population

61.9%

England: 62.1%
GB: 61.9%

Population change (5yr)

25.1%

England: 11.5%(13.6pp higher)
GB: 10.3%(14.8pp higher)

Country averages computed from local authority-level data (England: 294 LAs, GB: 348 LAs). May differ slightly from official published national statistics.