UK house price trends: how Bedford compares with the rest of the country

House prices in Bedford have risen 5.8% in a year, just higher than the national average.
House prices continue to riseHouse prices continue to rise
House prices continue to rise

Data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the average house price in Bedford in September was £283,189, compared to £267,470 in 2016, £207,415 in 2007 and £64,597 in 1997. That's an increase of 338 per cent increase over the last 20 years.

Central Bedfordshire has an average house price of £316,489, which was £71,161 back in 1997 - an increase of 344 per cent over the same time period.

The general trend of rising house prices is continuing, with the average UK property reaching £226,367 in September, an increase of 5.4% annually. England continues to see the biggest price increase compared to the rest of the UK, with house prices increasing by 5.7% over the year to September, reaching £243,945 on average.

The area showing the largest annual growth was Hinckley and Bosworth in Leicestershire, where house prices swelled by 15.9% to reach £215,137 on average. The lowest annual growth was recorded in Halton, Cheshire, where average prices fell by 5.2%. The City of London meanwhile has seen a drop of 1.7%.

Wales saw average house prices increase by 5.3% over the previous 12 months to reach £152,661.

Scottish house prices however dropped by 1.3% on average in September compared to August, but they remain up by 3.1% for the year.

The Shetland Islands saw the largest increase in Scotland, recording a rise of 9.0% to £154,149. The market in Edinburgh remains strong, with the average price rising 10.4% to £248,702.

Prices in the City of Aberdeen continue to decrease, with the average property now costing £165,275, down 3.5% on last year.

The average price in Northern Ireland stands at £132,169, an increase of 6% over the year.

The UK House Price Index (UK HPI) is calculated by the Office for National Statistics and Land & Property Services Northern Ireland.

Full data is available via the ONS.

Average prices/annual change:

England: £243,945 / 5.7%

Scotland: £144,924 / 3.1%

Wales: £152,661 / 5.3%

Northern Ireland: £128,650 / 6.0%

House prices by city:

Aberdeen: £165,275 / -3.5%

Bristol: £282,125 / 7.2%

Birmingham: £175,801 / 6.3%

Bradford: £137,689 / 4.7%

Brighton and Hove: £365,695 / 4.8%

Cardiff: £195,774 / 2.7%

Coventry: £180,167 / 10.0%

Dundee: £126,454 / 6.2%

Edinburgh: £248,702 / 9.0%

Glasgow: £125,489 / 5.8%

Hull: £111,208 / 7.4%

Leeds: £175,617 / 3.0%

Leicester: £162,142 / 8.1%

Liverpool: £127,945 / 6.0%

London: £767,108 / -1.7%

Manchester: £170,020 / 9.3%

Newcastle upon Tyne: £164,985 / 4.2%

Peterborough: £185,362 / 9.5%

Plymouth: £174,140 / 5.4%

Portsmouth: £207,630 / 8.2%

Preston: £130,647 / 4.3%

Salford: £157,710 / 5.9%

Sheffield: £161,025 / 5.9%

Sunderland: £118,276 / 5.6%

Wakefield: £144,572 / 5.7%

York: £246,261 / 4.7%