Compare local authorities · South East and East of England
Ashford and Bedford
Ashford is higher than Bedford on 15 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 17 of 22 per resident and 3 of 22 in total.
On 15 of 22 measures, which area is higher depends on whether you count per person or in total. Choose a way of counting below to see each one.
Per person in the age group
Ashford is higher on 15 of 22 measures, and Bedford on 7. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11
Ashford Bedford
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£4,227£4,245£4,010Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£3,927£3,944£3,725
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£12,584£12,638£11,937Bedford is higherDepends on how you count£12,590£12,644£11,943
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£1,920£1,929£1,822Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£1,880£1,888£1,783
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£11,306£11,354£10,724Bedford is higherDepends on how you count£11,470£11,519£10,880
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£560£562£531Ashford is higher£450£452£426
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£693£696£657Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£648£651£614
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£26£26£24Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£23£23£22
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£365£367£346Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£350£351£332
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£161£162£153Ashford is higher£114£114£108
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£121£121£115Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£88£88£83
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£1,559£1,566£1,479Bedford is higher£1,572£1,579£1,491
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25
£174£175£165Bedford is higher£246£247£233
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£226£227£215Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£206£207£196
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£6.53£6.55£6.19Bedford is higher£9.49£9.53£9.00
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£7.66£7.70£7.27Ashford is higher£4.51£4.53£4.28
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£6.46£6.49£6.13Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£5.97£5.99£5.66
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
992.6Bedford is higherDepends on how you count1,001.2
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
103.7Ashford is higherDepends on how you count93.5
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
142.8Ashford is higherDepends on how you count137.8
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026
57.3Ashford is higherDepends on how you count55.2
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026
170.7Bedford is higher181.8
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026
27.6Ashford is higherDepends on how you count20.6
Show the numbers
| Measure | Ashford | Bedford | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £4,227£4,245£4,010 | £3,927£3,944£3,725 | Ashford |
| Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £12,584£12,638£11,937 | £12,590£12,644£11,943 | Bedford |
| Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £1,920£1,929£1,822 | £1,880£1,888£1,783 | Ashford |
| State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £11,306£11,354£10,724 | £11,470£11,519£10,880 | Bedford |
| Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £560£562£531 | £450£452£426 | Ashford |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £693£696£657 | £648£651£614 | Ashford |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £26£26£24 | £23£23£22 | Ashford |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £365£367£346 | £350£351£332 | Ashford |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £161£162£153 | £114£114£108 | Ashford |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £121£121£115 | £88£88£83 | Ashford |
| Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £1,559£1,566£1,479 | £1,572£1,579£1,491 | Bedford |
| Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25 | £174£175£165 | £246£247£233 | Bedford |
| Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £226£227£215 | £206£207£196 | Ashford |
| Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £6.53£6.55£6.19 | £9.49£9.53£9.00 | Bedford |
| Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £7.66£7.70£7.27 | £4.51£4.53£4.28 | Ashford |
| Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £6.46£6.49£6.13 | £5.97£5.99£5.66 | Ashford |
| State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 992.6 | 1,001.2 | Bedford |
| Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 103.7 | 93.5 | Ashford |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 142.8 | 137.8 | Ashford |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026 | 57.3 | 55.2 | Ashford |
| Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026 | 170.7 | 181.8 | Bedford |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026 | 27.6 | 20.6 | Ashford |
Per resident
Ashford is higher on 17 of 22 measures, and Bedford on 5. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11
Ashford Bedford
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£4,227£4,245£4,010Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£3,927£3,944£3,725
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£2,350£2,360£2,229Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£2,029£2,038£1,925
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£1,169£1,174£1,109Bedford is higherDepends on how you count£1,184£1,189£1,123
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25
£2,112£2,121£2,003Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£1,848£1,856£1,753
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25
£105£105£99Ashford is higher£72£73£69
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£129£130£123Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£104£105£99
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£4.79£4.81£4.54Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£3.73£3.75£3.54
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£365£367£346Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£350£351£332
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£161£162£153Ashford is higher£114£114£108
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£74£74£70Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£55£56£53
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25
£949£953£900Bedford is higher£990£994£939
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25
£174£175£165Bedford is higher£246£247£233
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25
£138£138£131Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£130£130£123
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25
£3.97£3.99£3.77Bedford is higher£5.97£5.99£5.66
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25
£4.66£4.68£4.42Ashford is higher£2.84£2.85£2.69
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£6.46£6.49£6.13Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£5.97£5.99£5.66
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026
185.4Ashford is higherDepends on how you count161.3
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026
19.4Ashford is higherDepends on how you count15.1
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026
26.7Ashford is higherDepends on how you count22.2
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026
57.3Ashford is higherDepends on how you count55.2
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026
103.9Bedford is higher114.4
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026
16.8Ashford is higherDepends on how you count13.0
Show the numbers
| Measure | Ashford | Bedford | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £4,227£4,245£4,010 | £3,927£3,944£3,725 | Ashford |
| Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £2,350£2,360£2,229 | £2,029£2,038£1,925 | Ashford |
| Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £1,169£1,174£1,109 | £1,184£1,189£1,123 | Bedford |
| State Pensionper resident, 2024-25 | £2,112£2,121£2,003 | £1,848£1,856£1,753 | Ashford |
| Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25 | £105£105£99 | £72£73£69 | Ashford |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £129£130£123 | £104£105£99 | Ashford |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £4.79£4.81£4.54 | £3.73£3.75£3.54 | Ashford |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £365£367£346 | £350£351£332 | Ashford |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £161£162£153 | £114£114£108 | Ashford |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £74£74£70 | £55£56£53 | Ashford |
| Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25 | £949£953£900 | £990£994£939 | Bedford |
| Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25 | £174£175£165 | £246£247£233 | Bedford |
| Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25 | £138£138£131 | £130£130£123 | Ashford |
| Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25 | £3.97£3.99£3.77 | £5.97£5.99£5.66 | Bedford |
| Income Supportper resident, 2024-25 | £4.66£4.68£4.42 | £2.84£2.85£2.69 | Ashford |
| Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £6.46£6.49£6.13 | £5.97£5.99£5.66 | Ashford |
| State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 185.4 | 161.3 | Ashford |
| Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 19.4 | 15.1 | Ashford |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 26.7 | 22.2 | Ashford |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026 | 57.3 | 55.2 | Ashford |
| Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026 | 103.9 | 114.4 | Bedford |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 16.8 | 13.0 | Ashford |
Total
Ashford is higher on 3 of 22 measures, and Bedford on 19. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11
Ashford Bedford
All benefitstotal, 2024-25
£595.2m£597.8m£564.6mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£765.4m£768.6m£726.0m
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25
£331.0m£332.4m£313.9mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£395.4m£397.1m£375.1m
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25
£164.7m£165.4m£156.2mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£230.7m£231.6m£218.8m
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25
£297.3m£298.6m£282.0mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£360.2m£361.8m£341.7m
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25
£14.7m£14.8m£14.0mAshford is higher£14.1m£14.2m£13.4m
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£18.2m£18.3m£17.3mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£20.3m£20.4m£19.3m
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£0.67m£0.68m£0.64mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£0.73m£0.73m£0.69m
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£51.4m£51.7m£48.8mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£68.1m£68.4m£64.6m
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£22.7m£22.8m£21.6mAshford is higher£22.2m£22.3m£21.0m
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£10.4m£10.4m£9.8mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£10.8m£10.8m£10.2m
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25
£133.7m£134.2m£126.8mBedford is higher£192.8m£193.7m£182.9m
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25
£24.5m£24.6m£23.3mBedford is higher£47.9m£48.1m£45.4m
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25
£19.4m£19.5m£18.4mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£25.3m£25.4m£24.0m
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25
£0.56m£0.56m£0.53mBedford is higher£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25
£0.66m£0.66m£0.62mAshford is higher£0.55m£0.56m£0.53m
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25
£0.91m£0.91m£0.86mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m
State Pensiontotal, March 2026
26,104Bedford is higherDepends on how you count31,443
Pension Credittotal, March 2026
2,726Bedford is higherDepends on how you count2,936
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026
3,756Bedford is higherDepends on how you count4,327
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026
8,068Bedford is higherDepends on how you count10,748
Universal Credittotal, May 2026
14,634Bedford is higher22,297
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026
2,366Bedford is higherDepends on how you count2,527
Show the numbers
| Measure | Ashford | Bedford | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £595.2m£597.8m£564.6m | £765.4m£768.6m£726.0m | Bedford |
| Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £331.0m£332.4m£313.9m | £395.4m£397.1m£375.1m | Bedford |
| Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £164.7m£165.4m£156.2m | £230.7m£231.6m£218.8m | Bedford |
| State Pensiontotal, 2024-25 | £297.3m£298.6m£282.0m | £360.2m£361.8m£341.7m | Bedford |
| Pension Credittotal, 2024-25 | £14.7m£14.8m£14.0m | £14.1m£14.2m£13.4m | Ashford |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £18.2m£18.3m£17.3m | £20.3m£20.4m£19.3m | Bedford |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £0.67m£0.68m£0.64m | £0.73m£0.73m£0.69m | Bedford |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £51.4m£51.7m£48.8m | £68.1m£68.4m£64.6m | Bedford |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £22.7m£22.8m£21.6m | £22.2m£22.3m£21.0m | Ashford |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £10.4m£10.4m£9.8m | £10.8m£10.8m£10.2m | Bedford |
| Universal Credittotal, 2024-25 | £133.7m£134.2m£126.8m | £192.8m£193.7m£182.9m | Bedford |
| Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25 | £24.5m£24.6m£23.3m | £47.9m£48.1m£45.4m | Bedford |
| Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25 | £19.4m£19.5m£18.4m | £25.3m£25.4m£24.0m | Bedford |
| Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25 | £0.56m£0.56m£0.53m | £1.2m£1.2m£1.1m | Bedford |
| Income Supporttotal, 2024-25 | £0.66m£0.66m£0.62m | £0.55m£0.56m£0.53m | Ashford |
| Other benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £0.91m£0.91m£0.86m | £1.2m£1.2m£1.1m | Bedford |
| State Pensiontotal, March 2026 | 26,104 | 31,443 | Bedford |
| Pension Credittotal, March 2026 | 2,726 | 2,936 | Bedford |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026 | 3,756 | 4,327 | Bedford |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026 | 8,068 | 10,748 | Bedford |
| Universal Credittotal, May 2026 | 14,634 | 22,297 | Bedford |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026 | 2,366 | 2,527 | Bedford |
Sources
Each area's page lists the limits of its figures and where each one comes from.
- 1Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by local authority, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 2Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by parliamentary constituency, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 3Department for Work and Pensions. Stat-Xplore benefit caseloads and awards. Published 6 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 4Social Security Scotland. Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 5Social Security Scotland. Child Disability Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 17 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 6Social Security Scotland. Pension Age Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 7Social Security Scotland. Carer Support Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 10 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 8Social Security Scotland. Winter heating benefits statistics for winter 2025/26. Published 18 May 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 9Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by local authority (Nomis NM_2002_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 10Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by 2024 parliamentary constituency (Nomis NM_2014_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 11National Records of Scotland. Population estimates for other geographies, mid-2011 to mid-2024. Published 31 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.