Commuter town you ‘couldn’t pay us to live in’ named UK’s worst

This Bedfordshire town gets a bad rep (Picture: Getty Images)

The UK’s worst commuter town to live in has been named, and it seems the title may be well-deserved.

While it boasts an impressive clock tower, a grade one listed mansion surrounded by acres of public gardens, and an annual carnival, Luton’s reputation is in the bin.

Dubbed a ‘depressing dump’, the commuter town may be just a 20 minute train ride from the capital, but it’s proximity (and its airport) seem to be one of its only selling points.

After compiling data from more than 67 UK towns and considering factors like property and rental prices, commuter times, travel costs, average salaries and quality of life, Pepper Money crowned Luton the worst commuter town of them all.

Despite a respectable average house price of £285,000 and rental costs of just £1,190, which is £1,522 cheaper than the London average, it’s longer commuting time of 36 minutes and median salary of its residents sets it back.

With a lower than average income, Luton locals were found to earn considerably less than those in the likes of Guildford and Reading.

Luton has been dubbed the worst commuter town (Picture: Getty Images/500px)

Overall, Luton received an index score of 114 out of a possible 469 points, leagues below Rotherham’s 358 points, which earned it the title of the UK’s best commuter town.

What about Luton’s quality of life?

The Bedfordshire town also received the lowest score for quality of life at 7.1 and sadly it’s not all that surprising.

It has an 8.5% unemployment rate compared to the 4.8% national average, while those who are employed make £29,258, compared to the average of £31,285 nationwide, according to Luton council.

The crime rate isn’t great either, with it increasing in 2024 compared to 2023, and proving to be above average for the Bedfordshire county.

In fact, as of 2025, the crime rate in Luton is 26% higher than the East of England and 7% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure, according to CrimeRate.

The worst commuter towns in the UK, with Luton voted the worst (Picture: Metro/Datawrapper)

What do locals in Luton say?

While not everyone has the luxury of choosing where they live, some locals have voiced their concerns about the commuter town.

‘Luton is not a pretty town, it’s not leafy suburbia like St Alban’s or many of the other towns nearby,’ wrote one user on Reddit, who lived in Luton in their teens and twenties.

‘As it is frankly a pretty ugly place, if you could afford to live in any of the pretty market towns and villages also served by train to London then you won’t pick Luton.

‘There are some nice places. Wardown park and Stockwood park, Luton Hoo. And there is some nice countryside just outside. But historically Luton, to me, never felt safe.’

Another resident who has lived in Luton for 35 years said: ‘Where it lets itself down are on two points. One – it is so very full of litter. I have picked litter up as part of litter events, and the very next day it is back. It’s all over the town and makes it look like a tip.

Luton has a high crime and unemployment rate (Picture: Shutterstock / Omri Eliyahu)

‘Second – there isn’t much to do here for leisure. In the 90s there were a few nightclubs and bars but now there is nothing apart from the odd decent pub. I have probably been out for a meal with my wife four or five times in 15 years in Luton. We usually drive 10 minutes to Hitchin or Harpenden.’

Others had less insightful thoughts, claiming on the Reddit thread ‘it’s famous for being a depressing dump’ and ‘it’s notorious for being terrible.’

One user @tiptiptoppy even said: ‘If I’m honest I grew up in a town about 20 minutes away from Luton, and you couldn’t pay me to live there.’

Does Luton have redeeming qualities?

While many are quick to hate on the commuter town, if you dive a little deeper, there are things to like.

It’s got some pretty impressive history. In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent part of their honeymoon at country house Luton Hoo.

Not to mention Sir Winston Churchill gave a speech at that very house the following year, thanking the public for their support in World War Two.

Luton Hoo gives the town some rich history (Picture: Getty Images)

Stanley Kubrick filmed the 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman at this very location, too.

Since 1976 there’s also been the annual Luton International Carnival which is inspired by African-Caribbean culture – it brings together performers from all over the globe.

It’s also had some pretty famous residents including Emily Atack and Stacey Dooley.

So, while it’s easy to judge, you may want to take the time to form your own opinion.

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