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Care homes in Dunstable

14 homes

There are 14 care homes in and around Dunstable on AskBart. 92% of those rated by the CQC are Good or Outstanding, against 79% nationally (CQC data, October 2026). Published fees average about £1,214 a week, while Central Bedfordshire usually pays £1,008. The largest is Capwell Grange Care Home, with 146 beds.

care homes
14
rated Good or Outstanding by CQC
92%
typical residential fee
£1,214/wkbelow the UK average of £1,716
what Central Bedfordshire council pays
£1,008/wk

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Dunstable

Care homes in Dunstable (14)

★ With family reviews

8 in Dunstable, 6 more within 3 miles · nearest first · updated October 2026

  • Good
  • Requires improvement
  • Not rated

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Compare every home in Dunstable in one table
Distance
Ashton LodgeGood · Jul 2021On request542.2 mi—0.4 mi
Caddington Grove Care HomeGood£1,319661.8 mi—1.1 mi
Capwell Grange Care HomeGood · Jun 2021On request1460.5 mi—2.5 mi
Collinson Care HomeGood · Nov 2023On request290.6 mi—2.6 mi
Dukeminster Court Care HomeRequires improvement · Dec 2023£1,109751.7 mi—0.3 mi
Friars LodgeGood · Mar 2020On request201.8 mi—0.2 mi
Knoll HouseGood · Apr 2019On request224.1 mi—2.9 mi
Lady Spencer HouseGood · Mar 2023On request242.2 mi—1.2 mi
Redwood Reablement Unit—On request82.0 mi—1.3 mi
Ridgeway Lodge Care HomeGood · Jul 2023On request611.2 mi—0.9 mi
Rosalyn HouseGood · Sept 2022On request462.1 mi—1.3 mi
Sharnbrook Care Home LimitedGood · Feb 2019On request241.8 mi—1.4 mi
Thorn SpringsGood · Apr 2026On request663.1 mi—2.0 mi
Tudor HouseGood · Sept 2019On request182.3 mi—0.2 mi

Fees are the home’s published “from” figure, or an indicative one; “on request” where none is published. Ratings are the regulator’s. Click a heading to sort.

Run a care home or business in Dunstable that’s missing or out of date? Add or update a listing

Dunstable in numbers

92% of Dunstable’s CQC-rated care homes are rated Good or Outstanding, above the England average of 79%. Based on 13 rated homes; England figure from CQC State of Care (2024/25).

The average residential care home in Dunstable costs about £1,214/week, while Central Bedfordshire’s published usual rate is around £1,008/week (2025). If the council funds care, expect a likely top-up of about £206/week (about £10,712/year), usually paid by a relative or friend. An estimate: councils fund care only below the means-test threshold, and fees vary by home, room and needs.

What Central Bedfordshire council pays care homes, and whether it will help with your fees

Care homes listed14
Rated Good or Outstanding12 of 13 (92%)
Rated Outstanding0
Rated Requires improvement or Inadequate1
Average published weekly fee£1,214
Central Bedfordshire usual weekly rate (2025)£1,008
LargestCapwell Grange Care Home (146 beds)
Most recently inspectedCollinson Care Home (October 2023)
Homes by care typeResidential 6 · Nursing 3 · Dementia 6 · Respite 3
Average house price, Central Bedfordshire (HM Land Registry, June 2026)£356,453
Good12
Requires improvement1
Not yet rated1
Average weekly fees
  • Residential, Dunstable£1,214/wk
  • Nursing, Dunstable£1,319/wk
  • Dementia, Dunstable£1,214/wk
  • Central Bedfordshire average£1,363/wk
  • UK average£1,716/wk
  • Central Bedfordshire usual rate£1,008/wk

Fees: averages of the weekly fees published by the homes listed here and across Central Bedfordshire. UK average: published residential fees across all homes on AskBart. Council rate: Central Bedfordshire's usual cost of residential care (2025). Actual costs vary with care needs and room.

See how care is funded or compare a care home with care at home.

Guides: Residential care homes · Nursing homes · Dementia care homes · Respite care

Data: CQC register, updated October 2026. Figures are for the homes listed on this page.

House prices in Central Bedfordshire

The average house price in Central Bedfordshire is £356,453, based on HM Land Registry data. The graph shows sold-price trends by property type over the last 30 years.

Average price by property type

All property types
£356,453
Detached
£609,871
Semi-detached
£377,764
Terraced
£298,788
Flats & maisonettes
£173,703

Source: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, to Jun 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Figures are area averages for the wider local authority, not retirement properties specifically.

Living in Dunstable

Dunstable is a busy market town in Bedfordshire with solid everyday amenities and green space on hand. It suits those wanting urban convenience and local community — though crime levels are higher than average, and care home choice may be more limited than in larger towns.

  • Well Served
What do these badges mean?
  • Well Served — Excellent everyday amenities nearby — shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, post offices, cafés and places to eat (OpenStreetMap).
Safety & PeaceB

Good — quieter than 33% of similar areas for anti-social behaviour & public disorder

Green SpacesB

Good — parks, playing fields & outdoor space nearby

Daily ConveniencesA

Excellent — shops, supermarkets & places to eat nearby

Culture & CommunityB

Good — libraries, galleries, museums & community venues nearby

212 crimes reported in April 2026, Police.uk.

  • Violent crime78
  • Anti-social behaviour32
  • Shoplifting24
  • Burglary19
How we grade areas

Grades are relative, comparing this area against others of the same type across the UK. Amenity grades are based on OpenStreetMap counts within a fixed radius. The Safety & Peace grade ranks recorded anti-social behaviour and public-disorder incidents (the offences most relevant to a quiet neighbourhood) — per head of population where ONS figures are available, otherwise by count. Scottish towns are graded against other Scottish towns, from Police Scotland’s 12-month figures for the council wards they sit in, per head of those wards’ population (National Records of Scotland). Figures are estimates to aid research, not a substitute for visiting an area.

Sources — crime: Police.uk, Apr 2026; amenities: OpenStreetMap, updated September 2026.

Community & connection in Dunstable

Local clubs, charities and support groups that help older residents stay active and connected.

Charity

The University of the Third Age ( Dunstable )

The advancement of education and in particular the education of older people and those retired from full time work by all means including associated activities conducive to learning and personal…

2.1 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (1079444)
Charity

Khidmat

Khidmat runs services for older people and carers mainly from Pakistani/Kashmiri communities. We run Wellbeing clubs for older people and provide information, advice and advocacy. We also have…

4.3 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (1158330)
Charity

Age Concern, Luton

Age Concern Luton provides a wide range of services to meet the different needs of older people and their carers in Luton. This includes home support, gardening service, a visiting scheme,…

4.8 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (200463)

Dunstable: health, services and environment

Official open data. Distances are straight-line from the town centre. Updated October 2026.

People aged 85+
+58.6%
Projected change in Central Bedfordshire, 2025 to 2035 (7,144 to 11,329). England: +46.2%.
People aged 65+
+22.9%
Projected change in Central Bedfordshire, 2025 to 2035 (58,335 to 71,698). England: +20.3%.
Pharmacies within 1 mile
8
Nearest: Herington (Chemists) Ltd (0 miles).
NHS dental practices within 3 miles
16
This doesn’t show whether they’re taking new NHS patients.
Air quality (NO₂)
8.3 µg/m³
Modelled background level for the town centre, 2026. England average 5.6; WHO guideline 10; legal limit 40.
Air quality (PM2.5)
7.1 µg/m³
Modelled background level, 2026. England average 5.8; WHO guideline 5; legal limit 20 (2040 target 10).
Deprivation ranking
2–10 out of 10
Where the 30 neighbourhoods around the centre rank in England, in tenths (10 = least deprived). 3 are in the least deprived tenth.

Hospices near Dunstable

  • Keech Hospice Care · 4.5 milesCQC page
  • The Hospice of St Francis · 8.9 milesCQC Outstanding (report published September 2016). CQC page
  • Garden House Hospice · 14.4 milesCQC Good (report published July 2022). CQC page

Hospitals near Dunstable

Sources: ONS 2022-based subnational population projections; NHS organisation data (ODS); Defra background pollution maps; English Indices of Deprivation 2025; CQC.

Is Dunstable a good retirement location?

Read our guide to living in Dunstable

Dunstable offers reasonable access to shops, parks and social venues for a retirement move, with 11 supermarkets and 12 parks within reach. It is a practical choice for those who value walkable town-centre living and connection to family in the East Midlands or near London. However, recorded crime is notably above the national average, and the range of care homes may be narrower than in bigger cities, so it suits people who have researched options carefully and are rooted locally.

Health & support

  • Medical access: Dunstable town has GP surgeries and pharmacies within the town centre; Luton and Bedfordshire NHS Hospital Trust services are nearby.
  • Safety: Recorded crime in the area is 212 offences recorded in 2026-04, with violent crime, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting the most common categories — above the national average.
  • Family & connection: Consider whether family or support networks are close enough to visit regularly; Dunstable sits between London and the Midlands, so distance may matter.

Finances & daily life

  • Cost of care: Care home fees in Dunstable are broadly in line with or slightly below the national average for the East of England region.
  • Transport: Dunstable has bus services connecting to Luton and nearby towns; the nearest mainline rail is Luton, a short journey away. The town centre is relatively walkable for daily needs.
  • Housing options: Local care home provision exists but is more modest in range than in larger county towns; you will need to check availability directly with providers.

Lifestyle & environment

  • Green space & hobbies: The town has 12 parks and 6 allotments, plus 41 restaurants and cafes and 24 pubs and bars, supporting an active social life and outdoor interests.
  • Community: Dunstable town centre hosts various clubs and groups; proximity to Luton and Milton Keynes also expands community and cultural options.
  • Climate: Bedfordshire experiences typical English Midlands weather — moderate rainfall and cool winters, with reasonable spring and summer months.

Things to weigh up

  • Crime above the average: Recorded offences are notably higher than the national average; check specific safety in your intended neighbourhood or care home.
  • Limited care home choice: Dunstable's stock of local care homes is smaller than in larger towns, so early research and booking may be important.

Questions about care homes in Dunstable

How many care homes are there in Dunstable?

There are 14 care homes listed in and around Dunstable on AskBart. You can filter them by care type, CQC rating and facilities to find the right fit.

How much does a care home in Dunstable cost?

Care homes in Dunstable range from around £1,109 to around £1,319 per week, with averages of £1,214 for residential, £1,214 for dementia, £1,319 for nursing care. Fees vary by home, care type and the level of support required.

How do care home fees in Dunstable compare to the national average?

The average residential care fee around Dunstable is about £1,214 per week — below the UK average of £1,716. Individual fees depend on the home, room and level of care.

Which care homes in Dunstable are rated Outstanding or Good by the CQC?

12 of the 14 care homes in and around Dunstable are rated Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. Ratings are published by the CQC following regular inspections.

What types of care are available in Dunstable?

Homes in and around Dunstable offer dementia (6), residential (6), nursing (3), respite (3). Availability varies by home — use the filters above to find homes offering the specific care type you need.

Weighing up your options in Dunstable?

Care needs change over time. Compare the other kinds of later-life care in Dunstable:

Thinking about downsizing to an independent community?Explore retirement living in DunstablePrefer to stay in your own home with visiting carers?See home care in Dunstable

Near Dunstable

Paying for care? See how care is funded and check what the council may pay.

Guides for families

More in our choosing a care home guides.

Header photo: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons