I'll be moving to Milton Keynes late August and need advice about
where exactly to live. Unfortunately, there won't be time to visit
before the move, so I need to hear from people that have actually
lived there or know the area well. Considerations (not necessarily in
ranked order) are:
 1) safety (low crime rate)
 2) good schools (middle or combined)
 3) cost of housing (budget is 130,000-150,000 pounds for three bedrooms)
 4) proximity to transportation (Wolverton, CMK, or Bletchley stations)

I have already spent a great deal of time looking at two major real estate sites
  http://www.fish4.co.uk/
  http://www.rightmove.co.uk/rm/
however, there are quite a few properties available in my price range
and it is hard to know what to look for. One of the sites gives
cursory area information, but it is rather limited.

My question is, based on the above information, which areas should I
concentrate on, and why? I would also greatly appreciate any comments
- I'm going crazy trying to figure this out!

Thank you,
alex_p

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Request for Question Clarification by willie-ga on 17 May 2004 00:24 PDT

Alex

If the National Statistics site for Milton Keynes at 
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/AreaProfileFrames.asp?TID=13&AREA=Milton+Keynes&AID=175843
was enough for you will you let me know and I'll post it as an official answer

Thanks 
willie-ga

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Clarification of Question by alex_p-ga on 20 May 2004 02:15 PDT

willie,
those statistics seem to be the ones on which fish4 is based. Rather
than a list of statistics I was hoping for advice from somebody who
lives there as an answer.

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Request for Question Clarification by willie-ga on 20 May 2004 02:24 PDT

Ahh.....

I'll pass then, and I hope you find a resident here willing to help you.

willie-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by palitoy-ga on 20 May 2004 02:35 PDT

I have been doing some work on this for you, would the type of
information found at
http://www.upmystreet.com/overview/?l1=milton+keynes be sufficient.

It covers everything you seem to require including the ability to find
nearest amenities.

If this is enough I can post the answer officially for you with a
brief description of each of your 4 points.

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Clarification of Question by alex_p-ga on 21 May 2004 00:25 PDT

Thanks Palitoy, but again I really wanted an answer from somebody who
has actually been there. Looking at statistics (and amenities) can be
misleading as it may not give a real feel of the place.

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Request for Question Clarification by palitoy-ga on 21 May 2004 01:20 PDT

No problem.  I used to live there and I was going to back up my
answers with the statistics on the site but I'll leave that for
someone who still lives there.

Rent until you've had a chance to have a good look around.

Thanks probonopublico - you're right in that I'll have to rent until
the mortgage is sorted, but the question remains - where to rent that
has low crime, good schools, and is close to transport?

Alex-p

The National Statistics site for Milton Keynes at 
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/AreaProfileFrames.asp?TID=13&AREA=Milton+Keynes&AID=175843

holds a lot of the info you'll need to make a decision.
Halfway down the page theres a line that says:
"In addition to the figures shown in this summary there are more
detailed statistics available within Neighbourhood Statistics"

Hit the Go button there at it takes you to detailed lists of
stats....they are summarised for Milton Keynes, but by clicking on the
Miltion Keynes name in any particular stat report, it breaks it down
by area.

willie-ga

Thanks Willie - I'll try that site.

You could try entering postcodes at:
http://upmystreet.co.uk/

Thanks Leli - I'll have a look.