Plaiters Way is in Houghton Regis, Dunstable and in South Bedfordshire district. LU5 6JE is located in the Houghton Regis West electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of South West Bedfordshire. This postcode has been in use since 1981-06-01.
StreetScan combines information about Plaiters Way, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 6JE and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: LU5 6JZ, LU5 5EP, LU5 6JX, LU5 5ER, LU5 6JY, LU5 6JF, LU5 6JT, LU5 6JU, LU5 6GG.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding LU5 6JE, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.6% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 55.9% | 52.6% | -3.3% | 51.0% | 1.6% |
| Male | 44.1% | 47.4% | 3.3% | 49.0% | -1.6% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around LU5 6JE, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 49.8% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 46.3% | 49.8% | 3.5% | 37.9% | 11.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 33.5% | 37.7% | 4.2% | 44.2% | -6.5% |
| Separated | 2.8% | 2.6% | -0.2% | 2.2% | 0.4% |
| Divorced | 13.3% | 7.4% | -5.9% | 9.1% | -1.7% |
| Widowed | 4.1% | 2.6% | -1.5% | 6.1% | -3.5% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 43.1% | 49.8% | 6.7% | 48.4% | 1.4% |
| Good health | 39.7% | 33.1% | -6.6% | 33.6% | -0.5% |
| Fair health | 12.1% | 11.6% | -0.5% | 12.7% | -1.1% |
| Bad health | 4.5% | 3.8% | -0.7% | 4.0% | -0.2% |
| Very bad health | 0.7% | 1.7% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 0.5% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
This area stands out for its low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 22.1%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 22.5% | 22.1% | -0.4% | 18.2% | 3.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 25.7% | 16.5% | -9.2% | 9.6% | 6.9% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 21.6% | 17.7% | -3.9% | 13.4% | 4.3% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.3% | 3% | 0.7% | 5.3% | -2.3% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 9.2% | 18.6% | 9.4% | 16.9% | 1.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 13.3% | 22.1% | 8.8% | 33.8% | -11.7% |
| Other | 5.5% | 0% | -5.5% | 2.8% | -2.8% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 81.9% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 1% | 2.4% | 1.4% | 3.1% | -0.7% |
| Other Asian | 2.4% | 2% | -0.4% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| Black African | 1.7% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.4% | 0.7% | -0.7% | 1.0% | -0.3% |
| Other Black | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 3.1% | 2.7% | -0.4% | 0.9% | 1.8% |
| Mixed Other | 1% | 0.3% | -0.7% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| White | 87.2% | 81.9% | -5.3% | 81.4% | 0.5% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Arab | 0% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Other | 0% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 0.1% |
In this area, 82.9% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is similar to the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 95.5% | 82.9% | -12.6% | 83.2% | -0.3% |
| European Union | 0.7% | 8.5% | 7.8% | 6.1% | 2.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 1.7% | 3.4% | 1.7% | 2.7% | 0.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.7% | 4.1% | 2.4% | 5.6% | -1.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 1.3% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 94.1% | 82.9% | -11.2% | 83.2% | -0.3% |
| 10+ Years | 0.7% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 0.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.3% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 0.9% |
| 2-5 Years | 0.7% | 1% | 0.3% | 2.2% | -1.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 4.1% | 2% | -2.1% | 1.9% | 0.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 69.5% | 76.7% | -7.2% |
| Ireland | 2.1% | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| Poland | 1.4% | 1.3% | 0.1% |
| Romania | 3.1% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| Other EU countries | 1% | 1.5% | -0.5% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Southern Asia | 0.3% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
| No passport held | 21.2% | 13.5% | 7.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 47.1% | 37.2% | 9.9% |
| Christian | 44.7% | 46.2% | -1.5% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Hindu | 2.4% | 1.7% | 0.7% |
| Other religion | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Not answered | 5.1% | 6.0% | -0.9% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Plaiters Way was 46.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 45.7% lower than the Houghton Regis East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Plaiters Way has the 19th lowest crime rate of 57 local areas in Houghton Regis East and the 420th highest crime rate of 871 local areas in Central Bedfordshire .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 26.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -47.0%.

Households in this area have a slightly higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 65% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 Plaiters Way, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £129,000 | 2025-06-12 | £130,995 |
| 90 Plaiters Way, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £129,000 | 2025-06-12 | £130,995 |
| 108 Plaiters Way, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £132,500 | 2025-02-04 | £133,996 |
| 77 Plaiters Way, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire Terraced, an established residential building | £267,500 | 2024-07-19 | £286,111 |
| 85 Plaiters Way, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £314,000 | 2022-08-26 | £335,743 |
LU5 6JE area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 86 |
| Part-Time Employee | 33 |
| Retired | 24 |
| Self-Employed | 23 |
| Looking after home or family | 20 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 15 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 12 |
| Other | 8 |
| Unemployed | 8 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 28 |
| Human health and social work activities | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 18 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 12 |
| Education | 12 |
| Construction | 10 |
| Transport and storage | 9 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Other | 5 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield Nursery School Westfield Road , LU6 1DL | 4out of 4 | 2,299 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Willow Nursery School Goldstone Crescent , LU5 4QU | 4out of 4 | 2,561 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Pastures Way Nursery School Pastures Way , LU4 0PE | 3out of 4 | 3,167 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Gill Blowers Nursery School 1 Mossdale Court , Teesdale LU4 9JL | 2out of 4 | 4,599 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Regis Primary School St Michael's Avenue , Houghton Regis LU5 5DH | 3out of 4 | 520 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Thomas Whitehead CofE Academy Angels Lane , Houghton Regis LU5 5HH | 1out of 4 | 734 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Tithe Farm Primary School Tithe Farm Road , Houghton Regis LU5 5JB | 3out of 4 | 791 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Hammersmith Gardens , Houghton Regis LU5 5RG | 3out of 4 | 1,359 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Hawthorn Park Community Primary Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5QN | - not rated | 1,890 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints Academy Dunstable Houghton Road , LU5 5AB | 2out of 4 | 1,317 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Houghton Regis Academy Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PX | 1out of 4 | 1,993 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Chalk Hills Academy Leagrave High St , LU4 0NE | 3out of 4 | 3,322 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Queensbury Academy Langdale Road , LU6 3BU | 3out of 4 | 3,490 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Manshead CofE Academy Dunstable Road , Caddington LU1 4BB | 1out of 4 | 4,736 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkfields Middle School Park Road , Toddington LU5 6AB | - not rated | 5,371 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bedfordshire College Kingsway , LU5 4HG | - not rated | 2,151 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priory Academy Britain Street , LU5 4JA | 3out of 4 | 2,961 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Academy of Central Bedfordshire Kingsland Campus , Parkside Drive LU5 5PX | 3out of 4 | 1,989 yd | Free schools alternative provision | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Chiltern School Parkside Drive , LU5 5PX | 3out of 4 | 2,359 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Weatherfield Academy Brewers Hill Road , LU6 1AF | 3out of 4 | 2,471 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Oneschool Global Dunstable Ridgeway Avenue , LU5 4QL | - not rated | 2,656 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St George's School 28 Priory Road , LU5 4HR | - not rated | 2,885 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe & Smoothies Bar | 5 Bedford Square, Houghton Regis | 741 yd | |
| Cinnamon Lounge | 12 Bedford Square, Houghton Regis | 743 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Kings Arms | High Street, Houghton Regis | 578 yd | |
| Dunstable Rugby Union Football Club | Bidwell Park, Bedford Road | 864 yd | |
| The Chequers | East End, Houghton Regis | 1,071 yd | |
| The Crown | East End, Houghton Regis | 1,071 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Ocean Fish and Chips | 4 Bedford Road, Houghton Regis | 493 yd | |
| Istanbul Takeaway | 4 Bedford Square, Houghton Regis | 726 yd | |
| China House | 11 Bedford Square, Houghton Regis | 741 yd | |
| Tithe Chicken & Chips | 145A Tithe Farm Road, Houghton Regis | 1,069 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd | High Street, Houghton Regis | 628 yd | |
| Lidl Great Britain Limited | Houghton Road, Houghton Regis | 943 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Bodies Gym UNIT 7-8 UNIT 7-8 WESTBURY CLOSE | health and fitness suite | 853 yd |
| Dunstablians Rugby Union Football Club BEDFORD ROAD | grass pitches | 865 yd |
| Orchard Close Recreation Ground Orchard Close | grass pitches | 1,072 yd |
| All Saints Academy HOUGHTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 1,085 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 149.2 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.7 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.