High Street is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK40 1RN is located in the Castle & Newnham electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about High Street, Bedford, MK40 1RN and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 1RW, MK40 3US, MK40 3UT, MK40 1RY, MK40 3NT, MK40 1SL, MK40 3FE, MK40 3FG, MK40 1SP.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK40 1RN is primarily male, with 53.8% of the population being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 48.6% | 46.2% | -2.4% | 51.0% | -4.8% |
| Male | 51.4% | 53.8% | 2.4% | 49.0% | 4.8% |
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 MK40 1RN, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 76.5% 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 | 70.7% | 76.5% | 5.8% | 37.9% | 38.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 16.5% | 12.8% | -3.7% | 44.2% | -31.4% |
| Separated | 3.2% | 2.2% | -1.0% | 2.2% | 0.0% |
| Divorced | 7.4% | 7.3% | -0.1% | 9.1% | -1.8% |
| Widowed | 2.1% | 1.1% | -1.0% | 6.1% | -5.0% |
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.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (91.2%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either a younger population or more affluent area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 46.2% | 56.3% | 10.1% | 48.4% | 7.9% |
| Good health | 40.1% | 34.9% | -5.2% | 33.6% | 1.3% |
| Fair health | 10.8% | 6.8% | -4.0% | 12.7% | -5.9% |
| Bad health | 2.8% | 2.1% | -0.7% | 4.0% | -1.9% |
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 high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 50.3%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 13.8% | 16% | 2.2% | 18.2% | -2.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 11.2% | 6.9% | -4.3% | 9.6% | -2.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 17% | 9.7% | -7.3% | 13.4% | -3.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.6% | 4% | 2.4% | 5.3% | -1.3% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 22.9% | 9.1% | -13.8% | 16.9% | -7.8% |
| Degree or Similar | 24.5% | 50.3% | 25.8% | 33.8% | 16.5% |
| Other | 9% | 4% | -5.0% | 2.8% | 1.2% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 61.1% of the residents identify as white, which is lower than the UK average of 81.4%, there are significant representations of other ethnic groups.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.4% |
| Indian | 5.2% | 2.1% | -3.1% | 3.1% | -1.0% |
| Pakistani | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.7% | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| Other Asian | 0.9% | 1% | 0.1% | 1.6% | -0.6% |
| Black African | 3.8% | 18.7% | 14.9% | 2.5% | 16.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 3.8% | 2.6% | -1.2% | 1.0% | 1.6% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.5% | 1% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.9% | 0% | -1.9% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| Mixed Other | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| White | 75.5% | 61.1% | -14.4% | 81.4% | -20.3% |
| Arab | 0.5% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 0.6% | 3.0% |
| Other | 1.4% | 1.6% | 0.2% | 1.6% | 0.0% |
In this area, just 43.1% of residents were born in the United Kingdom, meaning that the majority of residents originate from outside the UK.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 64.2% | 43.1% | -21.1% | 83.2% | -40.1% |
| European Union | 19.3% | 28.2% | 8.9% | 6.1% | 22.1% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.9% | 3.1% | 2.2% | 0.8% | 2.3% |
| Africa | 5.2% | 15.9% | 10.7% | 2.7% | 13.2% |
| Middle East and Asia | 8.5% | 7.7% | -0.8% | 5.6% | 2.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.9% | 1.5% | -0.4% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| Oceania | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
In this area majority of residents originate from outside the UK. Only 43.1% of residents were born in the United Kingdom. 15.4% of residents have lived in the UK for 10 years or more.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 64.2% | 43.1% | -21.1% | 83.2% | -40.1% |
| 10+ Years | 21.2% | 15.4% | -5.8% | 9.8% | 5.6% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.8% | 12.3% | 9.5% | 2.9% | 9.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 7.1% | 14.4% | 7.3% | 2.2% | 12.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 4.7% | 14.9% | 10.2% | 1.9% | 13.0% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 48.2% | 76.7% | -28.5% |
| France | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Italy | 4.7% | 0.6% | 4.1% |
| Portugal | 1% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Spain | 2.6% | 0.4% | 2.2% |
| Lithuania | 1.6% | 0.3% | 1.3% |
| Poland | 4.1% | 1.3% | 2.8% |
| Romania | 5.7% | 0.9% | 4.8% |
| Other EU countries | 7.8% | 1.5% | 6.3% |
| Other Europe | 1.6% | 0.2% | 1.4% |
| North Africa | 1% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| Central and Western Africa | 6.2% | 0.3% | 5.9% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1.6% | 0.2% | 1.4% |
| Eastern Asia | 2.1% | 0.3% | 1.8% |
| Southern Asia | 2.6% | 1.2% | 1.4% |
| Central Asia | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 7.8% | 13.5% | -5.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 37.3% | 37.2% | 0.1% |
| Christian | 43% | 46.2% | -3.2% |
| Buddhist | 1% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Hindu | 1% | 1.7% | -0.7% |
| Muslim | 12.4% | 6.5% | 5.9% |
| Other religion | 1.6% | 0.6% | 1.0% |
| Not answered | 3.6% | 6.0% | -2.4% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around High Street was 1408.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 570.6% higher than the Castle & Newnham average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
High Street has the 3rd highest crime rate of 52 local areas in Castle & Newnham and the 3rd highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 808.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -58.0%.

Households in this area have a similar level level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 59% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat 12 Swan House, 3 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £131,250 | 2025-02-18 | £134,697 |
| Flat 1 Swan House, 3 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £194,000 | 2023-05-11 | £198,294 |
| 13 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £725,000 | 2022-02-25 | £805,216 |
| Flat 13 Swan House, 3 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £127,000 | 2021-02-19 | £143,369 |
| Swan House, 3 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £800,000 | 2019-10-29 | £918,418 |
The percentage of student residents living in MK40 1RN area is much higher than the country's average. Usually places with high percentage of students are near Universities and near entertainment places.
| Full-Time Employee | 96 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 24 |
| Part-Time Employee | 16 |
| Unemployed | 13 |
| Self-Employed | 11 |
| Other | 8 |
| Looking after home or family | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 6 |
| Retired | 3 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 0 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 24 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 21 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Transport and storage | 10 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 9 |
| Human health and social work activities | 9 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 8 |
| Education | 8 |
| Construction | 6 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,228 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,406 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | 4out of 4 | 618 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | 4out of 4 | 1,138 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Livingstone Primary School Clapham Road , MK41 7LG | 3out of 4 | 1,157 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,266 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 1,438 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 390 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 1,705 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 2,052 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,201 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,327 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 286 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 595 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 768 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 916 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 933 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Andrew's School 78 Kimbolton Road , MK40 2PA | - not rated | 1,083 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Café | 5 High Street | 23 yd | |
| McDonalds | 9 High Street | 23 yd | |
| Nando's | 3 High Street | 23 yd | |
| Decant Wine and Cheese Deli | 20 Castle Lane | 56 yd | |
| Lotus | 16 Castle Lane | 56 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rose | The Rose, 45 High Street | 90 yd | |
| Astons | 32 High Street | 136 yd | |
| Slug & Lettuce Bedford | 53-55 High Street | 163 yd | |
| Vogue | 55 High Street | 163 yd | |
| The Cross Keys | The Cross Keys, 69 High Street | 171 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| BB Tea | 43 High Street | 107 yd | |
| Lee's Kitchen | Lee's Kitchen, Duckmill Lane | 197 yd | |
| Greggs | 19 Harpur Centre | 250 yd | |
| Emporium cafe | 18 The Boulevards | 305 yd | |
| Millennium Kebab | 80a High Street | 347 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 63 High Street | 163 yd | |
| Liana International Market | 59 Midland Road | 411 yd | |
| Lidl Food Stores | 5-9 St Peters Street | 445 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 456 yd | |
| Essential Supermarket | 10-11 Thurlow Street | 491 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 156 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 242 yd | |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 264 yd |
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 303 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 344 yd | |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 467 yd |
| Hmp Bedford ST. LOYES STREET | artificial grass pitch | 595 yd |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 602 yd |
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 677 yd |
| Bedford School DE PARYS AVENUE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool, tennis courts | 787 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 | 16.7% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 16.7% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 16.7% |
| 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 | 56.7 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 57.2 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 80 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 80 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 12.3 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.