Foster Street is in Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK40 2JF is located in the Harpur electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Foster Street, Bedford, MK40 2JF and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 2ET, MK40 2HL, MK40 2JE, MK40 2EU, MK40 2EX, MK40 2ES, MK41 7TE, MK40 2FF, MK40 2HW.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK40 2JF, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 55.4% 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 | 50.6% | 55.4% | 4.8% | 51.0% | 4.4% |
| Male | 49.4% | 44.6% | -4.8% | 49.0% | -4.4% |
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 2JF, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 44.9% 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 | 38.3% | 44.9% | 6.6% | 37.9% | 7.0% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 28.1% | 26.6% | -1.5% | 44.2% | -17.6% |
| Separated | 4.3% | 3.9% | -0.4% | 2.2% | 1.7% |
| Divorced | 17.9% | 13.5% | -4.4% | 9.1% | 4.4% |
| Widowed | 11.5% | 11.1% | -0.4% | 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 lower percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (70%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either an older population or social deprivation in the area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 40.6% | 35.6% | -5.0% | 48.4% | -12.8% |
| Good health | 29% | 34.4% | 5.4% | 33.6% | 0.8% |
| Fair health | 18.1% | 19.6% | 1.5% | 12.7% | 6.9% |
| Bad health | 8.4% | 7.6% | -0.8% | 4.0% | 3.6% |
| Very bad health | 3.9% | 2.8% | -1.1% | 1.2% | 1.6% |
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.
In the area around MK40 2JF this area, 36.8% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 18.2%. 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 19.1%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 40% | 36.8% | -3.2% | 18.2% | 18.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 13.2% | 12.4% | -0.8% | 9.6% | 2.8% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14% | 10.5% | -3.5% | 13.4% | -2.9% |
| Apprenticeship | 0.9% | 5.7% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 0.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 6.8% | 11.5% | 4.7% | 16.9% | -5.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 12.8% | 19.1% | 6.3% | 33.8% | -14.7% |
| Other | 12.3% | 3.8% | -8.5% | 2.8% | 1.0% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 38.1% 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 | 13.5% | 17.9% | 4.4% | 1.1% | 16.8% |
| Chinese | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.1% |
| Indian | 1.6% | 0.8% | -0.8% | 3.1% | -2.3% |
| Pakistani | 3.2% | 2.8% | -0.4% | 2.7% | 0.1% |
| Other Asian | 1.3% | 5.2% | 3.9% | 1.6% | 3.6% |
| Black African | 3.2% | 7.5% | 4.3% | 2.5% | 5.0% |
| Black Caribbean | 15.8% | 15.1% | -0.7% | 1.0% | 14.1% |
| Other Black | 0.3% | 2% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 1.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.6% | 0.4% | -0.2% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.9% | 1.2% | -0.7% | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 4.5% | 2.4% | -2.1% | 0.9% | 1.5% |
| Mixed Other | 1.3% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 2.0% |
| White | 49.7% | 38.1% | -11.6% | 81.4% | -43.3% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Arab | 1.3% | 0.4% | -0.9% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Other | 1.3% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
In this area, 62.7% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is lower than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 68.4% | 62.7% | -5.7% | 83.2% | -20.5% |
| European Union | 9.7% | 9.5% | -0.2% | 6.1% | 3.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 1% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| Africa | 3.9% | 6% | 2.1% | 2.7% | 3.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 8.7% | 11.9% | 3.2% | 5.6% | 6.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 8.4% | 8.7% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 7.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 66.1% | 62.7% | -3.4% | 83.2% | -20.5% |
| 10+ Years | 1.6% | 29.4% | 27.8% | 9.8% | 19.6% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.5% | 4.4% | 0.9% | 2.9% | 1.5% |
| 2-5 Years | 8.1% | 1.6% | -6.5% | 2.2% | -0.6% |
| Less than 2 years | 20.6% | 2% | -18.6% | 1.9% | 0.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 68.5% | 76.7% | -8.2% |
| Portugal | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Spain | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Lithuania | 4% | 0.3% | 3.7% |
| Poland | 3.2% | 1.3% | 1.9% |
| Other EU countries | 0.8% | 1.5% | -0.7% |
| North Africa | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Southern Asia | 3.2% | 1.2% | 2.0% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 2% | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| No passport held | 15.5% | 13.5% | 2.0% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 17.1% | 37.2% | -20.1% |
| Christian | 48.2% | 46.2% | 2.0% |
| Buddhist | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Muslim | 25.5% | 6.5% | 19.0% |
| Sikh | 2.4% | 0.9% | 1.5% |
| Not answered | 6% | 6.0% | 0.0% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Foster Street was 228.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 39.9% higher than the Harpur average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Foster Street has the 8th highest crime rate of 25 local areas in Harpur and the 42nd highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 105.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -71.5%.

Households in this area have a slightly lower level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 61% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Foster Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £140,500 | 2023-03-10 | £138,684 |
| 3 Foster Street, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £205,000 | 2019-07-05 | £261,792 |
| 7 Foster Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £114,000 | 2016-03-29 | £146,067 |
| 3 Foster Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £130,000 | 2006-11-24 | £250,697 |
| 7 Foster Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £78,000 | 2003-11-07 | £142,117 |
| Full-Time Employee | 52 |
| Retired | 44 |
| Part-Time Employee | 29 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 19 |
| Looking after home or family | 18 |
| Other | 12 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 11 |
| Unemployed | 11 |
| Self-Employed | 9 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 26 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 16 |
| Manufacturing | 12 |
| Human health and social work activities | 10 |
| Education | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Transport and storage | 4 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 3 |
| Construction | 3 |
| Other | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Information and communication | 1 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,818 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 2,019 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,269 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingstone Primary School Clapham Road , MK41 7LG | 3out of 4 | 541 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | - not rated | 727 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Edith Cavell Primary School Manton Lane , MK41 7NH | 3out of 4 | 881 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | - not rated | 1,200 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | 4out of 4 | 1,200 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 1,255 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 1,335 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | - not rated | 1,335 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 1,891 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,190 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Bede's RC Middle School 112 Bromham Road , MK40 2QR | - not rated | 770 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Brickhill Middle School Falcon Avenue , MK41 7DS | - not rated | 1,700 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 1,864 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Middle School Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | - not rated | 1,891 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Park Wood Middle School Hawk Drive , MK41 7JE | - not rated | 1,974 yd | Community school | 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 | 1,142 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgina Perkins School Young Life Centre , 163 Tavistock Street MK40 2SD | - not rated | 400 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford High School Bromham Road , MK40 2BS | - not rated | 426 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 448 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 629 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Andrew's School 78 Kimbolton Road , MK40 2PA | - not rated | 669 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fancy Bakery | 35-37 Roff Avenue | 204 yd | |
| Charcoal Grill | 75-77 Tavistock Street | 248 yd | |
| Indian Summer | 69 Tavistock Street | 248 yd | |
| Pasticceria Amalfi Limited | 87-91 Tavistock Street | 248 yd | |
| Grand Indian Restaurant | 39 Tavistock Street | 280 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Balloon | The Balloon, 52 Foster Hill Road | 90 yd | |
| Wellington Arms PH | The Wellington Arms, 40-42 Wellington Street | 155 yd | |
| The Flowerpot | The Flowerpot, 25 Tavistock Street | 280 yd | |
| North End Club | 60 Roff Avenue | 320 yd | |
| The Bedford Club | 11 De Parys Avenue | 330 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halal Dixy | 55 Tavistock Street | 245 yd | |
| New Delicacies of China | 67 Tavistock Street | 246 yd | |
| Shanghai Kitchen | 61 Tavistock Street | 246 yd | |
| King Kebab | 59 Tavistock Street | 246 yd | |
| KFC | 63 Tavistock Street | 248 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's | 105-107 Tavistock Street | 248 yd | |
| BQUALITY AFRICA MINI MARKET | Flat D, Broadway Apartments, 30 The Broadway | 373 yd | |
| Lidl Food Stores | 5-9 St Peters Street | 560 yd | |
| Iceland Frozen Foods Plc | 15-19 Greenhill Street | 594 yd | |
| Village Choice Ltd T/A Budgens | Budgens, 82 Kimbolton Road | 689 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Robinson Pool PARK AVENUE | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 288 yd |
| Hmp Bedford ST. LOYES STREET | artificial grass pitch | 414 yd |
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 425 yd |
| Bedford School DE PARYS AVENUE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool, tennis courts | 446 yd |
| St Andrew'S School KIMBOLTON ROAD | 670 yd | |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 678 yd |
| University Of Bedfordshire (Lansdowne Road Campus) (Closed) Lansdowne Road | swimming pool | 690 yd |
| Bedford Borough Indoor Bowling Club GOLDINGTON ROAD | indoor bowls | 750 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 810 yd | |
| Goldington Road (Bedford Blues Rufc) GOLDINGTON ROAD | grass pitches | 823 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 | 50.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 50.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 50.0% |
| 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 | 47.4 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 98 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 11 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.