Richbell Court is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK40 2JQ 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 Richbell Court, Bedford, MK40 2JQ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 2JQ, MK40 2HB, MK40 2RR, MK40 2HH, MK40 2JB, MK40 2HW, MK40 2SB, MK40 2RX, MK40 2HN.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK40 2JQ is primarily male, with 61.4% 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 | 44.6% | 38.6% | -6.0% | 51.0% | -12.4% |
| Male | 55.4% | 61.4% | 6.0% | 49.0% | 12.4% |
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 2JQ, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 51.7% 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 | 38.1% | 51.7% | 13.6% | 37.9% | 13.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 23.8% | 15.3% | -8.5% | 44.2% | -28.9% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Separated | 3.5% | 3.4% | -0.1% | 2.2% | 1.2% |
| Divorced | 21.2% | 22.5% | 1.3% | 9.1% | 13.4% |
| Widowed | 13.5% | 6.8% | -6.7% | 6.1% | 0.7% |
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 (67.7%) 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 | 22.8% | 29.7% | 6.9% | 48.4% | -18.7% |
| Good health | 37% | 38% | 1.0% | 33.6% | 4.4% |
| Fair health | 27.2% | 20.5% | -6.7% | 12.7% | 7.8% |
| Bad health | 11.2% | 7.6% | -3.6% | 4.0% | 3.6% |
| Very bad health | 1.8% | 4.2% | 2.4% | 1.2% | 3.0% |
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 2JQ this area, 33.8% 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 18.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 33.1% | 33.8% | 0.7% | 18.2% | 15.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 10.4% | 10.3% | -0.1% | 9.6% | 0.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.6% | 15.4% | 0.8% | 13.4% | 2.0% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.7% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 5.3% | 2.8% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10% | 12% | 2.0% | 16.9% | -4.9% |
| Degree or Similar | 14.6% | 18.4% | 3.8% | 33.8% | -15.4% |
| Other | 14.6% | 2.1% | -12.5% | 2.8% | -0.7% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 68.4% 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 | 0.7% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 0.4% |
| Chinese | 2.2% | 1.1% | -1.1% | 0.7% | 0.4% |
| Indian | 7.6% | 1.1% | -6.5% | 3.1% | -2.0% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 2.7% | -1.2% |
| Other Asian | 2.9% | 1.1% | -1.8% | 1.6% | -0.5% |
| Black African | 4.7% | 3.8% | -0.9% | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Black Caribbean | 5.1% | 6.5% | 1.4% | 1.0% | 5.5% |
| Other Black | 0.4% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 0.4% | 3.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.2% | 0.8% | -1.4% | 0.9% | -0.1% |
| Mixed Other | 0.4% | 3.4% | 3.0% | 0.8% | 2.6% |
| White | 70.3% | 68.4% | -1.9% | 81.4% | -13.0% |
| Roma | 0% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.2% | 2.5% |
| Arab | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 2.2% | 2.3% | 0.1% | 1.6% | 0.7% |
In this area, 68.7% 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 | 60.9% | 68.7% | 7.8% | 83.2% | -14.5% |
| European Union | 13.8% | 17% | 3.2% | 6.1% | 10.9% |
| Rest of Europe | 2.5% | 1.5% | -1.0% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Africa | 6.2% | 5.7% | -0.5% | 2.7% | 3.0% |
| Middle East and Asia | 10.9% | 4.5% | -6.4% | 5.6% | -1.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 5.4% | 2.6% | -2.8% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| British Overseas | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 58.7% | 68.2% | 9.5% | 83.2% | -15.0% |
| 10+ Years | 4.3% | 20.2% | 15.9% | 9.8% | 10.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 7.6% | 6.7% | -0.9% | 2.9% | 3.8% |
| 2-5 Years | 11.6% | 3% | -8.6% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 17.8% | 1.9% | -15.9% | 1.9% | 0.0% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 54.6% | 76.7% | -22.1% |
| Ireland | 1.9% | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Italy | 4.6% | 0.6% | 4.0% |
| Portugal | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Lithuania | 2.3% | 0.3% | 2.0% |
| Poland | 5.3% | 1.3% | 4.0% |
| Other EU countries | 4.6% | 1.5% | 3.1% |
| Turkey | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Eastern Asia | 1.9% | 0.3% | 1.6% |
| South-East Asia | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 22.1% | 13.5% | 8.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 37% | 37.2% | -0.2% |
| Christian | 47.9% | 46.2% | 1.7% |
| Buddhist | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Hindu | 0.4% | 1.7% | -1.3% |
| Jewish | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Muslim | 6.8% | 6.5% | 0.3% |
| Other religion | 2.3% | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| Not answered | 4.9% | 6.0% | -1.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Richbell Court was 390.0 per 1,000 residents, which is 139.0% higher than the Harpur average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Richbell Court has the 3rd highest crime rate of 25 local areas in Harpur and the 23rd highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 170.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -49.2%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68 Richbell Court, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £57,000 | 2014-04-04 | £88,164 |
| 112 Richbell Court, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £50,000 | 2011-07-08 | £81,931 |
| 112 Richbell Court, Bedford, Bedfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £50,000 | 2008-06-26 | £71,234 |
| 102 Richbell Court, Bedford, Bedfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £71,500 | 2007-03-08 | £101,573 |
| 68 Richbell Court, Bedford, Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £50,000 | 2006-03-30 | £101,980 |
| Full-Time Employee | 73 |
| Retired | 37 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 28 |
| Part-Time Employee | 22 |
| Other | 21 |
| Unemployed | 17 |
| Self-Employed | 11 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 10 |
| Looking after home or family | 10 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 3 |
| Human health and social work activities | 21 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 15 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 12 |
| Construction | 9 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 9 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 8 |
| Other | 8 |
| Education | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 6 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 4 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 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 | 1,745 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,908 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,224 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 | 400 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | - not rated | 558 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Edith Cavell Primary School Manton Lane , MK41 7NH | 3out of 4 | 839 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | - not rated | 1,350 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | 4out of 4 | 1,350 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 | 1,206 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 1,531 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | - not rated | 1,531 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,994 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 2,078 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | 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 | 575 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 1,671 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Brickhill Middle School Falcon Avenue , MK41 7DS | - not rated | 1,867 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Middle School Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | - not rated | 2,078 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Park Wood Middle School Hawk Drive , MK41 7JE | - not rated | 2,089 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 | 1,083 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 | 235 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford High School Bromham Road , MK40 2BS | - not rated | 314 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 431 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 604 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| St Andrew's School 78 Kimbolton Road , MK40 2PA | - not rated | 859 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charcoal Grill | 75-77 Tavistock Street | 88 yd | |
| Indian Summer | 69 Tavistock Street | 88 yd | |
| Pasticceria Amalfi Limited | 87-91 Tavistock Street | 88 yd | |
| The Cochin | 76 Tavistock Street | 146 yd | |
| Fireaway | 68a-70 Tavistock Street | 182 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| North End Club | 60 Roff Avenue | 152 yd | |
| Wellington Arms PH | The Wellington Arms, 40-42 Wellington Street | 210 yd | |
| The Flowerpot | The Flowerpot, 25 Tavistock Street | 264 yd | |
| The Balloon | The Balloon, 52 Foster Hill Road | 279 yd | |
| The Foresters Arms | The Foresters Arms, 41 Union Street | 301 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFC | 63 Tavistock Street | 88 yd | |
| New Delicacies of China | 67 Tavistock Street | 128 yd | |
| Malabar | 84 Tavistock Street | 130 yd | |
| Coriander | 90 Tavistock Street | 130 yd | |
| Hoi Tin | 86 Tavistock Street | 130 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's | 105-107 Tavistock Street | 89 yd | |
| BQUALITY AFRICA MINI MARKET | Flat D, Broadway Apartments, 30 The Broadway | 391 yd | |
| Iceland Frozen Foods Plc | 15-19 Greenhill Street | 489 yd | |
| Essential Supermarket | 10-11 Thurlow Street | 599 yd | |
| Lidl Food Stores | 5-9 St Peters Street | 616 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 294 yd |
| Hmp Bedford ST. LOYES STREET | artificial grass pitch | 333 yd |
| Robinson Pool PARK AVENUE | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 435 yd |
| University Of Bedfordshire (Lansdowne Road Campus) (Closed) Lansdowne Road | swimming pool | 506 yd |
| Bedford School DE PARYS AVENUE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool, tennis courts | 603 yd |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 659 yd |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 800 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 840 yd | |
| Rushmoor School RUSHMOOR SCHOOL RUSHMOOR SCHOOL SHAKESPEARE ROAD | 841 yd | |
| St Andrew'S School KIMBOLTON ROAD | 860 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 | 50 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 105.5 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 11.9 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.