Harpur Street is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK40 2SR 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 Harpur Street, Bedford, MK40 2SR and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 1BS, MK40 2QT, MK40 2TH, MK40 2RA, MK40 2ST, MK40 1JU, MK40 2FD, MK40 1LD, MK40 2TJ.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK40 2SR is primarily male, with 78.4% 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 | 33.9% | 21.6% | -12.3% | 51.0% | -29.4% |
| Male | 66.1% | 78.4% | 12.3% | 49.0% | 29.4% |
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 2SR, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 71.7% 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 | 55.6% | 71.7% | 16.1% | 37.9% | 33.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 26.1% | 14.7% | -11.4% | 44.2% | -29.5% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Separated | 4.5% | 3.5% | -1.0% | 2.2% | 1.3% |
| Divorced | 11.2% | 9.3% | -1.9% | 9.1% | 0.2% |
| Widowed | 2.2% | 0.8% | -1.4% | 6.1% | -5.3% |
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 | 41.9% | 41.2% | -0.7% | 48.4% | -7.2% |
| Good health | 37.1% | 33.8% | -3.3% | 33.6% | 0.2% |
| Fair health | 14.3% | 18.1% | 3.8% | 12.7% | 5.4% |
| Bad health | 5% | 5.4% | 0.4% | 4.0% | 1.4% |
| Very bad health | 1.7% | 1.5% | -0.2% | 1.2% | 0.3% |
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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 22.4% | 19.2% | -3.2% | 18.2% | 1.0% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 19.8% | 11.9% | -7.9% | 9.6% | 2.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 16.8% | 17.1% | 0.3% | 13.4% | 3.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.7% | 6.2% | 2.5% | 5.3% | 0.9% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11.4% | 12.5% | 1.1% | 16.9% | -4.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 15.3% | 31.4% | 16.1% | 33.8% | -2.4% |
| Other | 10.6% | 1.6% | -9.0% | 2.8% | -1.2% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 64.1% 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 | 7.8% | 0.7% | -7.1% | 1.1% | -0.4% |
| Chinese | 1.3% | 0.5% | -0.8% | 0.7% | -0.2% |
| Indian | 4.3% | 2.5% | -1.8% | 3.1% | -0.6% |
| Pakistani | 4.3% | 2.7% | -1.6% | 2.7% | 0.0% |
| Other Asian | 2% | 2.9% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Black African | 4.3% | 5.4% | 1.1% | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| Black Caribbean | 3.7% | 1.7% | -2.0% | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Other Black | 0.2% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 0.5% | 3.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1% | 1.5% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.8% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 3.5% |
| Mixed Other | 1.2% | 0.7% | -0.5% | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| White | 62.9% | 64.1% | 1.2% | 81.4% | -17.3% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 1.8% | 1.2% | -0.6% | 0.1% | 1.1% |
| Roma | 0% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.2% | 2.5% |
| Arab | 0.5% | 0.2% | -0.3% | 0.6% | -0.4% |
| Other | 1.5% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.8% |
In this area, 63.5% 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 | 66.7% | 63.5% | -3.2% | 83.2% | -19.7% |
| European Union | 11.8% | 22.1% | 10.3% | 6.1% | 16.0% |
| Rest of Europe | 1% | 2.5% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| Africa | 4.5% | 4.2% | -0.3% | 2.7% | 1.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 11.8% | 4.7% | -7.1% | 5.6% | -0.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 3.5% | 2.9% | -0.6% | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| Oceania | 0.7% | 0.2% | -0.5% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 66.1% | 63.5% | -2.6% | 83.2% | -19.7% |
| 10+ Years | 3.7% | 8.8% | 5.1% | 9.8% | -1.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 7% | 6.4% | -0.6% | 2.9% | 3.5% |
| 2-5 Years | 7.2% | 12% | 4.8% | 2.2% | 9.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 16.1% | 9.3% | -6.8% | 1.9% | 7.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 50.9% | 76.7% | -25.8% |
| Germany | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Italy | 2.5% | 0.6% | 1.9% |
| Portugal | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Spain | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Lithuania | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Poland | 8.6% | 1.3% | 7.3% |
| Romania | 4.2% | 0.9% | 3.3% |
| Other EU countries | 5.7% | 1.5% | 4.2% |
| Turkey | 1% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| Other Europe | 1.7% | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.5% | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Eastern Asia | 1% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Southern Asia | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Central and South America | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Oceania | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 18.2% | 13.5% | 4.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27.3% | 37.2% | -9.9% |
| Christian | 45.7% | 46.2% | -0.5% |
| Buddhist | 3.6% | 0.5% | 3.1% |
| Jewish | 1% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Muslim | 11.4% | 6.5% | 4.9% |
| Sikh | 0.2% | 0.9% | -0.7% |
| Other religion | 1.5% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Not answered | 9.2% | 6.0% | 3.2% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Harpur Street was 118.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 27.4% lower than the Harpur average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Harpur Street has the 11th lowest crime rate of 25 local areas in Harpur and the 113th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 55.8 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -68.0%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69C Harpur Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £84,000 | 2024-12-17 | £84,085 |
| 59 Harpur Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £200,000 | 2024-04-26 | £203,275 |
| 51 Harpur Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £132,000 | 2024-02-07 | £133,343 |
| Flat 19 Eagle Court, 47 Harpur Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £169,000 | 2023-09-15 | £168,660 |
| 69D Harpur Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £90,000 | 2023-08-30 | £89,819 |
| Other | 182 |
| Full-Time Employee | 93 |
| Self-Employed | 22 |
| Part-Time Employee | 19 |
| Unemployed | 15 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 12 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 12 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 6 |
| Retired | 5 |
| Looking after home or family | 4 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 35 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 30 |
| Human health and social work activities | 30 |
| Manufacturing | 23 |
| Transport and storage | 19 |
| Construction | 17 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 13 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 11 |
| Education | 10 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 9 |
| Other | 8 |
| Information and communication | 7 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,366 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,593 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,816 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 | - not rated | 512 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Livingstone Primary School Clapham Road , MK41 7LG | 3out of 4 | 808 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | - not rated | 1,088 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | 4out of 4 | 1,088 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Edith Cavell Primary School Manton Lane , MK41 7NH | 3out of 4 | 1,273 yd | Foundation school | Yes | 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 | 800 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 1,481 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | - not rated | 1,481 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 1,932 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,150 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 | 693 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 1,868 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Middle School Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | - not rated | 1,932 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,988 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Brickhill Middle School Falcon Avenue , MK41 7DS | - not rated | 2,081 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 | 689 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford High School Bromham Road , MK40 2BS | - not rated | 213 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 471 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Georgina Perkins School Young Life Centre , 163 Tavistock Street MK40 2SD | - not rated | 637 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 675 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Teaching Service for Excluded Pupils 2nd Floor, Riverside Suite , County Hall MK42 9AP | - not rated | 767 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bombay | 53b Harpur Street | 15 yd | |
| Indiya | 1-3 Broadway House, 4-6 The Broadway | 93 yd | |
| Siam Heaven Thai Restaurant | 36 The Broadway | 93 yd | |
| Vaperz Ltd | 16a Lime Street | 128 yd | |
| AMBER COMBO | 9 The Broadway | 135 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky 11 | 3a The Broadway | 135 yd | |
| Brewhouse And Kitchen | 115-117 High Street | 142 yd | |
| The Bear | The Bear, 92 High Street | 155 yd | |
| Bar Citrus | 29 Harpur Street | 169 yd | |
| The Flowerpot | The Flowerpot, 25 Tavistock Street | 180 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thirsty Records | 75 Harpur Street | 62 yd | |
| Andreas Kebabs | Andreas Pizzeria, 34 The Broadway | 93 yd | |
| The Tuckin Caribbean Takeaway | 38 The Broadway | 93 yd | |
| Elevenses | 1 Lime Street | 128 yd | |
| Golden Dragon | 1b The Broadway | 135 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| BQUALITY AFRICA MINI MARKET | Flat D, Broadway Apartments, 30 The Broadway | 102 yd | |
| Iceland Frozen Foods Plc | 15-19 Greenhill Street | 242 yd | |
| Lidl Food Stores | 5-9 St Peters Street | 247 yd | |
| Tesco | 63 High Street | 338 yd | |
| Essential Supermarket | 10-11 Thurlow Street | 351 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hmp Bedford ST. LOYES STREET | artificial grass pitch | 147 yd |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 228 yd |
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 256 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 416 yd | |
| Bedford School DE PARYS AVENUE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool, tennis courts | 475 yd |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 592 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 638 yd |
| Bedford Borough Indoor Bowling Club GOLDINGTON ROAD | indoor bowls | 674 yd |
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 686 yd |
| Robinson Pool PARK AVENUE | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 735 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 | 63.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 63.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 63.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 63.0% |
| 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 | 37.0% |
| Median download speed | 24.4 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 57.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 1.3 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 7.2 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 30 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.