Waterloo Road is in Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK40 3PG 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 Waterloo Road, Bedford, MK40 3PG and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 3PR, MK40 3PP, MK40 3PW, MK40 3PS, MK40 3PN, MK40 3QW, MK40 3QH, MK40 3PE, MK40 3QP.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK40 3PG has a slightly higher male population, with 51.7% of residents 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 | 55.1% | 48.3% | -6.8% | 51.0% | -2.7% |
| Male | 44.9% | 51.7% | 6.8% | 49.0% | 2.7% |
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 3PG, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 46.2% 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 | 46.6% | 46.2% | -0.4% | 37.9% | 8.3% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 34.6% | 34.6% | 0.0% | 44.2% | -9.6% |
| Separated | 0.7% | 3% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Divorced | 8.8% | 10.3% | 1.5% | 9.1% | 1.2% |
| Widowed | 9.2% | 6% | -3.2% | 6.1% | -0.1% |
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 | 53.8% | 49.4% | -4.4% | 48.4% | 1.0% |
| Good health | 26.9% | 27.7% | 0.8% | 33.6% | -5.9% |
| Fair health | 11.1% | 12.2% | 1.1% | 12.7% | -0.5% |
| Bad health | 7% | 9.6% | 2.6% | 4.0% | 5.6% |
| Very bad health | 1.3% | 1.1% | -0.2% | 1.2% | -0.1% |
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 46.8%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 17.3% | 13.3% | -4.0% | 18.2% | -4.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 5.7% | 9.4% | 3.7% | 9.6% | -0.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 10.6% | 10.7% | 0.1% | 13.4% | -2.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.1% | 2.6% | 1.5% | 5.3% | -2.7% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 17.7% | 15% | -2.7% | 16.9% | -1.9% |
| Degree or Similar | 44.9% | 46.8% | 1.9% | 33.8% | 13.0% |
| Other | 2.8% | 2.1% | -0.7% | 2.8% | -0.7% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 83.8% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.1% | -0.4% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.0% |
| Indian | 2.8% | 1.1% | -1.7% | 3.1% | -2.0% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.7% | -2.3% |
| Other Asian | 1.6% | 2.2% | 0.6% | 1.6% | 0.6% |
| Black African | 1.3% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 0.4% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.3% | 3.3% | 3.0% | 1.0% | 2.3% |
| Other Black | 0.6% | 0.4% | -0.2% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.9% | 2.2% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 1.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.6% | 0.4% | -1.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.3% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Mixed Other | 0.6% | 0.4% | -0.2% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 89.9% | 83.8% | -6.1% | 81.4% | 2.4% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
In this area, 79.3% 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 | 86.4% | 79.3% | -7.1% | 83.2% | -3.9% |
| European Union | 3.2% | 10% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 3.9% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.9% | 1.8% | -0.1% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Africa | 2.5% | 2.2% | -0.3% | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 3.2% | 4.4% | 1.2% | 5.6% | -1.2% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.0% | 1.3% | 0.9% |
| Oceania | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 86.4% | 79.3% | -7.1% | 83.2% | -3.9% |
| 10+ Years | 2.8% | 12.2% | 9.4% | 9.8% | 2.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.8% | 3.7% | -0.1% | 2.9% | 0.8% |
| 2-5 Years | 0.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2.2% | 1.5% |
| Less than 2 years | 6.3% | 1.1% | -5.2% | 1.9% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 72.4% | 76.7% | -4.3% |
| Ireland | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Italy | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Portugal | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Spain | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Poland | 3.3% | 1.3% | 2.0% |
| Romania | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Other EU countries | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Other Europe | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.3% |
| Oceania | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| No passport held | 12.9% | 13.5% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 49.1% | 37.2% | 11.9% |
| Christian | 41.7% | 46.2% | -4.5% |
| Hindu | 0.4% | 1.7% | -1.3% |
| Muslim | 3% | 6.5% | -3.5% |
| Other religion | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Not answered | 5.5% | 6.0% | -0.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Waterloo Road was 43.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 79.2% lower than the Castle & Newnham average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Waterloo Road has the 17th lowest crime rate of 51 local areas in Castle & Newnham and the 201st lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 20.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -81.4%.

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 3 39 Waterloo Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £155,500 | 2025-03-27 | £156,604 |
| 44 Waterloo Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £960,000 | 2023-11-16 | £1,014,940 |
| 58 Waterloo Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £880,000 | 2023-03-17 | £918,451 |
| 42 Waterloo Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £960,000 | 2022-06-30 | £1,051,000 |
| Flat 2 55 Waterloo Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £217,500 | 2021-03-10 | £235,014 |
MK40 3PG area has a very high level of entrepreneurship. Only 13% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 14% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
MK40 3PG area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 1% 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 | 96 |
| Retired | 37 |
| Self-Employed | 32 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 23 |
| Part-Time Employee | 17 |
| Other | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Looking after home or family | 4 |
| Unemployed | 3 |
| Human health and social work activities | 27 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 21 |
| Education | 18 |
| Manufacturing | 16 |
| Construction | 13 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 10 |
| Information and communication | 9 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 9 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 9 |
| Other | 8 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 8 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 6 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| 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 | 1,319 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,511 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,728 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | - not rated | 505 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | 4out of 4 | 505 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St John Rigby Catholic Primary School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DQ | 3out of 4 | 1,287 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John Rigby RC VA Lower School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DQ | - not rated | 1,287 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Raleigh School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,300 yd | Community school | No | 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 | 852 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 1,256 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | - not rated | 1,256 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 1,402 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 2,140 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,320 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Middle School Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | - not rated | 1,402 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Bede's RC Middle School 112 Bromham Road , MK40 2QR | - not rated | 1,571 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,686 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,686 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 882 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 | 535 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 804 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| St Andrew's School 78 Kimbolton Road , MK40 2PA | - not rated | 909 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Acorn School 15 St Andrew's Road , MK40 2LL | - not rated | 1,045 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Teaching Service for Excluded Pupils 2nd Floor, Riverside Suite , County Hall MK42 9AP | - not rated | 1,066 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapori del sud | 108 Castle Road | 184 yd | |
| A Casa asa di Anna | 108 Castle Road | 184 yd | |
| Radhuni Cafe Bar Grill Restaurant | 38 The Embankment | 280 yd | |
| Papillon Coffee House & Beloved Brownies | 133 Castle Road | 315 yd | |
| 2likeus | 127a Castle Road | 315 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Arms | The Gordon Arms, 118 Castle Road | 242 yd | |
| The Castle | The Castle, 17 Newnham Street | 377 yd | |
| Three Cups Pub | The Three Cups, 45 Newnham Street | 377 yd | |
| Ship | The Ship, 7 St Cuthberts Street | 463 yd | |
| Russell Park Social Club | 69 Goldington Road | 492 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papa Gigi's | Papa Gigis Pizzas, 109a Castle Road | 169 yd | |
| Lee's Takeaway | 131 Castle Road | 315 yd | |
| The New Golden Lion Chinese Takeaway | 53 York Street | 391 yd | |
| The Denmark St Fish & Chip Shop | 34 Denmark Street | 453 yd | |
| Chai Rasoi | 167 Castle Road | 483 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 63 High Street | 676 yd | |
| Lidl Food Stores | 5-9 St Peters Street | 676 yd | |
| Village Choice Ltd T/A Budgens | Budgens, 82 Kimbolton Road | 863 yd | |
| Tesco | Tesco, Cardington Road | 893 yd | |
| BQUALITY AFRICA MINI MARKET | Flat D, Broadway Apartments, 30 The Broadway | 907 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Park PEMBROKE STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 366 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 521 yd | |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 529 yd |
| Goldington Road (Bedford Blues Rufc) GOLDINGTON ROAD | grass pitches | 567 yd |
| Bedford Borough Indoor Bowling Club GOLDINGTON ROAD | indoor bowls | 577 yd |
| Riverside Tennis Club GOLDINGTON ROAD | indoor tennis centre, tennis courts | 684 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 717 yd |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 766 yd |
| Bedford And County Badminton Club BRADGATE ROAD | 790 yd | |
| Bedford School DE PARYS AVENUE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool, tennis courts | 809 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 | 165 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 19 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.