Darlow Drive is in Biddenham, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK40 4AX is located in the Biddenham electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of North East Bedfordshire. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Darlow Drive, Biddenham, Bedford, MK40 4AX and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 4AU, MK40 4AZ, MK40 4AY, MK40 4AA, MK40 4EU, MK40 4BH, MK40 4AE, MK40 4AT, MK40 4BA.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK40 4AX has a slightly higher male population, with 51.5% 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 | 47.9% | 48.5% | 0.6% | 51.0% | -2.5% |
| Male | 52.1% | 51.5% | -0.6% | 49.0% | 2.5% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of MK40 4AX there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 70.7% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 19.6% | 17.8% | -1.8% | 37.9% | -20.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 69.8% | 70.7% | 0.9% | 44.2% | 26.5% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| Separated | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 2.2% | -1.5% |
| Divorced | 4.5% | 3.8% | -0.7% | 9.1% | -5.3% |
| Widowed | 5.5% | 5.9% | 0.4% | 6.1% | -0.2% |
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 (90.9%) 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 | 55.7% | 51.7% | -4.0% | 48.4% | 3.3% |
| Good health | 31.7% | 39.2% | 7.5% | 33.6% | 5.6% |
| Fair health | 10.4% | 8.7% | -1.7% | 12.7% | -4.0% |
| Bad health | 1.7% | 0.3% | -1.4% | 4.0% | -3.7% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 1.2% | -1.2% |
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 4AX this area, 6.6% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%. 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 61.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 7.9% | 6.6% | -1.3% | 18.2% | -11.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 6.5% | 9.1% | 2.6% | 9.6% | -0.5% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 12.4% | 9.1% | -3.3% | 13.4% | -4.3% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.1% | 3.1% | 1.0% | 5.3% | -2.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10% | 10.8% | 0.8% | 16.9% | -6.1% |
| Degree or Similar | 56.7% | 61.2% | 4.5% | 33.8% | 27.4% |
| Other | 4.5% | 0% | -4.5% | 2.8% | -2.8% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 71.4% 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 | 5% | 2% | -3.0% | 1.1% | 0.9% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| Indian | 7% | 12% | 5.0% | 3.1% | 8.9% |
| Pakistani | 2% | 0% | -2.0% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| Black African | 1.4% | 2.3% | 0.9% | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.0% | -0.1% |
| Other Black | 0% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.5% | 2.1% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| White | 81.2% | 71.4% | -9.8% | 81.4% | -10.0% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Other | 1.4% | 4.7% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 3.1% |
In this area, 81.4% 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 | 83.5% | 81.4% | -2.1% | 83.2% | -1.8% |
| European Union | 4.5% | 7.3% | 2.8% | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 3.6% | 2% | -1.6% | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 7% | 8.1% | 1.1% | 5.6% | 2.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.3% | -0.4% |
| Oceania | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| British Overseas | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 82.4% | 81.4% | -1.0% | 83.2% | -1.8% |
| 10+ Years | 0.6% | 17.2% | 16.6% | 9.8% | 7.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.3% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 2.9% | -2.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.5% | 0% | -2.5% | 2.2% | -2.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 14.3% | 0.6% | -13.7% | 1.9% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 89% | 76.7% | 12.3% |
| Ireland | 2% | 0.6% | 1.4% |
| France | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Germany | 1.2% | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| Italy | 2.6% | 0.6% | 2.0% |
| Other EU countries | 0.6% | 1.5% | -0.9% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Southern Asia | 0.6% | 1.2% | -0.6% |
| No passport held | 3.2% | 13.5% | -10.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 24.6% | 37.2% | -12.6% |
| Christian | 52.3% | 46.2% | 6.1% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Hindu | 5.8% | 1.7% | 4.1% |
| Jewish | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 2.6% | 6.5% | -3.9% |
| Sikh | 9.2% | 0.9% | 8.3% |
| Not answered | 4.9% | 6.0% | -1.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Darlow Drive was 54.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 10.7% lower than the Biddenham average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Darlow Drive has the 13th highest crime rate of 37 local areas in Biddenham and the 269th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 20.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -67.5%.

Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 90% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Darlow Drive, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £272,500 | 2025-01-16 | £283,706 |
| 2 Darlow Drive, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £1,160,000 | 2024-10-30 | £1,196,899 |
| 8 Darlow Drive, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £785,000 | 2024-02-23 | £827,239 |
| 8 Darlow Drive, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £750,000 | 2022-05-27 | £807,573 |
| 13 Darlow Drive, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £625,000 | 2021-06-30 | £746,548 |
MK40 4AX area has a very high level of entrepreneurship. Only 14% 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 4AX 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.
The percentage of retired residents living in MK40 4AX area is much higher than the country's average. According to Census 2011, 32% residents of this area were retired, while the average in the UK was 14%.
| Retired | 90 |
| Full-Time Employee | 84 |
| Self-Employed | 39 |
| Part-Time Employee | 31 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 14 |
| Looking after home or family | 11 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 6 |
| Other | 4 |
| Unemployed | 4 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 2 |
| Human health and social work activities | 30 |
| Education | 29 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 22 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 19 |
| Information and communication | 14 |
| Construction | 13 |
| Manufacturing | 12 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 12 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 9 |
| Other | 7 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 6 |
| Real estate activities | 5 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation 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 | 2,592 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 3,349 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St James' Church of England VA Primary School Main Road , Biddenham MK40 4BD | 3out of 4 | 616 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Great Ouse Primary Academy Seaforth Gardens , MK40 4TJ | - not rated | 798 yd | Free schools | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Westfield Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HW | 2out of 4 | 842 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Joseph's and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HN | 3out of 4 | 913 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 958 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 489 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,653 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 3,396 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 3,633 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 3,752 yd | Academy sponsor led | 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 | 2,535 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushmoor School 58-60 Shakespeare Road , MK45 2RS | - not rated | 1,399 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Modern School Manton Lane , MK41 7NT | - not rated | 1,686 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 1,717 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 2,119 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 2,249 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Three Tuns | The Three Tuns, 57 Main Road | 709 yd | |
| Sport for Bedford Ltd | The Pavilion, Chester Road | 801 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| St. Gregorys Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn | grass pitches | 382 yd |
| Biddenham International School And Sports College BIDDENHAM TURN | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 401 yd |
| Biddenham Pavilion Deep Spinney | grass pitches, tennis courts | 631 yd |
| Biddenham Tennis Club Biddenham Turn | tennis courts | 654 yd |
| Bedford Sports And Hockey Centre THE PAVILION THE PAVILION CHESTER ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 692 yd |
| Westfield School CHESTER ROAD | grass pitches | 728 yd |
| Bedford Girls' School Playing Fields (Closed) Beverley Grove | grass pitches, tennis courts | 851 yd |
| Allen Park OLD FORD END ROAD | grass pitches, tennis courts | 964 yd |
| Alexander Sports Centre SIDNEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 1,016 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 | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| 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 | 50.9 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 49.7 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 63.81 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 63.81 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 12.1 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 13 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.