Ford End Road is in Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK40 4LA is located in the Queens Park electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Ford End Road, Bedford, MK40 4LA and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 4NW, MK40 4NU, MK40 4JZ, MK40 4NS, MK40 4JY, MK40 4NP, MK40 4NR, MK40 4NT, MK40 4NX.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK40 4LA has a slightly higher male population, with 50.9% 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 | 51.2% | 49.1% | -2.1% | 51.0% | -1.9% |
| Male | 48.8% | 50.9% | 2.1% | 49.0% | 1.9% |
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 4LA there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 51.9% 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 | 29.2% | 33.9% | 4.7% | 37.9% | -4.0% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 54% | 51.9% | -2.1% | 44.2% | 7.7% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Separated | 6.3% | 2.5% | -3.8% | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Divorced | 4.1% | 5.6% | 1.5% | 9.1% | -3.5% |
| Widowed | 6.3% | 5.8% | -0.5% | 6.1% | -0.3% |
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 | 43.8% | 51% | 7.2% | 48.4% | 2.6% |
| Good health | 36.3% | 30% | -6.3% | 33.6% | -3.6% |
| Fair health | 12.6% | 11.1% | -1.5% | 12.7% | -1.6% |
| Bad health | 5.9% | 6.1% | 0.2% | 4.0% | 2.1% |
| Very bad health | 1.4% | 1.8% | 0.4% | 1.2% | 0.6% |
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 4LA this area, 33.9% 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 17.5%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 38.1% | 33.9% | -4.2% | 18.2% | 15.7% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 14% | 15.6% | 1.6% | 9.6% | 6.0% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13.7% | 13.3% | -0.4% | 13.4% | -0.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.3% | 3.1% | 1.8% | 5.3% | -2.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 5.7% | 12.5% | 6.8% | 16.9% | -4.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 13.7% | 17.5% | 3.8% | 33.8% | -16.3% |
| Other | 13.7% | 4.2% | -9.5% | 2.8% | 1.4% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 27.6% 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 | 14.7% | 17.6% | 2.9% | 1.1% | 16.5% |
| Indian | 9% | 5.9% | -3.1% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Pakistani | 33.2% | 30.6% | -2.6% | 2.7% | 27.9% |
| Other Asian | 8.8% | 5.7% | -3.1% | 1.6% | 4.1% |
| Black African | 3.2% | 1.8% | -1.4% | 2.5% | -0.7% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.1% | 1.4% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 0.4% |
| Other Black | 0.2% | 0% | -0.2% | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.9% | -0.7% |
| Mixed Other | 0.2% | 1.2% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| White | 26.4% | 27.6% | 1.2% | 81.4% | -53.8% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.1% | 1.3% |
| Arab | 0% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Other | 2.3% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 1.6% | 3.5% |
In this area, 52.6% 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 | 50.1% | 52.6% | 2.5% | 83.2% | -30.6% |
| European Union | 12% | 16.3% | 4.3% | 6.1% | 10.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Africa | 2.3% | 1.6% | -0.7% | 2.7% | -1.1% |
| Middle East and Asia | 34.3% | 28.9% | -5.4% | 5.6% | 23.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.7% | 0.6% | -0.1% | 1.3% | -0.7% |
| British Overseas | 0.2% | 0% | -0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 48.5% | 52.4% | 3.9% | 83.2% | -30.8% |
| 10+ Years | 7.9% | 28.3% | 20.4% | 9.8% | 18.5% |
| 5-10 Years | 6.5% | 10.3% | 3.8% | 2.9% | 7.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 7.4% | 4.7% | -2.7% | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Less than 2 years | 29.6% | 4.3% | -25.3% | 1.9% | 2.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 62.1% | 76.7% | -14.6% |
| Ireland | 1.6% | 0.6% | 1.0% |
| Italy | 3% | 0.6% | 2.4% |
| Portugal | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Spain | 1.2% | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Lithuania | 2.4% | 0.3% | 2.1% |
| Poland | 4.3% | 1.3% | 3.0% |
| Romania | 7.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% |
| Other EU countries | 2.2% | 1.5% | 0.7% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 6.7% | 1.2% | 5.5% |
| South-East Asia | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| No passport held | 8.3% | 13.5% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 6.9% | 37.2% | -30.3% |
| Christian | 22.1% | 46.2% | -24.1% |
| Muslim | 59.3% | 6.5% | 52.8% |
| Sikh | 6.1% | 0.9% | 5.2% |
| Other religion | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Not answered | 4.9% | 6.0% | -1.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Ford End Road was 26.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 90.6% lower than the Greyfriars average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Ford End Road has the 4th lowest crime rate of 23 local areas in Greyfriars and the 109th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 16.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -89.5%.

Households in this area have a similar level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 55% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 131 Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £150,000 | 2024-06-14 | £164,566 |
| 127 Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £290,000 | 2024-01-15 | £312,670 |
| 139 Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2021-06-25 | £299,943 |
| 131 Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £230,000 | 2019-07-25 | £296,792 |
| 149 Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £150,000 | 2014-07-24 | £263,742 |
MK40 4LA area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% 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 student residents living in MK40 4LA area is much higher than the country's average. Usually places with high percentage of students are near Universities and near entertainment places.
| Full-Time Employee | 81 |
| Looking after home or family | 52 |
| Retired | 48 |
| Part-Time Employee | 45 |
| Self-Employed | 37 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 31 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 27 |
| Other | 25 |
| Unemployed | 10 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 6 |
| Transport and storage | 30 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 15 |
| Human health and social work activities | 14 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 13 |
| Other | 9 |
| Education | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 6 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 4 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 4 |
| Construction | 3 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 3 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,283 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,089 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph's and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HN | 3out of 4 | 517 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 537 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Westfield Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HW | 2out of 4 | 563 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,280 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Great Denham Primary School Greenkeepers Road , Great Denham MK40 4GG | 3out of 4 | 1,303 yd | Foundation school | 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 | 917 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 1,692 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,082 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 2,935 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,088 yd | Academy sponsor led | 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 | 1,621 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 724 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,086 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 1,508 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,579 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Rushmoor School 58-60 Shakespeare Road , MK45 2RS | - not rated | 1,701 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Sweets | 57 Ford End Road | 522 yd | |
| Top Slice pizza | 49 Ford End Road | 522 yd | |
| Top Dessert | 43 Ford End Road | 543 yd | |
| LIME STREET BUFFET LIMITED | 12 Lime Street | 802 yd | |
| Starbucks Coffee | Bedford Railway Station, Ashburnham Road | 985 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club | 290 Hillgrounds Road | 545 yd | |
| Sport for Bedford Ltd | The Pavilion, Chester Road | 600 yd | |
| Addison Howard Centre | Addison Howard Park, Bedford Road | 694 yd | |
| The Queen PH | The Queen, 36 Preston Road | 770 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 795 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Grill Ghost Kitchen | 2 Westbourne Road | 335 yd | |
| Dynamite | 66 Iddesleigh Road | 472 yd | |
| Hayat Peri Peri & Pizza | 39 Ford End Road | 522 yd | |
| Tasty Chicken | 13 Ford End Road | 662 yd | |
| Bedford Fitness Camps | 936 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 8-12 Ford End Road | 465 yd | |
| POD ORLEM POLSKI SKLEP | 55 Ford End Road | 522 yd | |
| Iceland Foods Ltd | 7-11 Midland Road | 802 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 442 yd |
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 511 yd |
| Allen Park OLD FORD END ROAD | grass pitches, tennis courts | 530 yd |
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 546 yd |
| Hillgrounds Playing Fields ODELL CLOSE | grass pitches | 654 yd |
| Westfield School CHESTER ROAD | grass pitches | 672 yd |
| Bedford Sports And Hockey Centre THE PAVILION THE PAVILION CHESTER ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 740 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 897 yd |
| Biddenham Tennis Club Biddenham Turn | tennis courts | 911 yd |
| Biddenham International School And Sports College BIDDENHAM TURN | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 1,029 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 | 92.3% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 92.3% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 92.3% |
| 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 | 86.8 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 144.3 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 17.1 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.