Old Ford End Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK40 4NQ 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 Old Ford End Road, Bedford, MK40 4NQ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 4ND, MK40 4NE, MK40 4NB, MK40 4NG, MK40 4NF, MK40 4NA, MK40 4GY, MK40 4LZ, MK40 4HU.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK40 4NQ has a slightly higher male population, with 50.1% 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 | 48.5% | 49.9% | 1.4% | 51.0% | -1.1% |
| Male | 51.5% | 50.1% | -1.4% | 49.0% | 1.1% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 32.5% | 35.3% | 2.8% | 37.9% | -2.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 54.9% | 50.4% | -4.5% | 44.2% | 6.2% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Separated | 2.8% | 2.5% | -0.3% | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Divorced | 3.7% | 4.7% | 1.0% | 9.1% | -4.4% |
| Widowed | 6.1% | 6.8% | 0.7% | 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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 37.1% | 46.9% | 9.8% | 48.4% | -1.5% |
| Good health | 43.7% | 36.6% | -7.1% | 33.6% | 3.0% |
| Fair health | 14.4% | 13.6% | -0.8% | 12.7% | 0.9% |
| Bad health | 4.5% | 2.6% | -1.9% | 4.0% | -1.4% |
| Very bad health | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
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 low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 19.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 28.9% | 25.5% | -3.4% | 18.2% | 7.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 13% | 15.8% | 2.8% | 9.6% | 6.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 12.2% | 16.5% | 4.3% | 13.4% | 3.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.5% | 5.4% | 0.9% | 5.3% | 0.1% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11.4% | 12.6% | 1.2% | 16.9% | -4.3% |
| Degree or Similar | 16.3% | 19.4% | 3.1% | 33.8% | -14.4% |
| Other | 13.8% | 4.7% | -9.1% | 2.8% | 1.9% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 45.5% 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 | 5.1% | 10.1% | 5.0% | 1.1% | 9.0% |
| Chinese | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 8.1% | 4.3% | -3.8% | 3.1% | 1.2% |
| Pakistani | 15.3% | 29% | 13.7% | 2.7% | 26.3% |
| Other Asian | 0.3% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Black African | 3.9% | 2.4% | -1.5% | 2.5% | -0.1% |
| Black Caribbean | 4.2% | 1.9% | -2.3% | 1.0% | 0.9% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.1% | 0.3% | -1.8% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Mixed Other | 2.4% | 0% | -2.4% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| White | 53.6% | 45.5% | -8.1% | 81.4% | -35.9% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| Arab | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 3.3% | 2.7% | -0.6% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
In this area, 59.2% 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 | 65% | 59.2% | -5.8% | 83.2% | -24.0% |
| European Union | 10.8% | 18.9% | 8.1% | 6.1% | 12.8% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.8% | 0.3% | -1.5% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 3.9% | 2.6% | -1.3% | 2.7% | -0.1% |
| Middle East and Asia | 16.2% | 17.9% | 1.7% | 5.6% | 12.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.1% | 1.1% | -1.0% | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 64.1% | 59.1% | -5.0% | 83.2% | -24.1% |
| 10+ Years | 4.8% | 22.8% | 18.0% | 9.8% | 13.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.4% | 9.7% | 7.3% | 2.9% | 6.8% |
| 2-5 Years | 7.5% | 6.3% | -1.2% | 2.2% | 4.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 21.3% | 2.1% | -19.2% | 1.9% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 63.2% | 76.7% | -13.5% |
| France | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Germany | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Italy | 5.5% | 0.6% | 4.9% |
| Portugal | 1.6% | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Spain | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Lithuania | 3.7% | 0.3% | 3.4% |
| Poland | 1.8% | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Romania | 2.9% | 0.9% | 2.0% |
| Other EU countries | 5.3% | 1.5% | 3.8% |
| Southern Asia | 4.5% | 1.2% | 3.3% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| No passport held | 10% | 13.5% | -3.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 14.4% | 37.2% | -22.8% |
| Christian | 35.2% | 46.2% | -11.0% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 40.2% | 6.5% | 33.7% |
| Sikh | 3.4% | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| Other religion | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Not answered | 6.3% | 6.0% | 0.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Old Ford End Road was 43.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 84.8% lower than the Greyfriars average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Old Ford End Road has the 8th lowest crime rate of 23 local areas in Greyfriars and the 211th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 15.3 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 2.2%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104 Old Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £325,000 | 2024-03-22 | £345,495 |
| 128 Old Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £305,000 | 2024-03-22 | £324,234 |
| 130 Old Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £340,000 | 2024-02-22 | £365,096 |
| 132 Old Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £310,000 | 2023-09-08 | £327,582 |
| 124 Old Ford End Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £287,000 | 2021-03-19 | £352,771 |
| Full-Time Employee | 86 |
| Retired | 49 |
| Part-Time Employee | 34 |
| Looking after home or family | 30 |
| Self-Employed | 23 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 17 |
| Unemployed | 16 |
| Other | 11 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 11 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 2 |
| Transport and storage | 19 |
| Human health and social work activities | 18 |
| Education | 16 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 13 |
| Other | 6 |
| Construction | 5 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 4 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 2,021 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,830 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HW | 2out of 4 | 507 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 | 593 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Great Denham Primary School Greenkeepers Road , Great Denham MK40 4GG | 3out of 4 | 626 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 708 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St James' Church of England VA Primary School Main Road , Biddenham MK40 4BD | 3out of 4 | 926 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | 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 | 505 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,385 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,506 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 2,875 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,820 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 | 2,298 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,336 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,419 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Rushmoor School 58-60 Shakespeare Road , MK45 2RS | - not rated | 1,852 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 1,863 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 1,889 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport for Bedford Ltd | The Pavilion, Chester Road | 454 yd | |
| AFC Kempston Rovers Football Club | Kempston Rovers Football Club, Hillgrounds Road | 542 yd | |
| The Three Tuns | The Three Tuns, 57 Main Road | 1,049 yd | |
| Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club | 290 Hillgrounds Road | 1,077 yd | |
| The Queen PH | The Queen, 36 Preston Road | 1,086 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Grill Ghost Kitchen | 2 Westbourne Road | 876 yd | |
| Dynamite | 66 Iddesleigh Road | 966 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 8-12 Ford End Road | 1,086 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Allen Park OLD FORD END ROAD | grass pitches, tennis courts | 234 yd |
| Biddenham Tennis Club Biddenham Turn | tennis courts | 273 yd |
| Bedford Sports And Hockey Centre THE PAVILION THE PAVILION CHESTER ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 326 yd |
| Westfield School CHESTER ROAD | grass pitches | 446 yd |
| Hillgrounds Playing Fields ODELL CLOSE | grass pitches | 471 yd |
| Biddenham International School And Sports College BIDDENHAM TURN | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 534 yd |
| St. Gregorys Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn | grass pitches | 807 yd |
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 842 yd |
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 986 yd |
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 1,079 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 | 157.8 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 11.9 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 17.3 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.