Barkers Lane is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK41 9RZ is located in the Riverfield electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Barkers Lane, Bedford, MK41 9RZ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK41 9RZ is primarily male, with 53.1% 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 | 52.1% | 46.9% | -5.2% | 51.0% | -4.1% |
| Male | 47.9% | 53.1% | 5.2% | 49.0% | 4.1% |
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% | 35.1% | 3.1% | 37.9% | -2.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 47.5% | 43.1% | -4.4% | 44.2% | -1.1% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.7% | 0.6% | -0.1% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Separated | 2.2% | 2.8% | 0.6% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| Divorced | 9% | 12.7% | 3.7% | 9.1% | 3.6% |
| Widowed | 8.6% | 5.8% | -2.8% | 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 | 47.3% | 44.2% | -3.1% | 48.4% | -4.2% |
| Good health | 34.8% | 39.5% | 4.7% | 33.6% | 5.9% |
| Fair health | 12.5% | 13.7% | 1.2% | 12.7% | 1.0% |
| Bad health | 3.4% | 2.4% | -1.0% | 4.0% | -1.6% |
| Very bad health | 2% | 0.2% | -1.8% | 1.2% | -1.0% |
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 | 21.6% | 21.3% | -0.3% | 18.2% | 3.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 19.8% | 6.9% | -12.9% | 9.6% | -2.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 15.5% | 11.1% | -4.4% | 13.4% | -2.3% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.3% | 6.6% | 2.3% | 5.3% | 1.3% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 9.4% | 16.3% | 6.9% | 16.9% | -0.6% |
| Degree or Similar | 22.7% | 37.1% | 14.4% | 33.8% | 3.3% |
| Other | 6.8% | 0.6% | -6.2% | 2.8% | -2.2% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 84% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| Indian | 1.4% | 1.9% | 0.5% | 3.1% | -1.2% |
| Pakistani | 0.3% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Other Asian | 1.7% | 2.6% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 1.0% |
| Black African | 2% | 0.9% | -1.1% | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| Black Caribbean | 2% | 1.2% | -0.8% | 1.0% | 0.2% |
| Other Black | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 3.1% | 1.2% | -1.9% | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| White | 84% | 84% | 0.0% | 81.4% | 2.6% |
| Arab | 3.7% | 0% | -3.7% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 1.6% | -0.7% |
In this area, 85.5% 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 | 86.6% | 85.5% | -1.1% | 83.2% | 2.3% |
| European Union | 3.4% | 3.7% | 0.3% | 6.1% | -2.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.1% | 1.2% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| Africa | 0.9% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 2.7% | -0.1% |
| Middle East and Asia | 5.4% | 5.6% | 0.2% | 5.6% | 0.0% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2% | 1.4% | -0.6% | 1.3% | 0.1% |
| 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 | 86.3% | 85.5% | -0.8% | 83.2% | 2.3% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 11% | 10.7% | 9.8% | 1.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.3% | 0.7% | -1.6% | 2.9% | -2.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 2.2% | -1.5% |
| Less than 2 years | 11.1% | 2.1% | -9.0% | 1.9% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 80.8% | 76.7% | 4.1% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Italy | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Portugal | 1.2% | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Spain | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Other EU countries | 0.2% | 1.5% | -1.3% |
| Other Europe | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 0.7% | 1.2% | -0.5% |
| South-East Asia | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 14% | 13.5% | 0.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 46% | 37.2% | 8.8% |
| Christian | 42.9% | 46.2% | -3.3% |
| Buddhist | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Hindu | 0.9% | 1.7% | -0.8% |
| Muslim | 3.8% | 6.5% | -2.7% |
| Other religion | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Not answered | 4.7% | 6.0% | -1.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Barkers Lane was 350.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 66.8% higher than the Castle & Newnham average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Barkers Lane has the 10th highest crime rate of 52 local areas in Castle & Newnham and the 27th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 143.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -55.6%.

Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 80% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 249 Barkers Lane, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £245,000 | 2023-11-16 | £260,190 |
| 251 Barkers Lane, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £180,000 | 2017-06-26 | £239,849 |
| 243 Barkers Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £140,000 | 2009-01-16 | £303,429 |
| 253 Barkers Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £75,000 | 2001-03-23 | £281,449 |
| 245 Barkers Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £57,500 | 1998-01-30 | £319,712 |
MK41 9RZ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% 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 | 132 |
| Retired | 75 |
| Part-Time Employee | 51 |
| Self-Employed | 35 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 22 |
| Other | 21 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 13 |
| Looking after home or family | 8 |
| Unemployed | 6 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 27 |
| Education | 23 |
| Construction | 12 |
| Transport and storage | 12 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 12 |
| Manufacturing | 11 |
| Human health and social work activities | 11 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 10 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 8 |
| Other | 8 |
| Information and communication | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 4 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,007 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 2,597 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 | 4out of 4 | 1,220 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Green Academy Goldington Green , MK41 0DP | 3out of 4 | 1,420 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John Rigby Catholic Primary School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DQ | 4out of 4 | 1,491 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 1,525 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 1,938 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 1,344 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 1,732 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 1,926 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,011 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Mark Rutherford School Wentworth Drive , MK41 8PX | 3out of 4 | 3,163 yd | Academy converter | 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 | 2,009 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KWS School 51 Brunel Road , Bedford MK41 9TJ | - not rated | 418 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,513 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| St Andrew's School 78 Kimbolton Road , MK40 2PA | - not rated | 1,870 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 1,934 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,160 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top floor bistro and Bar | Bedford International Athletic Stadium, Barkers Lane | 139 yd | |
| Fire Station | Bedford Fire Station, Barkers Lane | 139 yd | |
| Priory Marina Beefeater Restaurant | Beefeater Restaurant, Priory Marina, Barkers Lane | 204 yd | |
| Club 2000 Bingo | Club 2000, Aspects Leisure Centre, Newnham Avenue | 383 yd | |
| McDonalds Restaurants Ltd | Mcdonalds, Aspects Leisure Centre, Newnham Avenue | 383 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The White Horse | The White Horse, 84 Newnham Avenue | 851 yd | |
| Devonshire Arms | The Devonshire Arms, 32 Dudley Street | 914 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Pans People | 238 Castle Road | 781 yd | |
| The Denmark St Fish & Chip Shop | 34 Denmark Street | 966 yd | |
| Yo! To Go! | Tesco, Cardington Road | 967 yd | |
| Chai Rasoi | 167 Castle Road | 1,006 yd | |
| The New Golden Lion Chinese Takeaway | 53 York Street | 1,013 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | Tesco, Cardington Road | 967 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford International Athletic Stadium BARKERS LANE | athletics tracks, grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 135 yd |
| Fitness First Health Club (Bedford) ASPECTS LEISURE CENTRE ASPECTS LEISURE CENTRE NEWNHAM AVENUE | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 403 yd |
| Oasis Beach Pool CARDINGTON ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 728 yd |
| Russell Park PEMBROKE STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 1,003 yd |
| University Of Bedfordshire (Bedford Campus) POLHILL AVENUE | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 1,034 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 | 133.8 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.7 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.