Oak Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 0HH is located in the Kingsbrook electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Oak Road, Bedford, MK42 0HH and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 0HJ, MK42 0HN, MK42 0HW, MK42 0PT, MK42 0ST, MK42 0HP, MK42 0WE, MK42 0HR, MK42 0PS.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 0HH has a slightly higher male population, with 50.6% 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 | 50.2% | 49.4% | -0.8% | 51.0% | -1.6% |
| Male | 49.8% | 50.6% | 0.8% | 49.0% | 1.6% |
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 | 34.7% | 34.9% | 0.2% | 37.9% | -3.0% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 50% | 48.4% | -1.6% | 44.2% | 4.2% |
| Separated | 5.1% | 3.1% | -2.0% | 2.2% | 0.9% |
| Divorced | 6.4% | 7.4% | 1.0% | 9.1% | -1.7% |
| Widowed | 3.8% | 6.2% | 2.4% | 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.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (86.9%) 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 | 37.5% | 50% | 12.5% | 48.4% | 1.6% |
| Good health | 44.7% | 36.9% | -7.8% | 33.6% | 3.3% |
| Fair health | 13.7% | 9.5% | -4.2% | 12.7% | -3.2% |
| Bad health | 3.1% | 3.3% | 0.2% | 4.0% | -0.7% |
| Very bad health | 1% | 0.3% | -0.7% | 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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 29.7% | 21% | -8.7% | 18.2% | 2.8% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 14.4% | 10.5% | -3.9% | 9.6% | 0.9% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.8% | 9.7% | -5.1% | 13.4% | -3.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.2% | 8.9% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 3.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.2% | 18.3% | 8.1% | 16.9% | 1.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 15.7% | 29.6% | 13.9% | 33.8% | -4.2% |
| Other | 11% | 1.9% | -9.1% | 2.8% | -0.9% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 61.5% 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 | 1.4% | 6.2% | 4.8% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Chinese | 2.4% | 1.5% | -0.9% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Indian | 4.5% | 6.8% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 3.7% |
| Pakistani | 1.4% | 3.6% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 0.9% |
| Other Asian | 3.4% | 2.1% | -1.3% | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Black African | 3.4% | 3.3% | -0.1% | 2.5% | 0.8% |
| Black Caribbean | 6.5% | 5.9% | -0.6% | 1.0% | 4.9% |
| Other Black | 1% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 1.6% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.4% | 0.9% | -1.5% | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| White | 72.2% | 61.5% | -10.7% | 81.4% | -19.9% |
| Roma | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Other | 0.7% | 1.2% | 0.5% | 1.6% | -0.4% |
In this area, 73.2% 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 | 83.8% | 73.2% | -10.6% | 83.2% | -10.0% |
| European Union | 5.2% | 15.2% | 10.0% | 6.1% | 9.1% |
| Africa | 2.4% | 2.7% | 0.3% | 2.7% | 0.0% |
| Middle East and Asia | 4.8% | 5.7% | 0.9% | 5.6% | 0.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 3.8% | 3% | -0.8% | 1.3% | 1.7% |
| Oceania | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 82.1% | 73.2% | -8.9% | 83.2% | -10.0% |
| 10+ Years | 1.4% | 13.7% | 12.3% | 9.8% | 3.9% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 2.9% | 4.8% |
| 2-5 Years | 6.5% | 3.3% | -3.2% | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 8.6% | 2.1% | -6.5% | 1.9% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 62.8% | 76.7% | -13.9% |
| Germany | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Italy | 1.2% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Portugal | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Lithuania | 1.5% | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Poland | 8.3% | 1.3% | 7.0% |
| Romania | 3.3% | 0.9% | 2.4% |
| Other EU countries | 1.2% | 1.5% | -0.3% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Southern Asia | 0.9% | 1.2% | -0.3% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| No passport held | 17.9% | 13.5% | 4.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 24.4% | 37.2% | -12.8% |
| Christian | 52.1% | 46.2% | 5.9% |
| Buddhist | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Muslim | 10.7% | 6.5% | 4.2% |
| Sikh | 2.1% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| Other religion | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Not answered | 9.5% | 6.0% | 3.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Oak Road was 110.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 32.5% lower than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Oak Road has the 34th highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 124th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 38.8 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -17.6%.

Households in this area have a similar level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 58% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Oak Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £280,000 | 2024-11-21 | £295,075 |
| 15 Oak Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £217,000 | 2024-02-19 | £232,390 |
| 11 Oak Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £180,000 | 2024-02-14 | £192,766 |
| 9 Oak Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £207,000 | 2024-01-22 | £223,037 |
| 47 Oak Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £230,000 | 2023-04-21 | £245,814 |
MK42 0HH 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.
| Full-Time Employee | 114 |
| Retired | 34 |
| Part-Time Employee | 28 |
| Self-Employed | 26 |
| Other | 17 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 16 |
| Looking after home or family | 10 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 28 |
| Construction | 17 |
| Education | 14 |
| Transport and storage | 13 |
| Manufacturing | 11 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 11 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 8 |
| Human health and social work activities | 8 |
| Other | 8 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 5 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 4 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Financial and insurance 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 | 699 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,506 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 266 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 608 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,518 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 1,522 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Goldington Road , MK40 3EP | 4out of 4 | 1,978 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 592 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 1,441 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,596 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 2,653 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,742 yd | Foundation 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 | 1,576 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,219 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,223 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| KWS School 51 Brunel Road , Bedford MK41 9TJ | - not rated | 1,975 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 2,166 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 2,292 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| K.M.J. Catering Ltd | Bunyan Centre, 187-189 Mile Road | 464 yd | |
| AMA’S Palace (E&G Kitchen) | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 486 yd | |
| THE HUNTERS' GRILL | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 486 yd | |
| Lagos Lounge | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 486 yd | |
| Mile Road, Allotment & Leisure Gardens Association | 149 Mile Road | 566 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bull | The Bull, 259 London Road | 330 yd | |
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 1,077 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Star | 204 London Road | 217 yd | |
| Wok Inn | 159 London Road | 376 yd | |
| Fully loaded Bedford Ltd | 52 Harrowden Road | 575 yd | |
| Harrowden Fisheries | 2 Harrowden Lane | 588 yd | |
| Yo! To Go! | Tesco, Cardington Road | 816 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | Tesco, Cardington Road | 816 yd | |
| Best Stop Convenience Store | Unit 2, Abbey Chase, Abbey Fields | 1,035 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Harrowden Middle School (Closed) Oak Road | grass pitches | 75 yd |
| Jubilee Park SOUTH LODGE SOUTH LODGE CANVIN WAY | grass pitches | 345 yd |
| John Bunyan Health And Fitness MILE ROAD | health and fitness suite, squash courts | 552 yd |
| Bedford Academy (Closed) Mile Road | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 553 yd |
| Bedford Academy MILE ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 676 yd |
| Moor Lane Recreation Ground Moor Lane | grass pitches | 899 yd |
| Oasis Beach Pool CARDINGTON ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 950 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 956 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 | 130.6 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 11 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.6 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.