Harrowden Road is in Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 0SP 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 Harrowden Road, Bedford, MK42 0SP and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 0RS, MK42 0RR, MK42 0RZ, MK42 0RT, MK42 0RP, MK42 0AZ, MK42 0SA, MK42 0SL, MK42 0RE.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 0SP 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 Harrowden Road was 152.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 1.6% lower than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Harrowden Road has the 22nd highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 82nd highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 44.8 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -18.3%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat 52 Harrowden Road, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £1,800,000 | 2025-12-19 | £1,778,507 |
| 64 Harrowden Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £340,000 | 2025-02-24 | £349,501 |
| 48 Harrowden Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £320,000 | 2024-12-09 | £335,314 |
| 94 Harrowden Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £255,000 | 2024-11-12 | £263,970 |
| 92 Harrowden Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £280,000 | 2023-09-29 | £286,680 |
MK42 0SP 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 | 1,378 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,884 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 2,188 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 | 3out of 4 | 459 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 1,291 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | - not rated | 1,291 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shortstown Primary School Beauvais Square , Shortstown MK42 0GS | - not rated | 1,540 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shortstown Primary School Beauvais Square , Shortstown MK42 0GS | 3out of 4 | 1,540 yd | Academy converter | 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 | 527 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 584 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 2,146 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 2,964 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 2,999 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 527 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 527 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 837 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 1,334 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Middle School Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | - not rated | 2,964 yd | Foundation school | 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 | 2,281 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh Education Centre Raleigh and Southway Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,884 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,885 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,933 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| KWS School 51 Brunel Road , Bedford MK41 9TJ | - not rated | 2,039 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Teaching Service for Excluded Pupils 2nd Floor, Riverside Suite , County Hall MK42 9AP | - not rated | 2,364 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | 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 | 407 yd | |
| Mile Road, Allotment & Leisure Gardens Association | 149 Mile Road | 650 yd | |
| AMA’S Palace (E&G Kitchen) | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 857 yd | |
| THE HUNTERS' GRILL | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 857 yd | |
| Lagos Lounge | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 857 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bull | The Bull, 259 London Road | 463 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully loaded Bedford Ltd | 52 Harrowden Road | 22 yd | |
| Harrowden Fisheries | 2 Harrowden Lane | 129 yd | |
| Tasty Peri Peri | 139 Harrowden Road | 361 yd | |
| Golden Star | 204 London Road | 789 yd | |
| Say Doughnuts | Unit 9, Glenmore Business Park, Stanley Road | 802 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Stop Convenience Store | Unit 2, Abbey Chase, Abbey Fields | 648 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Jubilee Park SOUTH LODGE SOUTH LODGE CANVIN WAY | grass pitches | 380 yd |
| John Bunyan Health And Fitness MILE ROAD | health and fitness suite, squash courts | 396 yd |
| Bedford Academy (Closed) Mile Road | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 517 yd |
| Bedford Academy MILE ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 518 yd |
| Harrowden Middle School (Closed) Oak Road | grass pitches | 526 yd |
| Moor Lane Recreation Ground Moor Lane | grass pitches | 932 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 | 97.4% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 97.4% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 97.4% |
| 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 | 68.9 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 129 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 11 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.3 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.