North Drive is in Shortstown, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 0TN is located in the Shortstown electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of North East Bedfordshire. This postcode has been in use since 1987-04-01.
StreetScan combines information about North Drive, Shortstown, Bedford, MK42 0TN and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 0UE, MK42 0TL, MK42 0TP, MK42 0UF, MK42 0UJ, MK42 0UP, MK42 0UD, MK42 0UR, MK42 0XD.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 0TN is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 49.5%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 52.5% | 50.5% | -2.0% | 51.0% | -0.5% |
| Male | 47.5% | 49.5% | 2.0% | 49.0% | 0.5% |
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 | 37.9% | 41.9% | 4.0% | 37.9% | 4.0% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 46.7% | 41.5% | -5.2% | 44.2% | -2.7% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Separated | 2.3% | 2.9% | 0.6% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| Divorced | 11.7% | 10% | -1.7% | 9.1% | 0.9% |
| Widowed | 1.4% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 6.1% | -3.6% |
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 | 42.3% | 41.1% | -1.2% | 48.4% | -7.3% |
| Good health | 44% | 39.1% | -4.9% | 33.6% | 5.5% |
| Fair health | 10.6% | 13% | 2.4% | 12.7% | 0.3% |
| Bad health | 2.5% | 5% | 2.5% | 4.0% | 1.0% |
| Very bad health | 0.7% | 1.7% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 0.5% |
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 | 14% | 13.4% | -0.6% | 18.2% | -4.8% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 20.6% | 14.6% | -6.0% | 9.6% | 5.0% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13.6% | 17.6% | 4.0% | 13.4% | 4.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.7% | 5.9% | 1.2% | 5.3% | 0.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 20.1% | 18.4% | -1.7% | 16.9% | 1.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 22.4% | 25.9% | 3.5% | 33.8% | -7.9% |
| Other | 4.7% | 4.2% | -0.5% | 2.8% | 1.4% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 82.6% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 2.5% | 3% | 0.5% | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 2.7% | -1.4% |
| Other Asian | 0.4% | 0.3% | -0.1% | 1.6% | -1.3% |
| Black African | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.1% | 1.3% | -0.8% | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Other Black | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.8% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 0.9% | 4.5% |
| Mixed Other | 0.4% | 3% | 2.6% | 0.8% | 2.2% |
| White | 89.4% | 82.6% | -6.8% | 81.4% | 1.2% |
| Other | 2.1% | 0.3% | -1.8% | 1.6% | -1.3% |
In this area, 83.4% 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 | 90.1% | 83.4% | -6.7% | 83.2% | 0.2% |
| European Union | 5.6% | 10.3% | 4.7% | 6.1% | 4.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Africa | 0.4% | 2% | 1.6% | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 2.5% | 1.3% | -1.2% | 5.6% | -4.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.4% | 1.7% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 88.7% | 83.4% | -5.3% | 83.2% | 0.2% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 10% | 10.0% | 9.8% | 0.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.4% | 3% | 1.6% | 2.9% | 0.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.9% | 2% | -1.9% | 2.2% | -0.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 6% | 1.7% | -4.3% | 1.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 71.6% | 76.7% | -5.1% |
| Ireland | 1% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Italy | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Lithuania | 1.7% | 0.3% | 1.4% |
| Poland | 2% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Romania | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Other EU countries | 1% | 1.5% | -0.5% |
| Other Europe | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| No passport held | 18.8% | 13.5% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 36.5% | 37.2% | -0.7% |
| Christian | 50.2% | 46.2% | 4.0% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Hindu | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.0% |
| Muslim | 3.7% | 6.5% | -2.8% |
| Other religion | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Not answered | 7.3% | 6.0% | 1.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around North Drive was 110.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 31.6% higher than the Shortstown average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
North Drive has the 5th highest crime rate of 28 local areas in Shortstown and the 125th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 56.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -75.5%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mitchell Court North Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £125,000 | 2022-03-22 | £139,226 |
| 5 Mitchell Court North Drive, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £170,000 | 2021-06-30 | £186,724 |
| 3 Mitchell Court North Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £108,000 | 2016-09-30 | £147,108 |
| 4 Mitchell Court North Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £99,000 | 2014-06-27 | £171,828 |
| 3 Mitchell Court North Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £62,500 | 2011-11-25 | £124,882 |
MK42 0TN 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 | 106 |
| Retired | 31 |
| Part-Time Employee | 30 |
| Self-Employed | 28 |
| Looking after home or family | 13 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 11 |
| Unemployed | 8 |
| Other | 5 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 30 |
| Education | 20 |
| Construction | 17 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 14 |
| Human health and social work activities | 13 |
| Information and communication | 12 |
| Transport and storage | 9 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 7 |
| Other | 5 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,628 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 3,407 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortstown Primary School Beauvais Square , Shortstown MK42 0GS | 3out of 4 | 278 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 1,782 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 2,202 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cotton End Forest School High Road , MK45 3AG | 3out of 4 | 2,302 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 2,549 yd | Academy converter | No | 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 | 1,600 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 3,470 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 3,773 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Wixams Academy Green Lane , Wixams MK42 6BA | - not rated | 3,890 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 4,031 yd | Academy converter | 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 | 3,605 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 | 2,930 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 3,211 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 3,216 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 4,002 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 4,200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shake Rattle N roll | Hanger 2, Cardington Airfield | 899 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortstown Food Bar | Unit 2A, Beauvais Square | 247 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Greycote - Shortstown Village Hall Playing Fields SHORTSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE SHORTSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE SOUTHCOTE | grass pitches | 476 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% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.