Compass Drive is in Shortstown, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 0XJ is located in the Shortstown electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of North East Bedfordshire. This postcode has been in use since 1985-10-01.
StreetScan combines information about Compass Drive, Shortstown, Bedford, MK42 0XJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 0UH, MK42 0TL, MK42 0TP, MK42 0GA, MK42 0TN, MK42 0XB, MK42 0GE, MK42 0UJ, MK42 0UE.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 0XJ 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 Compass Drive was 117.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 35.5% higher than the Shortstown average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Compass Drive has the 5th highest crime rate of 28 local areas in Shortstown and the 118th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 60.2 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -83.2%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Compass Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £300,000 | 2025-01-31 | £316,216 |
| 13 Compass Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £285,000 | 2025-01-23 | £300,405 |
| 1 Compass Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £188,000 | 2019-08-23 | £241,420 |
| 7 Compass Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £217,500 | 2016-08-25 | £299,774 |
| 13 Compass Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £185,000 | 2016-01-15 | £275,928 |
MK42 0XJ 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 | 2,662 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 3,191 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 3,452 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 | - not rated | 213 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shortstown Primary School Beauvais Square , Shortstown MK42 0GS | 3out of 4 | 213 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 3out of 4 | 1,785 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbey Fields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 2,316 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | - not rated | 2,316 yd | Community school | 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 | 1,646 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 1,698 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 3,472 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 3,882 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 3,942 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | 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 | 1,852 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,852 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 2,156 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 2,200 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 3,882 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 | 3,607 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 | 2,827 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Raleigh Education Centre Raleigh and Southway Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 3,191 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 3,198 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 3,242 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Teaching Service for Excluded Pupils 2nd Floor, Riverside Suite , County Hall MK42 9AP | - not rated | 3,690 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| W & H Peacock Auction Centre | W&H Peacock Auction House, Wallis Way | 943 yd | |
| Shake Rattle N roll | Hanger 2, Cardington Airfield | 972 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortstown Food Bar | Unit 2A, Beauvais Square | 294 yd | |
| Tasty Peri Peri | 139 Harrowden Road | 1,025 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Greycote - Shortstown Village Hall Playing Fields SHORTSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE SHORTSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE SOUTHCOTE | grass pitches | 639 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 | 90 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 231.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 23.5 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.