High Street is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 7AR is located in the Kempston West electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about High Street, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7AR and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7AS, MK42 7BP, MK42 7BS, MK42 7EA, MK42 7BG, MK42 7EG, MK42 7AL, MK42 7AT, MK42 7BL.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 7AR, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 54.1% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 55.7% | 54.1% | -1.6% | 51.0% | 3.1% |
| Male | 44.3% | 45.9% | 1.6% | 49.0% | -3.1% |
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 | 34.4% | 41.8% | 7.4% | 37.9% | 3.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 47% | 35.1% | -11.9% | 44.2% | -9.1% |
| Separated | 3.6% | 3.5% | -0.1% | 2.2% | 1.3% |
| Divorced | 10.3% | 14.2% | 3.9% | 9.1% | 5.1% |
| Widowed | 4.7% | 5.3% | 0.6% | 6.1% | -0.8% |
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 | 46.3% | 46.2% | -0.1% | 48.4% | -2.2% |
| Good health | 37% | 35.5% | -1.5% | 33.6% | 1.9% |
| Fair health | 12% | 13.7% | 1.7% | 12.7% | 1.0% |
| Bad health | 4.7% | 2.9% | -1.8% | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| Very bad health | 0% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 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 | 15.8% | 14.9% | -0.9% | 18.2% | -3.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 16.6% | 13.2% | -3.4% | 9.6% | 3.6% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 17% | 14.2% | -2.8% | 13.4% | 0.8% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 8.5% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 3.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 13% | 14.6% | 1.6% | 16.9% | -2.3% |
| Degree or Similar | 27.7% | 31.3% | 3.6% | 33.8% | -2.5% |
| Other | 5.9% | 3.2% | -2.7% | 2.8% | 0.4% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 78.5% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 2.3% | 4.9% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 3.8% |
| Chinese | 1.2% | 0.3% | -0.9% | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| Indian | 2.9% | 4.4% | 1.5% | 3.1% | 1.3% |
| Pakistani | 2.3% | 2% | -0.3% | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| Other Asian | 3.2% | 2.3% | -0.9% | 1.6% | 0.7% |
| Black African | 0.9% | 2.3% | 1.4% | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.1% | 2.3% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Other Black | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.3% | 0.6% | -1.7% | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| White | 80.4% | 78.5% | -1.9% | 81.4% | -2.9% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
In this area, 84.3% 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 | 87.1% | 84.3% | -2.8% | 83.2% | 1.1% |
| European Union | 3.5% | 6.4% | 2.9% | 6.1% | 0.3% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Africa | 1.5% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| Middle East and Asia | 5.6% | 5.5% | -0.1% | 5.6% | -0.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.2% | 0% | -1.2% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 85.3% | 84.3% | -1.0% | 83.2% | 1.1% |
| 10+ Years | 1.2% | 11.3% | 10.1% | 9.8% | 1.5% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.5% | 2.3% | -1.2% | 2.9% | -0.6% |
| 2-5 Years | 1.5% | 0.3% | -1.2% | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 8.5% | 1.7% | -6.8% | 1.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 79.5% | 76.7% | 2.8% |
| Ireland | 2.9% | 0.6% | 2.3% |
| Italy | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Portugal | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Poland | 2.9% | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| Romania | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| Other EU countries | 0.3% | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| Southern Asia | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 11.3% | 13.5% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 41.8% | 37.2% | 4.6% |
| Christian | 42.1% | 46.2% | -4.1% |
| Hindu | 0.9% | 1.7% | -0.8% |
| Muslim | 9.4% | 6.5% | 2.9% |
| Sikh | 1.8% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| Other religion | 1.2% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Not answered | 2.9% | 6.0% | -3.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around High Street was 88.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 32.6% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
High Street has the 21st highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 160th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 48.8 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -56.3%.

Households in this area have a similar level level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 52% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat 4 The Chase, 18 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £200,000 | 2024-12-20 | £205,045 |
| 72 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £220,500 | 2024-04-05 | £238,800 |
| Flat 8 The Chase, 18 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £185,000 | 2023-12-20 | £190,436 |
| 100 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £400,000 | 2023-08-25 | £408,442 |
| 76 - 78 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £566,000 | 2022-11-10 | £563,228 |
MK42 7AR 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 | 115 |
| Retired | 46 |
| Part-Time Employee | 32 |
| Self-Employed | 31 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 17 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 12 |
| Looking after home or family | 10 |
| Other | 6 |
| Unemployed | 6 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 33 |
| Human health and social work activities | 23 |
| Education | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 12 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 12 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 11 |
| Construction | 11 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 9 |
| Transport and storage | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 2,783 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 3,403 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 451 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Rural Primary School Martell Drive , MK42 7FJ | 4out of 4 | 740 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 861 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 1,555 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,630 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 691 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 1,611 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,689 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Wootton Upper School Hall End Road , Wootton MK43 9HT | 3out of 4 | 3,529 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 3,620 yd | Free schools | 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 | 3,610 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Green Lane , Stewartby MK43 9LY | - not rated | 5,300 yd | Free schools 16 to 19 | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 499 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 817 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,288 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 2,228 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 3,228 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D Gelato | 71 High Street | 294 yd | |
| DG Grill | 71 High Street | 294 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 826 yd | |
| Caprinos Pizza | 44-46 Bunyan Road | 863 yd | |
| ESS @ Bedfordshire Police | Bedfordshire Police Headquarters, Woburn Road | 892 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| King William IV | King William Iv, 56 High Street | 158 yd | |
| Kempston Hammers Sports & Social Club | 134 High Street | 200 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 640 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 653 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 980 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luci & Lina's Fish Bar | 70 High Street | 10 yd | |
| Papa Johns | 28-30 High Street | 10 yd | |
| G's Takeaway | 10 St Johns Street | 413 yd | |
| Oriental Chef | 10b St Johns Street | 413 yd | |
| Food Top Chinese | 81 Williamson Road | 452 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 413 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 826 yd | |
| Marks & Spencer Simply Foods | Unit 3, Riley Way | 947 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kempston Hammers Sports And Social Club HIGH STREET | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 310 yd |
| Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 356 yd |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 551 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 652 yd |
| Kempston Challenger Academy HILL RISE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 688 yd |
| Bedfordshire Police Hq (Closed) Woburn Road | grass pitches | 938 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 1,025 yd | |
| Great Denham Country Park GREAT DENHAM SPORTS PAVILION GREAT DENHAM SPORTS PAVILION QUEEN ELEANOR DRIVE | grass pitches | 1,054 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 | 97.3% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 43.2% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 43.2% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 43.2% |
| 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 | 2.7% |
| Median download speed | 71.7 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 105 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 18.6 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.3 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.