High Street is in Kempston, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 7BT is located in the Kempston Central & East 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 7BT and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7LW, MK42 7BX, MK42 7AH, MK42 7EJ, MK42 7AA, MK42 7EQ, MK42 7AL, MK42 7EH, MK42 7EL.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 7BT is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 49.1%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 52.8% | 50.9% | -1.9% | 51.0% | -0.1% |
| Male | 47.2% | 49.1% | 1.9% | 49.0% | 0.1% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around MK42 7BT, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 42.5% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 32.4% | 42.5% | 10.1% | 37.9% | 4.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 47.9% | 39% | -8.9% | 44.2% | -5.2% |
| Married: Same sex | 1.4% | 0% | -1.4% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Civil partnership: Opposite sex | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Separated | 2.1% | 3.2% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 1.0% |
| Divorced | 12% | 9.7% | -2.3% | 9.1% | 0.6% |
| Widowed | 4.2% | 4.9% | 0.7% | 6.1% | -1.2% |
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 | 39.9% | 44.3% | 4.4% | 48.4% | -4.1% |
| Good health | 40.8% | 35% | -5.8% | 33.6% | 1.4% |
| Fair health | 14.2% | 15.9% | 1.7% | 12.7% | 3.2% |
| Bad health | 4.6% | 3.8% | -0.8% | 4.0% | -0.2% |
| Very bad health | 0.5% | 1% | 0.5% | 1.2% | -0.2% |
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.
This area stands out for its low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 22.6%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 27.5% | 24.5% | -3.0% | 18.2% | 6.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 21.8% | 13.5% | -8.3% | 9.6% | 3.9% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13% | 13.9% | 0.9% | 13.4% | 0.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.5% | 4.8% | 1.3% | 5.3% | -0.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 6% | 18.1% | 12.1% | 16.9% | 1.2% |
| Degree or Similar | 18.3% | 22.6% | 4.3% | 33.8% | -11.2% |
| Other | 9.9% | 2.6% | -7.3% | 2.8% | -0.2% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 69.6% 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 | 0.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.2% |
| Chinese | 1.1% | 0% | -1.1% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 8.8% | 8.4% | -0.4% | 3.1% | 5.3% |
| Pakistani | 1.3% | 1.8% | 0.5% | 2.7% | -0.9% |
| Other Asian | 2.1% | 2% | -0.1% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| Black African | 3.8% | 4.1% | 0.3% | 2.5% | 1.6% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.1% | 2.5% | 0.4% | 1.0% | 1.5% |
| Other Black | 1.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.6% | 2.3% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.5% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.6% | 0% | -1.6% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.9% | 4.8% | 1.9% | 0.9% | 3.9% |
| Mixed Other | 1.1% | 0.8% | -0.3% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| White | 70% | 69.6% | -0.4% | 81.4% | -11.8% |
| Arab | 1.1% | 0% | -1.1% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.6% | -0.8% |
In this area, 75.6% 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 | 81.8% | 75.6% | -6.2% | 83.2% | -7.6% |
| European Union | 7.2% | 16.1% | 8.9% | 6.1% | 10.0% |
| Africa | 4% | 2.3% | -1.7% | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| Middle East and Asia | 5.4% | 6% | 0.6% | 5.6% | 0.4% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.3% | 0% | -1.3% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 81% | 75.4% | -5.6% | 83.2% | -7.8% |
| 10+ Years | 0.5% | 17.3% | 16.8% | 9.8% | 7.5% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.5% | 4.8% | 1.3% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| 2-5 Years | 7.2% | 2% | -5.2% | 2.2% | -0.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.8% | 0.5% | -7.3% | 1.9% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 63.1% | 76.7% | -13.6% |
| Ireland | 1.8% | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| Germany | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Italy | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Lithuania | 2.3% | 0.3% | 2.0% |
| Poland | 6.8% | 1.3% | 5.5% |
| Romania | 2.5% | 0.9% | 1.6% |
| Other EU countries | 2% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Other Europe | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Southern Asia | 2% | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| No passport held | 17.3% | 13.5% | 3.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 38.5% | 37.2% | 1.3% |
| Christian | 41.8% | 46.2% | -4.4% |
| Buddhist | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Hindu | 1.5% | 1.7% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 6.3% | 6.5% | -0.2% |
| Sikh | 5.8% | 0.9% | 4.9% |
| Other religion | 2% | 0.6% | 1.4% |
| Not answered | 3.5% | 6.0% | -2.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around High Street was 752.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 473.9% higher than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Shoplifting.
High Street has the 2nd highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 9th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 101.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 33.0%.

Households in this area have a similar level level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 59% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 - 23 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £370,000 | 2022-06-23 | £385,559 |
| 27 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £200,000 | 2021-07-07 | £243,578 |
| 69 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £245,000 | 2020-12-11 | £287,436 |
| 33 - 39 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £200,000 | 2020-05-06 | £234,101 |
| 33 - 39 High Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £100,000 | 2020-02-28 | £117,729 |
| Full-Time Employee | 116 |
| Retired | 46 |
| Part-Time Employee | 45 |
| Self-Employed | 21 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 19 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 17 |
| Looking after home or family | 15 |
| Unemployed | 11 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 9 |
| Other | 8 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 35 |
| Human health and social work activities | 26 |
| Manufacturing | 18 |
| Transport and storage | 14 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 12 |
| Construction | 11 |
| Education | 11 |
| Other | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 6 |
| Information and communication | 6 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 1 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 2,515 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 3,131 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 | 472 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 592 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Rural Primary School Martell Drive , MK42 7FJ | 4out of 4 | 997 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 1,327 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,361 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 | 872 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 1,369 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,548 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 3,361 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,758 yd | Academy sponsor led | 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 | 3,354 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Green Lane , Stewartby MK43 9LY | - not rated | 5,455 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 | 239 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,007 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,040 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,972 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,961 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 | 23 yd | |
| DG Grill | 71 High Street | 23 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 556 yd | |
| Caprinos Pizza | 44-46 Bunyan Road | 591 yd | |
| Cafe Mar-Chelles | 243 Bedford Road | 670 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| King William IV | King William Iv, 56 High Street | 122 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 442 yd | |
| Kempston Hammers Sports & Social Club | 134 High Street | 472 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 518 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 718 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| G's Takeaway | 10 St Johns Street | 167 yd | |
| Oriental Chef | 10b St Johns Street | 167 yd | |
| Luci & Lina's Fish Bar | 70 High Street | 264 yd | |
| Papa Johns | 28-30 High Street | 264 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 232 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 556 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 167 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 556 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 917 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 447 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 451 yd |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 466 yd |
| Kempston Hammers Sports And Social Club HIGH STREET | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 568 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 767 yd | |
| Kempston Challenger Academy HILL RISE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 900 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 999 yd |
| Bedfordshire Police Hq (Closed) Woburn Road | grass pitches | 1,031 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 | 89.3% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 75.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 75.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 75.0% |
| 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 | 10.7% |
| Median download speed | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 85 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 8.4 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.