Balliol Road is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 7ER 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 Balliol Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7ER and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7DZ, MK42 7EN, MK42 7ES, MK42 7EA, MK42 7DY, MK42 7EW, MK42 7EP, MK42 7EH, MK42 7EX.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 7ER has a slightly higher male population, with 51.1% 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 | 50.7% | 48.9% | -1.8% | 51.0% | -2.1% |
| Male | 49.3% | 51.1% | 1.8% | 49.0% | 2.1% |
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 7ER, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 43.7% 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 | 39.4% | 43.7% | 4.3% | 37.9% | 5.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 40.2% | 40.5% | 0.3% | 44.2% | -3.7% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.8% | 0.7% | -0.1% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Separated | 1.9% | 1.4% | -0.5% | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| Divorced | 9.8% | 7% | -2.8% | 9.1% | -2.1% |
| Widowed | 8% | 6.7% | -1.3% | 6.1% | 0.6% |
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 | 40.5% | 46.3% | 5.8% | 48.4% | -2.1% |
| Good health | 38.2% | 35.4% | -2.8% | 33.6% | 1.8% |
| Fair health | 14.2% | 12.8% | -1.4% | 12.7% | 0.1% |
| Bad health | 4.8% | 2.9% | -1.9% | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| Very bad health | 2.3% | 2.7% | 0.4% | 1.2% | 1.5% |
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 | 32.2% | 19.9% | -12.3% | 18.2% | 1.7% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 14% | 8.5% | -5.5% | 9.6% | -1.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 18.6% | 14.9% | -3.7% | 13.4% | 1.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.8% | 8.2% | 4.4% | 5.3% | 2.9% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11% | 13.5% | 2.5% | 16.9% | -3.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 12.5% | 32.6% | 20.1% | 33.8% | -1.2% |
| Other | 8% | 2.5% | -5.5% | 2.8% | -0.3% |
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 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| Indian | 4.8% | 8.3% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| Pakistani | 0.3% | 4.3% | 4.0% | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Other Asian | 5.4% | 2.7% | -2.7% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Black African | 2.8% | 5.3% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.8% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.6% | 4.5% | 1.9% | 1.0% | 3.5% |
| Other Black | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 2% | 3.2% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 2.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.4% | 0% | -1.4% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.1% | 5.3% | 4.2% | 0.9% | 4.4% |
| Mixed Other | 1.1% | 2.1% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| White | 76.4% | 61.5% | -14.9% | 81.4% | -19.9% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 1.4% | 1.1% | -0.3% | 1.6% | -0.5% |
In this area, 75.1% 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 | 80.9% | 75.1% | -5.8% | 83.2% | -8.1% |
| European Union | 4.8% | 9.1% | 4.3% | 6.1% | 3.0% |
| Rest of Europe | 2.8% | 2.1% | -0.7% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Africa | 4% | 4.3% | 0.3% | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 6.3% | 6.7% | 0.4% | 5.6% | 1.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.1% | 2.7% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 80.6% | 74.7% | -5.9% | 83.2% | -8.5% |
| 10+ Years | 2% | 21.3% | 19.3% | 9.8% | 11.5% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.3% | 2.7% | 0.4% | 2.9% | -0.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 5.7% | 1.3% | -4.4% | 2.2% | -0.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 9.4% | 0% | -9.4% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 68.3% | 76.7% | -8.4% |
| Germany | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Italy | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Portugal | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Spain | 1.3% | 0.4% | 0.9% |
| Lithuania | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% |
| Poland | 4.5% | 1.3% | 3.2% |
| Romania | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Other EU countries | 0.3% | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| Turkey | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.7% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.8% | 0.3% | 1.5% |
| Southern Asia | 2.1% | 1.2% | 0.9% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| No passport held | 14.5% | 13.5% | 1.0% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 26.3% | 37.2% | -10.9% |
| Christian | 47.3% | 46.2% | 1.1% |
| Hindu | 4.8% | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Muslim | 8.8% | 6.5% | 2.3% |
| Sikh | 3.5% | 0.9% | 2.6% |
| Other religion | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Not answered | 8.5% | 6.0% | 2.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Balliol Road was 144.0 per 1,000 residents, which is 14.0% higher than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Balliol Road has the 11th highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 88th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 102.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have remained broadly unchanged year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 55.8%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 Balliol Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £235,000 | 2024-08-30 | £244,038 |
| 20 Balliol Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £345,000 | 2023-02-28 | £365,151 |
| 15A Balliol Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £410,000 | 2022-11-30 | £413,614 |
| 25 Balliol Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2022-02-11 | £278,337 |
| 27 Balliol Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2021-05-21 | £304,814 |
| Full-Time Employee | 98 |
| Part-Time Employee | 43 |
| Retired | 36 |
| Self-Employed | 31 |
| Unemployed | 17 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 17 |
| Looking after home or family | 15 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 12 |
| Other | 10 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 21 |
| Human health and social work activities | 21 |
| Education | 19 |
| Construction | 18 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 12 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Transport and storage | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 5 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Real estate 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 | 2,679 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 3,117 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 3,230 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 | 135 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | - not rated | 802 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 825 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Rural Primary School Martell Drive , MK42 7FJ | 3out of 4 | 1,073 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | - not rated | 1,234 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 622 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | - not rated | 622 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 1,313 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,887 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 3,554 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 764 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 764 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 1,313 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 3,023 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 3,180 yd | Voluntary aided 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 | 3,559 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Green Lane , Stewartby MK43 9LY | - not rated | 5,133 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 | - not rated | 532 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 532 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys House Residential School Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 544 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys House Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 544 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Student Support Centre Greys House , Manor Drive MK42 7AB | - not rated | 544 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | 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 | 327 yd | |
| DG Grill | 71 High Street | 327 yd | |
| ESS @ Bedfordshire Police | Bedfordshire Police Headquarters, Woburn Road | 648 yd | |
| Dine in Chefs | 42 Singer Way | 719 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 800 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| King William IV | King William Iv, 56 High Street | 294 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 390 yd | |
| Kempston Hammers Sports & Social Club | 134 High Street | 405 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 472 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 983 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luci & Lina's Fish Bar | 70 High Street | 274 yd | |
| Papa Johns | 28-30 High Street | 274 yd | |
| Food Top Chinese | 81 Williamson Road | 302 yd | |
| G's Takeaway | 10 St Johns Street | 336 yd | |
| Oriental Chef | 10b St Johns Street | 336 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 336 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 800 yd | |
| Marks & Spencer Simply Foods | Unit 3, Riley Way | 871 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 138 yd |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 290 yd |
| Kempston Hammers Sports And Social Club HIGH STREET | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 540 yd |
| Kempston Challenger Academy HILL RISE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 624 yd |
| Bedfordshire Police Hq (Closed) Woburn Road | grass pitches | 724 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 761 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 1,039 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 | 96.6% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 96.6% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 96.6% |
| 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 | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 177.6 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 15 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.8 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.