Wilkinson Road is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 7GP is located in the Kempston West electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 2014-12-01.
StreetScan combines information about Wilkinson Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7GP and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7NF, MK42 7NE, MK42 7GQ, MK42 7GS, MK42 7NN, MK42 7GR, MK42 7NG, MK42 7DN, MK42 7GT.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 7GP, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.1% 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 | 48.6% | 52.1% | 3.5% | 51.0% | 1.1% |
| Male | 51.4% | 47.9% | -3.5% | 49.0% | -1.1% |
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 7GP, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 44.4% 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 | 30.1% | 44.4% | 14.3% | 37.9% | 6.5% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 53.5% | 41.3% | -12.2% | 44.2% | -2.9% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Separated | 2% | 2.8% | 0.8% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| Divorced | 9.9% | 7.9% | -2.0% | 9.1% | -1.2% |
| Widowed | 4.5% | 2.6% | -1.9% | 6.1% | -3.5% |
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.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (91.7%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either a younger population or more affluent area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 51.6% | 57.7% | 6.1% | 48.4% | 9.3% |
| Good health | 35.6% | 34% | -1.6% | 33.6% | 0.4% |
| Fair health | 10.4% | 6.5% | -3.9% | 12.7% | -6.2% |
| Bad health | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 0.1% | -0.5% | 1.2% | -1.1% |
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.
In the area around MK42 7GP this area, 7.9% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 12.7% | 7.9% | -4.8% | 18.2% | -10.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.5% | 8.6% | -6.9% | 9.6% | -1.0% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.9% | 15.5% | 0.6% | 13.4% | 2.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 9.9% | 3% | -6.9% | 5.3% | -2.3% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 15.2% | 20.8% | 5.6% | 16.9% | 3.9% |
| Degree or Similar | 23.9% | 41.3% | 17.4% | 33.8% | 7.5% |
| Other | 7.9% | 2.9% | -5.0% | 2.8% | 0.1% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 75% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 1.1% | 0.3% | -0.8% | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.7% | -0.2% |
| Indian | 2.2% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 3.1% | 0.8% |
| Pakistani | 2.6% | 1.1% | -1.5% | 2.7% | -1.6% |
| Other Asian | 0.9% | 1.5% | 0.6% | 1.6% | -0.1% |
| Black African | 0.6% | 5.2% | 4.6% | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.3% | 2% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Other Black | 0.2% | 1% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 2% | 2.0% | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.6% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 0.9% | 2.4% |
| Mixed Other | 0.6% | 2.2% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 1.4% |
| White | 88.6% | 75% | -13.6% | 81.4% | -6.4% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.2% | 0% | -0.2% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Arab | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Other | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -1.0% |
In this area, 80.4% 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 | 93.5% | 80.4% | -13.1% | 83.2% | -2.8% |
| European Union | 2.6% | 9.5% | 6.9% | 6.1% | 3.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.6% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Africa | 1.1% | 4.7% | 3.6% | 2.7% | 2.0% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.5% | 3% | 1.5% | 5.6% | -2.6% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.3% | -0.4% |
| Oceania | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 93.1% | 80.6% | -12.5% | 83.2% | -2.6% |
| 10+ Years | 0.2% | 12% | 11.8% | 9.8% | 2.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.7% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 1.5% | 1.2% | -0.3% | 2.2% | -1.0% |
| Less than 2 years | 3.5% | 0.8% | -2.7% | 1.9% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 74.5% | 76.7% | -2.2% |
| Ireland | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| France | 0.1% | 0.3% | -0.2% |
| Germany | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Italy | 1% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Portugal | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Spain | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Lithuania | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Poland | 4.6% | 1.3% | 3.3% |
| Romania | 0.8% | 0.9% | -0.1% |
| Other EU countries | 1.7% | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| Turkey | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Other Europe | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| North Africa | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Middle East | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.1% | 0.3% | -0.2% |
| Southern Asia | 0.6% | 1.2% | -0.6% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Central and South America | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Oceania | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| No passport held | 10.6% | 13.5% | -2.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 46.2% | 37.2% | 9.0% |
| Christian | 39.3% | 46.2% | -6.9% |
| Buddhist | 0.2% | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| Hindu | 1.5% | 1.7% | -0.2% |
| Jewish | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 5.4% | 6.5% | -1.1% |
| Sikh | 1.6% | 0.9% | 0.7% |
| Other religion | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Not answered | 4.8% | 6.0% | -1.2% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Wilkinson Road was 76.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 39.3% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Wilkinson Road has the 28th highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 202nd highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 34.8 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -40.0%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 172 Wilkinson Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £295,000 | 2026-01-16 | £295,000 |
| 172 Wilkinson Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £295,000 | 2025-11-21 | £292,350 |
| 148 Wilkinson Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £360,000 | 2025-08-22 | £359,658 |
| 214 Wilkinson Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £190,000 | 2025-01-24 | £192,520 |
| 208 Wilkinson Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £210,000 | 2023-09-28 | £209,578 |
MK42 7GP area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 23% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 12% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
MK42 7GP 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 | 637 |
| Self-Employed | 134 |
| Part-Time Employee | 129 |
| Retired | 49 |
| Looking after home or family | 43 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 38 |
| Other | 31 |
| Unemployed | 29 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 18 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 13 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 44 |
| Human health and social work activities | 28 |
| Construction | 28 |
| Education | 26 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 23 |
| Transport and storage | 21 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Other | 14 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 13 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 8 |
| Information and communication | 6 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 3,658 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 4,098 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 4,205 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Rural Primary School Martell Drive , MK42 7FJ | 3out of 4 | 853 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 871 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | - not rated | 1,754 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 1,763 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Wootton Lower School Bedford Road , Wootton MK43 9JT | - not rated | 1,851 yd | Community school | Yes | 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 | 377 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | - not rated | 377 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 2,224 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Wootton Upper School Hall End Road , Wootton MK43 9HT | - not rated | 2,602 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Wootton Upper School Hall End Road , Wootton MK43 9HT | - not rated | 2,602 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | 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 | 1,634 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 1,634 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 2,224 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 3,921 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 3,932 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Green Lane , Stewartby MK43 9LY | - not rated | 4,413 yd | Free schools 16 to 19 | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 4,525 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 269 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys House Residential School Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 1,363 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys House Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 1,363 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Student Support Centre Greys House , Manor Drive MK42 7AB | - not rated | 1,363 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Manor Education Centre Greys House , Manor Drive MK42 7AB | - not rated | 1,363 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Coffee | Unit 2, Riley Way | 261 yd | |
| Maypole Farm | Maypole Farm, Fletcher Road | 730 yd | |
| Brewers Fayre | Brewers Fayre, Fletcher Road | 735 yd | |
| ESS @ Bedfordshire Police | Bedfordshire Police Headquarters, Woburn Road | 926 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Hammers Sports & Social Club | 134 High Street | 833 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Top Chinese | 81 Williamson Road | 706 yd | |
| Luci & Lina's Fish Bar | 70 High Street | 996 yd | |
| Papa Johns | 28-30 High Street | 996 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marks & Spencer Simply Foods | Unit 3, Riley Way | 261 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kempston Challenger Academy HILL RISE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 376 yd |
| Bedfordshire Police Hq (Closed) Woburn Road | grass pitches | 784 yd |
| Kempston Hammers Sports And Social Club HIGH STREET | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 847 yd |
| Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 870 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 | 160 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 193.6 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 30 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 31.9 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 115 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.