The Links is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 7ND is located in the Kempston South electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1984-10-01.
StreetScan combines information about The Links, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7ND and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7LH, MK42 8HJ, MK42 7LR, MK42 7LT, MK42 7NB, MK42 7LP, MK42 7PF, MK42 7LX, MK42 8HH.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 7ND has a slightly higher male population, with 51.9% 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 | 53.2% | 48.1% | -5.1% | 51.0% | -2.9% |
| Male | 46.8% | 51.9% | 5.1% | 49.0% | 2.9% |
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 | 32.5% | 36% | 3.5% | 37.9% | -1.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 50.2% | 47.5% | -2.7% | 44.2% | 3.3% |
| Separated | 3% | 2.5% | -0.5% | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Divorced | 9.4% | 8.3% | -1.1% | 9.1% | -0.8% |
| Widowed | 4.9% | 5.8% | 0.9% | 6.1% | -0.3% |
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 (88%) 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 | 45.3% | 51.4% | 6.1% | 48.4% | 3.0% |
| Good health | 39.3% | 36.6% | -2.7% | 33.6% | 3.0% |
| Fair health | 10.5% | 9.7% | -0.8% | 12.7% | -3.0% |
| Bad health | 3.9% | 1.7% | -2.2% | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| Very bad health | 0.9% | 0.6% | -0.3% | 1.2% | -0.6% |
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 | 17.4% | 21.7% | 4.3% | 18.2% | 3.5% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 20.4% | 15.9% | -4.5% | 9.6% | 6.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 15.1% | 12.3% | -2.8% | 13.4% | -1.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.4% | 4.7% | -1.7% | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 14% | 18.1% | 4.1% | 16.9% | 1.2% |
| Degree or Similar | 20.8% | 23.6% | 2.8% | 33.8% | -10.2% |
| Other | 6% | 3.6% | -2.4% | 2.8% | 0.8% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 70.9% 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| Indian | 13.2% | 19.1% | 5.9% | 3.1% | 16.0% |
| Pakistani | 0.9% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| Other Asian | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| Black African | 1.5% | 0.9% | -0.6% | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 1.0% | -1.0% |
| Other Black | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.2% | 2% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.8% | 2.6% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.7% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| White | 77.5% | 70.9% | -6.6% | 81.4% | -10.5% |
| Other | 1.2% | 0.3% | -0.9% | 1.6% | -1.3% |
In this area, 78.1% 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 | 85.6% | 78.1% | -7.5% | 83.2% | -5.1% |
| European Union | 6.6% | 9.7% | 3.1% | 6.1% | 3.6% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 1.5% | 1.4% | -0.1% | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 5.4% | 10.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 4.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 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 | 85% | 78.6% | -6.4% | 83.2% | -4.6% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 12% | 11.7% | 9.8% | 2.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.1% | 4.9% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.4% | 2.9% | 0.5% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| Less than 2 years | 10.2% | 1.7% | -8.5% | 1.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 69% | 76.7% | -7.7% |
| Ireland | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Italy | 2.5% | 0.6% | 1.9% |
| Lithuania | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Poland | 2.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% |
| Romania | 1.7% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Other EU countries | 2% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 6.2% | 1.2% | 5.0% |
| No passport held | 14.6% | 13.5% | 1.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27.4% | 37.2% | -9.8% |
| Christian | 44.6% | 46.2% | -1.6% |
| Hindu | 3.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Muslim | 3.7% | 6.5% | -2.8% |
| Sikh | 7.9% | 0.9% | 7.0% |
| Other religion | 2% | 0.6% | 1.4% |
| Not answered | 11.3% | 6.0% | 5.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around The Links was 114.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 12.8% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
The Links has the 15th highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 117th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 58.7 crimes per 1,000 residents and have remained broadly unchanged year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -24.8%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 106 The Links, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £222,000 | 2022-12-16 | £232,561 |
| 100 The Links, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £226,000 | 2021-11-12 | £262,220 |
| 106A The Links, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £228,000 | 2021-10-11 | £262,237 |
| 102 The Links, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £215,000 | 2020-09-18 | £270,533 |
| 108 The Links, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £205,000 | 2020-06-23 | £264,896 |
| Full-Time Employee | 94 |
| Retired | 53 |
| Part-Time Employee | 47 |
| Self-Employed | 24 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 12 |
| Looking after home or family | 12 |
| Unemployed | 11 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 9 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 8 |
| Other | 5 |
| Human health and social work activities | 35 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 34 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 19 |
| Transport and storage | 17 |
| Construction | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Education | 14 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 10 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Other | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| 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 | 1,780 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,279 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 479 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 512 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 515 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 1,056 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,743 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 488 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,554 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,564 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,682 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,838 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 | 2,704 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | 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 | 772 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 787 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,403 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,682 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,213 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caprinos Pizza | 44-46 Bunyan Road | 405 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 506 yd | |
| The Hen Pen | 2a Cleveland Street | 542 yd | |
| Carmichael's Coffee | 166 Bedford Road | 559 yd | |
| Diya Royal | The Griffin, 174 Bedford Road | 563 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mulberry Bush | The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre | 243 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 559 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 563 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 587 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 776 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | 2 Springfield Centre | 243 yd | |
| Mangal BBQ | 3 Springfield Centre | 243 yd | |
| Kim Hing Takeaway | 7 Springfield Centre | 243 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 232 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 506 yd | |
| The Café Grill | 14 Bunyan Road | 511 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 506 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 637 yd | |
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 773 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 357 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 598 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 606 yd | |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 866 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 869 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 899 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 919 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 | 76.9% |
| 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 | 80 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 97.1 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 18.7 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 30.04 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.