The Hornbeams is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 7NJ is located in the Kempston South electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about The Hornbeams, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7NJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7NH, MK42 8NL, MK42 7NX, MK42 8SS, MK42 7NU, MK42 7NL, MK42 8NP, MK42 8NN, MK42 7PB.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 7NJ, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.4% 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 | 49.8% | 52.4% | 2.6% | 51.0% | 1.4% |
| Male | 50.2% | 47.6% | -2.6% | 49.0% | -1.4% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of MK42 7NJ there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 60.7% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 32.8% | 26.2% | -6.6% | 37.9% | -11.7% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 52.7% | 60.7% | 8.0% | 44.2% | 16.5% |
| Separated | 2% | 3.2% | 1.2% | 2.2% | 1.0% |
| Divorced | 7.4% | 6.3% | -1.1% | 9.1% | -2.8% |
| Widowed | 5.1% | 3.6% | -1.5% | 6.1% | -2.5% |
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 (85.7%) 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 | 47.7% | 48.9% | 1.2% | 48.4% | 0.5% |
| Good health | 37.9% | 36.8% | -1.1% | 33.6% | 3.2% |
| Fair health | 11.6% | 11.7% | 0.1% | 12.7% | -1.0% |
| Bad health | 2.1% | 2.3% | 0.2% | 4.0% | -1.7% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 0.3% | -0.3% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
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 | 16.8% | 18.3% | 1.5% | 18.2% | 0.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.6% | 13.1% | -2.5% | 9.6% | 3.5% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 23% | 14.3% | -8.7% | 13.4% | 0.9% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.9% | 5.6% | -0.3% | 5.3% | 0.3% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 15.6% | 17.1% | 1.5% | 16.9% | 0.2% |
| Degree or Similar | 17.2% | 29.4% | 12.2% | 33.8% | -4.4% |
| Other | 5.9% | 2.4% | -3.5% | 2.8% | -0.4% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 57% 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% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Indian | 23.2% | 25.9% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 22.8% |
| Other Asian | 1.5% | 3.2% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Black African | 4% | 1.6% | -2.4% | 2.5% | -0.9% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.8% | 2.9% | 0.1% | 1.0% | 1.9% |
| Other Black | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.5% | 0.6% | -0.9% | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.4% | 1.3% | -1.1% | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Mixed Other | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| White | 62.7% | 57% | -5.7% | 81.4% | -24.4% |
| Roma | 0% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 0.2% | 2.7% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
In this area, 73.2% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is lower than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 79.8% | 73.2% | -6.6% | 83.2% | -10.0% |
| European Union | 4.3% | 11.8% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 5.7% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.9% | 0.3% | -0.6% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 4.3% | 1.3% | -3.0% | 2.7% | -1.4% |
| Middle East and Asia | 9.2% | 12.1% | 2.9% | 5.6% | 6.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.5% | 0.7% | -0.8% | 1.3% | -0.6% |
| Oceania | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 79.5% | 73% | -6.5% | 83.2% | -10.2% |
| 10+ Years | 0.6% | 19.9% | 19.3% | 9.8% | 10.1% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.5% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 1.7% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.4% | 2.3% | -0.1% | 2.2% | 0.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 15.9% | 0.3% | -15.6% | 1.9% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 73% | 76.7% | -3.7% |
| Ireland | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Germany | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Italy | 2.3% | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| Poland | 5.2% | 1.3% | 3.9% |
| Romania | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Other EU countries | 2.6% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Other Europe | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Southern Asia | 2.9% | 1.2% | 1.7% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 10.1% | 13.5% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 23.1% | 37.2% | -14.1% |
| Christian | 48.4% | 46.2% | 2.2% |
| Buddhist | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Hindu | 2.6% | 1.7% | 0.9% |
| Muslim | 1.9% | 6.5% | -4.6% |
| Sikh | 14.6% | 0.9% | 13.7% |
| Other religion | 1.9% | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Not answered | 6.8% | 6.0% | 0.8% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around The Hornbeams was 64.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 50.6% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
The Hornbeams has the 26th lowest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 238th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 24.7 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -49.6%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 The Hornbeams, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £345,000 | 2023-12-08 | £368,047 |
| 4 The Hornbeams, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £279,000 | 2019-09-27 | £359,149 |
| 2 The Hornbeams, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £280,000 | 2018-11-23 | £354,845 |
| 2 The Hornbeams, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £280,000 | 2018-11-23 | £354,845 |
| 10 The Hornbeams, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £170,000 | 2013-08-05 | £327,659 |
MK42 7NJ 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 | 118 |
| Retired | 55 |
| Part-Time Employee | 30 |
| Other | 9 |
| Self-Employed | 9 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 8 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Looking after home or family | 5 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 1 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 38 |
| Human health and social work activities | 19 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 17 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 17 |
| Education | 14 |
| Construction | 14 |
| Manufacturing | 12 |
| Transport and storage | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 10 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Other | 4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 1 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,434 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,850 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 | 165 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 476 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 889 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,396 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 1,497 yd | Community school | Yes | 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 | 332 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,990 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,346 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,385 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,612 yd | Foundation 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 | 2,384 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 944 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 1,204 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,205 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,846 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 2,114 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service | Bedfordshire And Luton Fire And Rescue Service, Southfields Road | 269 yd | |
| Burger King | Burger King, Interchange Retail Park, 3 Polo Field Way | 561 yd | |
| Ground Floor Coffee Shop (Kings Arms Trust) | Kings House, 245 Ampthill Road | 577 yd | |
| The Elephant Restaurant | 118-120 Bedford Road | 733 yd | |
| The Pantry | 88 Bedford Road | 739 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mulberry Bush | The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre | 353 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 645 yd | |
| Daleys Club | 86 Bedford Road | 773 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 877 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 1,036 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | 2 Springfield Centre | 353 yd | |
| Mangal BBQ | 3 Springfield Centre | 353 yd | |
| Kim Hing Takeaway | 7 Springfield Centre | 353 yd | |
| Paul's Fish and Chips | 114 Bedford Road | 739 yd | |
| New Oriental Fusion | 76 Bedford Road | 773 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 848 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 899 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 259 yd |
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 312 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 893 yd | |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 977 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 1,061 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 | 74.2 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 131.1 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 9.9 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 13.8 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.