The Briars is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 7RB 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 Briars, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7RB and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7RL, MK42 7RU, MK42 7RE, MK42 7RZ, MK42 7RF, MK42 7RD, MK42 7RX, MK42 7RQ, MK42 7RG.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 7RB has a slightly higher male population, with 52.1% 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 | 53.5% | 47.9% | -5.6% | 51.0% | -3.1% |
| Male | 46.5% | 52.1% | 5.6% | 49.0% | 3.1% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of MK42 7RB there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 54.5% 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 | 23.6% | 27.3% | 3.7% | 37.9% | -10.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 59.7% | 54.5% | -5.2% | 44.2% | 10.3% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Separated | 3% | 1.8% | -1.2% | 2.2% | -0.4% |
| Divorced | 6.8% | 7.6% | 0.8% | 9.1% | -1.5% |
| Widowed | 6.8% | 7.6% | 0.8% | 6.1% | 1.5% |
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 (85.8%) 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 | 45.9% | 45.7% | -0.2% | 48.4% | -2.7% |
| Good health | 37.3% | 40.1% | 2.8% | 33.6% | 6.5% |
| Fair health | 11.1% | 10.8% | -0.3% | 12.7% | -1.9% |
| Bad health | 4.5% | 2.8% | -1.7% | 4.0% | -1.2% |
| Very bad health | 1.3% | 0.6% | -0.7% | 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.
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 21.1%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 24% | 20.7% | -3.3% | 18.2% | 2.5% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 20.2% | 11.3% | -8.9% | 9.6% | 1.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.4% | 16% | 1.6% | 13.4% | 2.6% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.2% | 11.6% | 4.4% | 5.3% | 6.3% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11.4% | 17.5% | 6.1% | 16.9% | 0.6% |
| Degree or Similar | 14.8% | 21.1% | 6.3% | 33.8% | -12.7% |
| Other | 8% | 1.8% | -6.2% | 2.8% | -1.0% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 77.1% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.1% |
| Chinese | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| Indian | 14.3% | 12.2% | -2.1% | 3.1% | 9.1% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 2.7% | -1.2% |
| Other Asian | 1.3% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Black African | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 2.5% | -0.7% |
| Black Caribbean | 1% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| White | 79.3% | 77.1% | -2.2% | 81.4% | -4.3% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 3.5% | 0% | -3.5% | 1.6% | -1.6% |
In this area, 83.7% 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 | 91.7% | 83.7% | -8.0% | 83.2% | 0.5% |
| European Union | 2.9% | 7.4% | 4.5% | 6.1% | 1.3% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.6% | 1.5% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Africa | 0.6% | 1.2% | 0.6% | 2.7% | -1.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 3.8% | 5.8% | 2.0% | 5.6% | 0.2% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.3% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 91.4% | 84.5% | -6.9% | 83.2% | 1.3% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 9.8% | 1.3% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.3% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 2.9% | -2.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 1.6% | 1.2% | -0.4% | 2.2% | -1.0% |
| Less than 2 years | 6.7% | 2.2% | -4.5% | 1.9% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 80.3% | 76.7% | 3.6% |
| Ireland | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Italy | 1.2% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Lithuania | 1.2% | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Poland | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| Romania | 3.4% | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| Other EU countries | 0.3% | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Southern Asia | 0.9% | 1.2% | -0.3% |
| No passport held | 10.5% | 13.5% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 31.9% | 37.2% | -5.3% |
| Christian | 52.1% | 46.2% | 5.9% |
| Hindu | 1.8% | 1.7% | 0.1% |
| Muslim | 2.8% | 6.5% | -3.7% |
| Sikh | 4.9% | 0.9% | 4.0% |
| Other religion | 1.8% | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| Not answered | 4.6% | 6.0% | -1.4% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around The Briars was 18.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 85.3% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
The Briars has the 8th lowest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 66th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 6.2 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -78.7%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49 The Briars, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £236,000 | 2021-05-06 | £287,745 |
| 39 The Briars, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £240,000 | 2019-09-27 | £305,745 |
| 45 The Briars, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £265,000 | 2016-09-02 | £347,265 |
| 49 The Briars, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £230,000 | 2016-08-19 | £319,749 |
| 37 The Briars, Bedford, Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £135,000 | 2009-02-03 | £296,211 |
MK42 7RB area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% 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 | 106 |
| Retired | 73 |
| Part-Time Employee | 29 |
| Self-Employed | 28 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 10 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Looking after home or family | 7 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 7 |
| Unemployed | 5 |
| Other | 4 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 38 |
| Human health and social work activities | 28 |
| Education | 17 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Construction | 14 |
| Transport and storage | 13 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 10 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 9 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| 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 | 2,120 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,465 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,502 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | - not rated | 259 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 3out of 4 | 259 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 825 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | - not rated | 996 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 1,060 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 403 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,506 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | - not rated | 1,506 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 2,773 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,830 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 403 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 1,231 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 1,231 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 2,045 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 3,078 yd | Community school | 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 | 3,073 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Green Lane , Stewartby MK43 9LY | - not rated | 5,375 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 | 1,128 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 1,128 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys House Residential School Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 1,245 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys House Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 1,245 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Student Support Centre Greys House , Manor Drive MK42 7AB | - not rated | 1,245 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Mcdonalds, Interchange Retail Park, Race Meadows Way | 422 yd | |
| Costa Ltd | Unit N, Interchange Retail Park, Race Meadows Way | 422 yd | |
| KFC | Kfc, Interchange Retail Park, 3 Polo Field Way | 422 yd | |
| Burger King | Burger King, Interchange Retail Park, 3 Polo Field Way | 505 yd | |
| Caprinos Pizza | 44-46 Bunyan Road | 762 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mulberry Bush | The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre | 369 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 615 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 658 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 989 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 1,042 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | 2 Springfield Centre | 369 yd | |
| Mangal BBQ | 3 Springfield Centre | 369 yd | |
| Kim Hing Takeaway | 7 Springfield Centre | 369 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 232 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 866 yd | |
| R K Catering | 42 Singer Way | 881 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 866 yd | |
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 890 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 407 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 663 yd |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 766 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 1,044 yd | |
| Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 1,078 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 | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 132.2 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 15.2 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.8 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.