Bedford Road is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 8AB is located in the Kempston North electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8AB and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 8AH, MK42 8AD, MK42 8AS, MK42 8AG, MK42 8AQ, MK42 8AF, MK42 8DY, MK42 9EA, MK42 8AE.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 8AB is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.3%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 52.6% | 51.7% | -0.9% | 51.0% | 0.7% |
| Male | 47.4% | 48.3% | 0.9% | 49.0% | -0.7% |
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 | 22.1% | 31.4% | 9.3% | 37.9% | -6.5% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 56.9% | 46% | -10.9% | 44.2% | 1.8% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Separated | 3.3% | 2.3% | -1.0% | 2.2% | 0.1% |
| Divorced | 7% | 9.9% | 2.9% | 9.1% | 0.8% |
| Widowed | 10% | 9.9% | -0.1% | 6.1% | 3.8% |
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 (89.1%) 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 | 35.2% | 46.5% | 11.3% | 48.4% | -1.9% |
| Good health | 39.3% | 42.6% | 3.3% | 33.6% | 9.0% |
| Fair health | 19.8% | 8.4% | -11.4% | 12.7% | -4.3% |
| Bad health | 5.4% | 2% | -3.4% | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| Very bad health | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 1.2% | -0.7% |
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 | 25.8% | 23.1% | -2.7% | 18.2% | 4.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 16.7% | 12.1% | -4.6% | 9.6% | 2.5% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14% | 11.8% | -2.2% | 13.4% | -1.6% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.7% | 4.8% | -1.9% | 5.3% | -0.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 7.4% | 11.8% | 4.4% | 16.9% | -5.1% |
| Degree or Similar | 19.7% | 30.1% | 10.4% | 33.8% | -3.7% |
| Other | 9.7% | 6.2% | -3.5% | 2.8% | 3.4% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 56.7% 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 | 4.9% | 3.6% | -1.3% | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.7% | -0.5% |
| Indian | 25.5% | 21.7% | -3.8% | 3.1% | 18.6% |
| Pakistani | 1.4% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 2.7% | -0.2% |
| Other Asian | 0.5% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -0.7% |
| Black African | 0.5% | 2.5% | 2.0% | 2.5% | 0.0% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.6% | 0.7% | -0.9% | 1.0% | -0.3% |
| Other Black | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.8% | 0.4% | -0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.5% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.7% | 1.1% | -1.6% | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| White | 60.4% | 56.7% | -3.7% | 81.4% | -24.7% |
| Arab | 0.5% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.6% |
| Other | 0% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 1.6% | 3.3% |
In this area, 67.8% 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 | 77.5% | 67.8% | -9.7% | 83.2% | -15.4% |
| European Union | 3.5% | 11% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 4.9% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.5% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Africa | 1.9% | 2.5% | 0.6% | 2.7% | -0.2% |
| Middle East and Asia | 15.7% | 15.8% | 0.1% | 5.6% | 10.2% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 0.1% |
| 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 | 77.5% | 68.1% | -9.4% | 83.2% | -15.1% |
| 10+ Years | 0.5% | 19% | 18.5% | 9.8% | 9.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 2.9% | 4.8% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.5% | 2.9% | -0.6% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| Less than 2 years | 17.1% | 2.3% | -14.8% | 1.9% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 69.6% | 76.7% | -7.1% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Germany | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Italy | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Portugal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Spain | 1.8% | 0.4% | 1.4% |
| Lithuania | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Poland | 2% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Romania | 2.3% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Other EU countries | 1.6% | 1.5% | 0.1% |
| North Africa | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Southern Asia | 3.9% | 1.2% | 2.7% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Central and South America | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| No passport held | 13.4% | 13.5% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 22.5% | 37.2% | -14.7% |
| Christian | 36.5% | 46.2% | -9.7% |
| Buddhist | 2.5% | 0.5% | 2.0% |
| Hindu | 5% | 1.7% | 3.3% |
| Muslim | 9.7% | 6.5% | 3.2% |
| Sikh | 14.2% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Other religion | 3.6% | 0.6% | 3.0% |
| Not answered | 6.1% | 6.0% | 0.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Bedford Road was 148.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 13.2% higher than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Bedford Road has the 11th highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 78th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 75.4 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -35.0%.

Households in this area have a similar level level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 52% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £280,000 | 2022-07-14 | £299,836 |
| 11 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £205,000 | 2020-11-05 | £251,502 |
| 19 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £205,000 | 2018-06-08 | £254,542 |
| 7 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £175,000 | 2013-11-28 | £314,939 |
| 15 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £135,000 | 2013-06-07 | £256,475 |
| Full-Time Employee | 133 |
| Retired | 86 |
| Part-Time Employee | 40 |
| Self-Employed | 31 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 17 |
| Unemployed | 14 |
| Looking after home or family | 11 |
| Other | 9 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 8 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 29 |
| Human health and social work activities | 26 |
| Education | 21 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Construction | 14 |
| Transport and storage | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 9 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 8 |
| Other | 6 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 6 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 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 | 723 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,511 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 703 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 984 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 1,230 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Joseph's and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HN | 3out of 4 | 1,238 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Westfield Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HW | 2out of 4 | 1,295 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 1,472 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 1,474 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,651 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,442 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 2,729 yd | Academy sponsor led | 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 | 1,460 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 79 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 869 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,138 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 1,656 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,841 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pantry | 88 Bedford Road | 737 yd | |
| Tiger Lily Chinese Takeaway | 112 Bedford Road | 737 yd | |
| Blue Ginger | 116 Bedford Road | 737 yd | |
| The Elephant Restaurant | 118-120 Bedford Road | 751 yd | |
| Ground Floor Coffee Shop (Kings Arms Trust) | Kings House, 245 Ampthill Road | 849 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 71 yd | |
| Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club | 290 Hillgrounds Road | 397 yd | |
| Addison Howard Centre | Addison Howard Park, Bedford Road | 425 yd | |
| Daleys Club | 86 Bedford Road | 588 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 835 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Fitness Camps | 534 yd | ||
| New Oriental Fusion | 76 Bedford Road | 588 yd | |
| Paul's Fish and Chips | 114 Bedford Road | 737 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 767 yd | |
| Desi Grill | Unit 1, 124 Ampthill Road | 771 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 686 yd | |
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 763 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 763 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 776 yd | |
| Tesco | 8-12 Ford End Road | 859 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 396 yd |
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 498 yd |
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 625 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 656 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 951 yd |
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 1,028 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 | 141.8 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 15 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.