King Street is in Kempston, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 8BN 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 King Street, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8BN and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 8BW, MK42 8BX, MK42 8QF, MK42 8QE, MK42 8QJ, MK42 8QL, MK42 8QH, MK42 8BU, MK42 8BP.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 8BN has a slightly higher male population, with 51.2% 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 | 52.7% | 48.8% | -3.9% | 51.0% | -2.2% |
| Male | 47.3% | 51.2% | 3.9% | 49.0% | 2.2% |
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 | 29.2% | 30.3% | 1.1% | 37.9% | -7.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 50.4% | 46.1% | -4.3% | 44.2% | 1.9% |
| Separated | 4% | 2% | -2.0% | 2.2% | -0.2% |
| Divorced | 10.4% | 16.9% | 6.5% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| Widowed | 6% | 4.7% | -1.3% | 6.1% | -1.4% |
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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 44.4% | 40.1% | -4.3% | 48.4% | -8.3% |
| Good health | 35.6% | 35.8% | 0.2% | 33.6% | 2.2% |
| Fair health | 14.2% | 18.3% | 4.1% | 12.7% | 5.6% |
| Bad health | 4.7% | 4.3% | -0.4% | 4.0% | 0.3% |
| Very bad health | 1.1% | 1.4% | 0.3% | 1.2% | 0.2% |
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 | 18.8% | 13% | -5.8% | 18.2% | -5.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.6% | 11.4% | -4.2% | 9.6% | 1.8% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13.6% | 16.5% | 2.9% | 13.4% | 3.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.6% | 8.7% | 1.1% | 5.3% | 3.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 14% | 20.1% | 6.1% | 16.9% | 3.2% |
| Degree or Similar | 24.8% | 28.3% | 3.5% | 33.8% | -5.5% |
| Other | 5.6% | 2% | -3.6% | 2.8% | -0.8% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 75.6% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Indian | 8.7% | 9.2% | 0.5% | 3.1% | 6.1% |
| Other Asian | 2.2% | 2.5% | 0.3% | 1.6% | 0.9% |
| Black African | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.0% | 2.5% | -0.7% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.1% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 1.0% | 1.5% |
| Other Black | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.1% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 1.6% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 85.1% | 75.6% | -9.5% | 81.4% | -5.8% |
| Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
In this area, 78.4% 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 | 84.4% | 78.4% | -6.0% | 83.2% | -4.8% |
| European Union | 4.7% | 7.8% | 3.1% | 6.1% | 1.7% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 2.1% | -0.1% | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 6.9% | 8.5% | 1.6% | 5.6% | 2.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.1% | 2.8% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 1.5% |
| British Overseas | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 83.3% | 79% | -4.3% | 83.2% | -4.2% |
| 10+ Years | 1.1% | 15.7% | 14.6% | 9.8% | 5.9% |
| 5-10 Years | 0% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | -0.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 4.7% | 2.1% | -2.6% | 2.2% | -0.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 10.9% | 0.4% | -10.5% | 1.9% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 75.4% | 76.7% | -1.3% |
| Ireland | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Italy | 2.5% | 0.6% | 1.9% |
| Portugal | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Lithuania | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Poland | 0.4% | 1.3% | -0.9% |
| Romania | 0.7% | 0.9% | -0.2% |
| Other EU countries | 1.4% | 1.5% | -0.1% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Eastern Asia | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Southern Asia | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| South-East Asia | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 12.8% | 13.5% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 36.6% | 37.2% | -0.6% |
| Christian | 48.2% | 46.2% | 2.0% |
| Buddhist | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Hindu | 3.2% | 1.7% | 1.5% |
| Sikh | 4.2% | 0.9% | 3.3% |
| Not answered | 7.4% | 6.0% | 1.4% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around King Street was 128.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 2.3% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
King Street has the 13th highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 95th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 56.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 17.4%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Street House King Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £285,000 | 2025-09-04 | £285,000 |
| 16 King Street, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £254,000 | 2024-08-12 | £268,673 |
| 82 King Street, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £465,000 | 2023-11-10 | £489,620 |
| 10 King Street, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £270,000 | 2023-05-26 | £288,761 |
| 12 King Street, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £300,000 | 2023-04-06 | £319,238 |
MK42 8BN area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 25% 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 8BN 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 | 94 |
| Retired | 62 |
| Self-Employed | 30 |
| Part-Time Employee | 29 |
| Other | 9 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 9 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 9 |
| Unemployed | 6 |
| Looking after home or family | 5 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 3 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 32 |
| Human health and social work activities | 21 |
| Construction | 16 |
| Education | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Transport and storage | 10 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 10 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 9 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Information and communication | 7 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 5 |
| Other | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation 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 | 1,955 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,645 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 302 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,036 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 1,091 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 1,314 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Great Denham Primary School Greenkeepers Road , Great Denham MK40 4GG | 3out of 4 | 1,431 yd | Foundation 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 | 1,279 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,528 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,960 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,755 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,393 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 | 2,738 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 | 415 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 428 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,359 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,663 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,396 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Mar-Chelles | 243 Bedford Road | 199 yd | |
| Diya Royal | The Griffin, 174 Bedford Road | 250 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 328 yd | |
| Carmichael's Coffee | 166 Bedford Road | 345 yd | |
| The Hen Pen | 2a Cleveland Street | 414 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 250 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 588 yd | |
| King William IV | King William Iv, 56 High Street | 734 yd | |
| Daleys Club | 86 Bedford Road | 739 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 777 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naims Tandoori | 192 Bedford Road | 250 yd | |
| kempston Kebab | 180 Bedford Road | 250 yd | |
| TGF Pizza Shop | 184 Bedford Road | 250 yd | |
| The Pearl | 12 Bunyan Road | 276 yd | |
| The Café Grill | 14 Bunyan Road | 295 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 328 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 350 yd | |
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 647 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 239 yd | |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 247 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 347 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 631 yd |
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 956 yd |
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 971 yd |
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 996 yd |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 1,002 yd |
| Hillgrounds Playing Fields ODELL CLOSE | grass pitches | 1,010 yd |
| Great Denham Country Park GREAT DENHAM SPORTS PAVILION GREAT DENHAM SPORTS PAVILION QUEEN ELEANOR DRIVE | grass pitches | 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 | 96.4% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 90.9% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 90.9% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 90.9% |
| 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 | 79.7 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 106.1 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 17.5 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.1 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.