Foster Road is in Kempston, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 8BT 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 Foster Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8BT and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 8BU, MK42 8BX, MK42 8BW, MK42 8AU, MK42 8BN, MK42 8RB, MK42 8QR, MK42 8AT, MK42 8QU.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 8BT has a slightly higher male population, with 50.6% 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 | 52.9% | 49.4% | -3.5% | 51.0% | -1.6% |
| Male | 47.1% | 50.6% | 3.5% | 49.0% | 1.6% |
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 | 27.2% | 28.7% | 1.5% | 37.9% | -9.2% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 53.8% | 50.7% | -3.1% | 44.2% | 6.5% |
| Separated | 1.5% | 1.7% | 0.2% | 2.2% | -0.5% |
| Divorced | 6.7% | 8.5% | 1.8% | 9.1% | -0.6% |
| Widowed | 10.8% | 10.4% | -0.4% | 6.1% | 4.3% |
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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 43.1% | 39.8% | -3.3% | 48.4% | -8.6% |
| Good health | 36.2% | 35.9% | -0.3% | 33.6% | 2.3% |
| Fair health | 12.2% | 20% | 7.8% | 12.7% | 7.3% |
| Bad health | 6.4% | 3.4% | -3.0% | 4.0% | -0.6% |
| Very bad health | 2.1% | 0.9% | -1.2% | 1.2% | -0.3% |
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.
In the area around MK42 8BT this area, 28.4% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 18.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 27.8% | 28.4% | 0.6% | 18.2% | 10.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 16.4% | 7.3% | -9.1% | 9.6% | -2.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 11.7% | 14.6% | 2.9% | 13.4% | 1.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.1% | 6.5% | 2.4% | 5.3% | 1.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.5% | 15.2% | 4.7% | 16.9% | -1.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 21.6% | 24.4% | 2.8% | 33.8% | -9.4% |
| Other | 7.9% | 3.7% | -4.2% | 2.8% | 0.9% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 72.8% 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% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| Chinese | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 16.7% | 13.7% | -3.0% | 3.1% | 10.6% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.7% | -1.1% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.0% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.8% | 2.6% | -0.2% | 1.0% | 1.6% |
| Other Black | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.7% | 1.4% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.7% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 0.9% | 2.6% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| White | 77.6% | 72.8% | -4.8% | 81.4% | -8.6% |
| Other | 0% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.3% |
In this area, 81.8% 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 | 89.4% | 81.8% | -7.6% | 83.2% | -1.4% |
| European Union | 1.9% | 7.6% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 1.5% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.8% | -0.6% |
| Africa | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 2.7% | -2.2% |
| Middle East and Asia | 7.3% | 8.1% | 0.8% | 5.6% | 2.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.2% | 1.8% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 88.9% | 81.6% | -7.3% | 83.2% | -1.6% |
| 10+ Years | 0.9% | 15% | 14.1% | 9.8% | 5.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.2% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 2.9% | -1.5% |
| 2-5 Years | 0.9% | 2.1% | 1.2% | 2.2% | -0.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 8.9% | 0% | -8.9% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 70.6% | 76.7% | -6.1% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Italy | 2.8% | 0.6% | 2.2% |
| Poland | 0.5% | 1.3% | -0.8% |
| Romania | 1.6% | 0.9% | 0.7% |
| Other EU countries | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.4% |
| Southern Asia | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| No passport held | 20.7% | 13.5% | 7.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 24.9% | 37.2% | -12.3% |
| Christian | 52.7% | 46.2% | 6.5% |
| Hindu | 3.2% | 1.7% | 1.5% |
| Muslim | 2.8% | 6.5% | -3.7% |
| Sikh | 6.5% | 0.9% | 5.6% |
| Other religion | 4.6% | 0.6% | 4.0% |
| Not answered | 5.3% | 6.0% | -0.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Foster Road was 35.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 73.0% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Foster Road has the 12th lowest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 153rd lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 25.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -87.3%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 Foster Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £535,000 | 2025-03-10 | £559,222 |
| 93 Foster Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £312,000 | 2024-09-17 | £327,538 |
| 89 Foster Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £345,000 | 2024-08-29 | £365,090 |
| 17 Foster Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £430,000 | 2024-03-15 | £457,117 |
| 27 Foster Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £327,500 | 2023-10-20 | £346,419 |
MK42 8BT 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.
The percentage of retired residents living in MK42 8BT area is much higher than the country's average. According to Census 2011, 32% residents of this area were retired, while the average in the UK was 14%.
| Retired | 113 |
| Full-Time Employee | 105 |
| Part-Time Employee | 59 |
| Self-Employed | 32 |
| Looking after home or family | 13 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 10 |
| Unemployed | 9 |
| Other | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 3 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 42 |
| Human health and social work activities | 29 |
| Education | 26 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 18 |
| Construction | 17 |
| Manufacturing | 16 |
| Other | 12 |
| Transport and storage | 11 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 10 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 9 |
| Information and communication | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 8 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 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 | 1,814 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,534 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 | 457 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,037 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 1,301 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Great Denham Primary School Greenkeepers Road , Great Denham MK40 4GG | 3out of 4 | 1,306 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 1,408 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 | 1,353 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,737 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,765 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,585 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,327 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 | 2,561 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 | 281 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 639 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,192 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,872 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,248 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 | 323 yd | |
| Diya Royal | The Griffin, 174 Bedford Road | 342 yd | |
| Carmichael's Coffee | 166 Bedford Road | 355 yd | |
| The Hen Pen | 2a Cleveland Street | 404 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 494 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 342 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 540 yd | |
| Daleys Club | 86 Bedford Road | 621 yd | |
| Addison Howard Centre | Addison Howard Park, Bedford Road | 704 yd | |
| AFC Kempston Rovers Football Club | Kempston Rovers Football Club, Hillgrounds Road | 785 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFC | 197-199 Bedford Road | 307 yd | |
| King Cod | 193 Bedford Road | 307 yd | |
| Subway | 209-211 Bedford Road | 307 yd | |
| Naims Tandoori | 192 Bedford Road | 342 yd | |
| kempston Kebab | 180 Bedford Road | 342 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 307 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 494 yd | |
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 857 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 170 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 292 yd | |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 435 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 466 yd |
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 756 yd |
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 763 yd |
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 804 yd |
| Hillgrounds Playing Fields ODELL CLOSE | grass pitches | 816 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 | 98.2% |
| 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 | 200.6 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 19.2 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.