Duncombe Street is in Kempston, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 8ED is located in the Kempston Central & East electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Duncombe Street, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8ED and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 8EB, MK42 8EA, MK42 8DR, MK42 8DW, MK42 8DT, MK42 8DS, MK42 8JE, MK42 8JF, MK42 8DN.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 8ED has a slightly higher male population, with 52.4% 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 | 51.7% | 47.6% | -4.1% | 51.0% | -3.4% |
| Male | 48.3% | 52.4% | 4.1% | 49.0% | 3.4% |
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 | 34.6% | 37.1% | 2.5% | 37.9% | -0.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 43.9% | 37.4% | -6.5% | 44.2% | -6.8% |
| Separated | 4.3% | 3.1% | -1.2% | 2.2% | 0.9% |
| Divorced | 11.8% | 16.3% | 4.5% | 9.1% | 7.2% |
| Widowed | 5.4% | 6.1% | 0.7% | 6.1% | 0.0% |
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 (86%) 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 | 53.4% | 47.2% | -6.2% | 48.4% | -1.2% |
| Good health | 28.6% | 38.8% | 10.2% | 33.6% | 5.2% |
| Fair health | 12% | 10.6% | -1.4% | 12.7% | -2.1% |
| Bad health | 5.4% | 3% | -2.4% | 4.0% | -1.0% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 0.5% | -0.1% | 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 | 18.9% | 17.1% | -1.8% | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 17.5% | 13.7% | -3.8% | 9.6% | 4.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 15.7% | 16.4% | 0.7% | 13.4% | 3.0% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.9% | 7.8% | 3.9% | 5.3% | 2.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 13.6% | 13.3% | -0.3% | 16.9% | -3.6% |
| Degree or Similar | 22.1% | 28.7% | 6.6% | 33.8% | -5.1% |
| Other | 8.2% | 3.1% | -5.1% | 2.8% | 0.3% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 72.7% 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 | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| Chinese | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 5.7% | 7% | 1.3% | 3.1% | 3.9% |
| Pakistani | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.7% | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| Other Asian | 2.3% | 2.1% | -0.2% | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Black African | 1.4% | 2.4% | 1.0% | 2.5% | -0.1% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.4% | 1.1% | -0.3% | 1.0% | 0.1% |
| Other Black | 1.1% | 2.7% | 1.6% | 0.5% | 2.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.1% | 2.9% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 2.1% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.4% | 2.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.9% | 0.8% | -0.1% | 0.9% | -0.1% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| White | 82.9% | 72.7% | -10.2% | 81.4% | -8.7% |
| Arab | 1.1% | 0% | -1.1% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 0% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
In this area, 75.1% 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 | 82% | 75.1% | -6.9% | 83.2% | -8.1% |
| European Union | 7.4% | 10.5% | 3.1% | 6.1% | 4.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.9% | 0.8% | -0.1% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Africa | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.7% | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 6% | 10.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% | 5.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2% | 0.8% | -1.2% | 1.3% | -0.5% |
| 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 | 80.9% | 75.3% | -5.6% | 83.2% | -7.9% |
| 10+ Years | 3.7% | 10.2% | 6.5% | 9.8% | 0.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.4% | 4.8% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| 2-5 Years | 6% | 4.3% | -1.7% | 2.2% | 2.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 8% | 5.4% | -2.6% | 1.9% | 3.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 71.3% | 76.7% | -5.4% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Italy | 1.9% | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Lithuania | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Poland | 4.3% | 1.3% | 3.0% |
| Romania | 2.4% | 0.9% | 1.5% |
| Turkey | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.7% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 5.9% | 1.2% | 4.7% |
| South-East Asia | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| No passport held | 11.3% | 13.5% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 33.6% | 37.2% | -3.6% |
| Christian | 46% | 46.2% | -0.2% |
| Buddhist | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Hindu | 2.2% | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| Muslim | 3.5% | 6.5% | -3.0% |
| Sikh | 3.8% | 0.9% | 2.9% |
| Other religion | 3.5% | 0.6% | 2.9% |
| Not answered | 6.7% | 6.0% | 0.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Duncombe Street was 117.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 7.3% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Duncombe Street has the 16th highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 117th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 62.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have remained broadly unchanged year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 14.8%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Duncombe Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £247,000 | 2025-01-29 | £260,351 |
| 10 Duncombe Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £230,000 | 2024-05-30 | £250,196 |
| 6 Duncombe Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £240,000 | 2022-11-08 | £247,280 |
| 34 Duncombe Street, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £180,000 | 2022-08-05 | £189,749 |
| 8 Duncombe Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £195,000 | 2021-09-24 | £225,395 |
MK42 8ED 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 | 156 |
| Retired | 40 |
| Part-Time Employee | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 20 |
| Looking after home or family | 11 |
| Unemployed | 10 |
| Other | 9 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 9 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 6 |
| Human health and social work activities | 30 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 30 |
| Manufacturing | 20 |
| Transport and storage | 15 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 14 |
| Construction | 13 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 11 |
| Education | 10 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 9 |
| Other | 9 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 8 |
| Information and communication | 6 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| 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 | 1,437 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,876 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,029 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 | 350 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | - not rated | 526 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 556 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | - not rated | 822 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 3out of 4 | 822 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 | - not rated | 725 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,863 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | - not rated | 1,863 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,196 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 2,319 yd | Free schools | No | 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 | 725 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 785 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 785 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 2,068 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 2,389 yd | Voluntary aided 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 | 2,331 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grange School Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | - not rated | 473 yd | Foundation special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 473 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Rivertree Free School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QP | - not rated | 831 yd | Free schools special | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 886 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 886 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hen Pen | 2a Cleveland Street | 157 yd | |
| Carmichael's Coffee | 166 Bedford Road | 221 yd | |
| The Elephant Restaurant | 118-120 Bedford Road | 221 yd | |
| The Pantry | 88 Bedford Road | 235 yd | |
| Tiger Lily Chinese Takeaway | 112 Bedford Road | 235 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 112 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 337 yd | |
| Daleys Club | 86 Bedford Road | 364 yd | |
| The Mulberry Bush | The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre | 642 yd | |
| Addison Howard Centre | Addison Howard Park, Bedford Road | 672 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boba Aloha | 136 Bedford Road | 203 yd | |
| Thai To Walk | 170 Bedford Road | 221 yd | |
| Paul's Fish and Chips | 114 Bedford Road | 235 yd | |
| Subway | 209-211 Bedford Road | 253 yd | |
| KFC | 197-199 Bedford Road | 253 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 253 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 458 yd | |
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 910 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 327 yd | |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 467 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 470 yd |
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 721 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 770 yd |
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 822 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 843 yd |
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 845 yd |
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 940 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 | 96.2% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 96.2% |
| 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 | 79.7 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 99.5 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 19.3 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.5 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.