Thirlmere Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8HG

People

Gender

In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 8HG, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.5% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.

	2011	2021	10y change (pp)	UK Average	postcode vs UK (pp)
Female	49.7%	52.5%	2.8%	51.0%	1.5%
Male	50.3%	47.5%	-2.8%	49.0%	-1.5%

Partnership Status

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	29.9%	39.4%	9.5%	37.9%	1.5%
Married: Opposite sex	51.5%	41.9%	-9.6%	44.2%	-2.3%
Separated	3.5%	2.9%	-0.6%	2.2%	0.7%
Divorced	8.2%	10%	1.8%	9.1%	0.9%
Widowed	6.9%	5.8%	-1.1%	6.1%	-0.3%

Health

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 (87.1%) 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	46.3%	47.2%	0.9%	48.4%	-1.2%
Good health	40.5%	39.9%	-0.6%	33.6%	6.3%
Fair health	10.8%	9.3%	-1.5%	12.7%	-3.4%
Bad health	1.4%	3%	1.6%	4.0%	-1.0%
Very bad health	1%	0.7%	-0.3%	1.2%	-0.5%

Education and Qualifications

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%.

	2011	2021	10y change (pp)	UK Average	postcode vs UK (pp)
No qualifications	28.6%	19.8%	-8.8%	18.2%	1.6%
1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent	15.2%	11.9%	-3.3%	9.6%	2.3%
5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels	21.6%	16.5%	-5.1%	13.4%	3.1%
Apprenticeship	4.3%	7.8%	3.5%	5.3%	2.5%
HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels	9.5%	15.6%	6.1%	16.9%	-1.3%
Degree or Similar	14.3%	21%	6.7%	33.8%	-12.8%
Other	6.5%	7.4%	0.9%	2.8%	4.6%

Culture

Ethnic Group

In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 68.7% 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	1.7%	0%	-1.7%	1.1%	-1.1%
Chinese	0.3%	0.7%	0.4%	0.7%	0.0%
Indian	19.3%	17.3%	-2.0%	3.1%	14.2%
Other Asian	1.7%	2%	0.3%	1.6%	0.4%
Black African	0%	1.7%	1.7%	2.5%	-0.8%
Black Caribbean	1.4%	1%	-0.4%	1.0%	0.0%
Mixed White and Asian	1%	2.3%	1.3%	0.8%	1.5%
Mixed White and African	0%	0.7%	0.7%	0.4%	0.3%
Mixed White and Caribbean	0%	1.7%	1.7%	0.9%	0.8%
Mixed Other	0.7%	1%	0.3%	0.8%	0.2%
White	74%	68.7%	-5.3%	81.4%	-12.7%
Roma	0%	0.3%	0.3%	0.2%	0.1%
Other	0%	2.7%	2.7%	1.6%	1.1%

Country of Birth

In this area, 77.9% 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	83.4%	77.9%	-5.5%	83.2%	-5.3%
European Union	3.4%	8.6%	5.2%	6.1%	2.5%
Rest of Europe	0.3%	1.7%	1.4%	0.8%	0.9%
Africa	2.7%	3.3%	0.6%	2.7%	0.6%
Middle East and Asia	9.5%	7.9%	-1.6%	5.6%	2.3%
The Americas and the Caribbean	0.7%	0.7%	0.0%	1.3%	-0.6%

Length of Residence

	2011	2021	10y change (pp)	UK Average	postcode vs UK (pp)
Born in the UK	83.1%	78.1%	-5.0%	83.2%	-5.1%
10+ Years	0.7%	9.9%	9.2%	9.8%	0.1%
5-10 Years	0.3%	2%	1.7%	2.9%	-0.9%
2-5 Years	4.7%	4.6%	-0.1%	2.2%	2.4%
Less than 2 years	11.1%	5.3%	-5.8%	1.9%	3.4%

Passport Held

	2021	UK Average	postcode vs UK (pp)
United Kingdom	71.4%	76.7%	-5.3%
France	0.3%	0.3%	0.0%
Italy	1%	0.6%	0.4%
Portugal	0.3%	0.5%	-0.2%
Lithuania	1%	0.3%	0.7%
Poland	2%	1.3%	0.7%
Romania	3.7%	0.9%	2.8%
Other EU countries	2%	1.5%	0.5%
Other Europe	0.7%	0.2%	0.5%
Central and Western Africa	1.7%	0.3%	1.4%
Southern Asia	2.7%	1.2%	1.5%
South-East Asia	0.3%	0.2%	0.1%
No passport held	13%	13.5%	-0.5%

Religion

	2021	UK Average	postcode vs UK (pp)
No religion	34.3%	37.2%	-2.9%
Christian	40.3%	46.2%	-5.9%
Buddhist	0.7%	0.5%	0.2%
Hindu	2.6%	1.7%	0.9%
Muslim	1.3%	6.5%	-5.2%
Sikh	12.2%	0.9%	11.3%
Other religion	4.3%	0.6%	3.7%
Not answered	4.3%	6.0%	-1.7%

Safety

Is Thirlmere Road dangerous?

Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Thirlmere Road was 65.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 50.3% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.

Thirlmere Road has the 27th lowest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 235th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .

Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 32.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -48.9%.

🔎 See full breakdown of local crime, hotspots & trends

Affluence

Household Income

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.

Average Household Income
£45,500

Income Rank
6/10

Household Income in MK42 8HG, Local Authority and Region

Deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) - 7/10 (above average )
Indices of multiple deprivation (IMD) is used to classify the relative deprivation (a measure of poverty) of the area. It considers the following domains:
Income Deprivation Domain - 6/10 (average )
The Income Deprivation Domain measures the percentage of people in the population who are experiencing poverty due to having a low income. It includes both those who are unemployed and those who are employed but earn very little (and who satisfy the respective means tests).
Employment Deprivation Domain - 7/10 (above average )
The Employment Deprivation Domain measures the proportion of the working-age population in an area involuntarily excluded from the labour market. This includes people who would like to work but are unable to do so due to unemployment, sickness or disability, or caring responsibilities.
Education, Skills and Training Domain - 8/10 (high )
The Education, Skills, and Training Deprivation Domain measures the lack of education and skills in a local area. It has two parts: one for children and young people, and one for adults. The part for children and young people looks at their school achievements ('flow'), while the part for adults looks at the number of adults without qualifications ('stock').
Health Deprivation and Disability Domain - 6/10 (average )
The Health Deprivation and Disability Domain measures the risk of early death and poor quality of life due to bad physical or mental health. It looks at illness, disability, and early death, but not at behaviors or environments that might affect future health.
Crime Domain - 8/10 (high )
The Crime Domain measures the risk of people and property being victims of crime in a local area.
Barriers to Housing and Services Domain - 4/10 (below average )
The Barriers to Housing and Services Domain measures how easy or hard it is to access housing and local services. It has two parts: one looks at how close local services are, and the other looks at issues like how affordable housing is.
Living Environment Deprivation Domain - 7/10 (above average )
The Living Environment Deprivation Domain measures the quality of the local environment. It has two parts: the "indoors" part looks at housing quality, and the "outdoors" part looks at air quality and road traffic accidents.
Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) - 4/10 (below average )
The Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) measures how many children aged 0 to 15 live in low-income families. It is part of the Income Deprivation Domain, which looks at how many people in an area have low incomes. This includes both those who are unemployed and those who work but earn very little (and who satisfy the respective means tests).
Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index (IDAOPI) - 4/10 (below average )
The Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index (IDAOPI) measures the percentage of people aged 60 or older who have low income. It is part of the Income Deprivation Domain, which looks at how many people in an area have low income, including both unemployed people and those with low-paying jobs (and who satisfy the respective means tests).

Property Prices

Average property prices on Thirlmere Road are based on 27 property sales since the beginning of 1995. Estimated property prices are calculated by adjusting the last sale price by current House Price Index for North Bedfordshire.
StreetScan downloads house price data directly from the HM Land Registry and uses it to create these statistics.

House Prices for Thirlmere Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8HG

Estimated Average Property Prices for MK42 8HG

Average Price
£325,596

Semi-Detached
£325,596

Terraced
no sales

Detached
no sales

Flats/Maisonettes
no sales

Other
no sales

Estimated Average Property Prices for Thirlmere Road

Average Price
£362,133

Semi-Detached
£363,856

Terraced
£317,323

Detached
no sales

Flats/Maisonettes
no sales

Other
no sales

Property Prices Comparison

Latest Property Sales on Thirlmere Road

Address	Sale Price	Sale Date	Price Estimate 2025
18 Thirlmere Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building	£290,000	2025-10-10	£290,000
32 Thirlmere Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building	£310,000	2024-01-05	£334,234
16 Thirlmere Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building	£330,000	2023-04-04	£351,162
22 Thirlmere Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building	£275,000	2021-09-09	£320,582
15 Thirlmere Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building	£330,000	2018-12-14	£415,730

View All Property Sales and Other Statistics for MK42 8HG

Employment

MK42 8HG 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.

Economic Activity

Full-Time Employee	97
Part-Time Employee	43
Retired	40
Self-Employed	19
Student (economically inactive)	10
Looking after home or family	10
Unemployed	7
Long-Term Sick or disabled	7
Other	4
Full-Time Student (with or without job)	4

Employment Industry

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles	38
Human health and social work activities	23
Education	17
Construction	16
Administrative and support service activities	13
Transport and storage	13
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	12
Other	11
Accommodation and food service activities	10
Manufacturing	9
Professional, scientific and technical activities	4
Information and communication	2
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities	2
Financial and insurance activities	2
Real estate activities	1

Schools

Nursery

	Ofsted Overall Effectiveness	Distance	Establishment Type	Has Nursery Classes	Gender	More Info
Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR	4out of 4	2,200 yd	Local authority nursery school	Yes	Mixed	More About School
Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS	4out of 4	2,786 yd	Local authority nursery school	Yes	Mixed	More About School

Primary

	Ofsted Overall Effectiveness	Distance	Establishment Type	Has Nursery Classes	Gender	More Info
Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH	2out of 4	315 yd	Community school	No	Mixed	More About School
Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER	3out of 4	622 yd	Community school	Yes	Mixed	More About School
Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ	2out of 4	996 yd	Academy converter	No	Mixed	More About School
Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW	3out of 4	1,003 yd	Community school	No	Mixed	More About School
Kempston Rural Primary School Martell Drive , MK42 7FJ	4out of 4	1,358 yd	Community school	Yes	Mixed	More About School

Secondary

	Ofsted Overall Effectiveness	Distance	Establishment Type	Has Nursery Classes	Gender	More Info
Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS	3out of 4	1,022 yd	Academy converter	No	Mixed	More About School
Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB	3out of 4	1,111 yd	Academy sponsor led	No	Mixed	More About School
Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ	3out of 4	2,492 yd	Foundation school	No	Mixed	More About School
Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD	3out of 4	3,067 yd	Free schools	No	Mixed	More About School
Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR	3out of 4	3,398 yd	Academy sponsor led	Not Applicable	Mixed	More About School

16 plus

	Ofsted Overall Effectiveness	Distance	Establishment Type	Has Nursery Classes	Gender	More Info
Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH	- not rated	3,069 yd	Further education	Not Applicable	Mixed	More About School

Not applicable

	Ofsted Overall Effectiveness	Distance	Establishment Type	Has Nursery Classes	Gender	More Info
Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB	3out of 4	237 yd	Academy alternative provision converter	No	Mixed	More About School
Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU	3out of 4	815 yd	Academy special converter	Not Applicable	Mixed	More About School
Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB	3out of 4	1,247 yd	Community special school	Yes	Mixed	More About School
St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA	4out of 4	1,698 yd	Academy special converter	Yes	Mixed	More About School
E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE	- not rated	2,644 yd	Other independent school	No	Mixed	More About School

School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.

Food and Drink

Restaurants, Cafes, Canteens

Business Name	Address	Distance
Caprinos Pizza	44-46 Bunyan Road	257 yd
Costa Coffee	234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road	271 yd
D Gelato	71 High Street	341 yd
DG Grill	71 High Street	341 yd
Cafe Mar-Chelles	243 Bedford Road	439 yd

Pubs, Bars, Nightclubs

Business Name	Address	Distance
The Duke Inn	The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road	245 yd
Royal Oak	The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road	463 yd
Kempston Constitutional Club	196a Bedford Road	464 yd
King William IV	King William Iv, 56 High Street	483 yd
The Mulberry Bush	The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre	773 yd

Takeaway, Sandwich Shops

Business Name	Address	Distance
G's Takeaway	10 St Johns Street	221 yd
Oriental Chef	10b St Johns Street	221 yd
Domino's Pizza	232 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road	271 yd
The Café Grill	14 Bunyan Road	339 yd
The Pearl	12 Bunyan Road	361 yd

Supermarkets, Hypermarkets

Business Name	Address	Distance
Co-operative	12-14 St Johns Street	221 yd
J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store)	252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road	271 yd
Tesco	203-207 Bedford Road	665 yd

Sport

Facility Name	Sport Objects	Distance
Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road	grass pitches	465 yd
Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE	grass pitches	490 yd
Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD		526 yd
Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD	grass pitches, swimming pool	669 yd
Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD	grass pitches, health and fitness suite	815 yd
Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET	grass pitches, tennis courts	893 yd
Kempston Hammers Sports And Social Club HIGH STREET	grass pitches, health and fitness suite	929 yd
Addison Howard Park Bedford Road	grass pitches, tennis courts	1,028 yd

Broadband

Technology Aviability

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%

Speed Aviability

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%

Download Speed

Median download speed	100 Mbit/s
Average download speed	166.8 Mbit/s
Minimum download speed	1000 Mbit/s
Maximum download speed	1000 Mbit/s

Upload Speed

Median upload speed	20 Mbit/s
Average upload speed	17.7 Mbit/s
Maximum upload speed	50 Mbit/s

Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.