Elstow Road is in Kempston, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 8HJ is located in the Kempston South electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Elstow Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8HJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7LH, MK42 8HH, MK42 7PE, MK42 7ND, MK42 7NB, MK42 7PF, MK42 7LR, MK42 7PH, MK42 8DX.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 8HJ, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 53% 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 | 52.8% | 53% | 0.2% | 51.0% | 2.0% |
| Male | 47.2% | 47% | -0.2% | 49.0% | -2.0% |
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 | 25.7% | 33.3% | 7.6% | 37.9% | -4.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 55.8% | 46.3% | -9.5% | 44.2% | 2.1% |
| Separated | 0.8% | 2.8% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| Divorced | 8.8% | 8.9% | 0.1% | 9.1% | -0.2% |
| Widowed | 8.8% | 8.5% | -0.3% | 6.1% | 2.4% |
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 | 39.5% | 39.1% | -0.4% | 48.4% | -9.3% |
| Good health | 35.3% | 37% | 1.7% | 33.6% | 3.4% |
| Fair health | 17.8% | 18.1% | 0.3% | 12.7% | 5.4% |
| Bad health | 4.2% | 4.6% | 0.4% | 4.0% | 0.6% |
| Very bad health | 3.1% | 1.1% | -2.0% | 1.2% | -0.1% |
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 | 31.7% | 25.8% | -5.9% | 18.2% | 7.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 13.7% | 12.7% | -1.0% | 9.6% | 3.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 11.2% | 12.7% | 1.5% | 13.4% | -0.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 11.1% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 5.8% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.8% | 11.5% | 0.7% | 16.9% | -5.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 22.1% | 23.4% | 1.3% | 33.8% | -10.4% |
| Other | 4.4% | 2.9% | -1.5% | 2.8% | 0.1% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 80% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 1.4% | 0.4% | -1.0% | 0.7% | -0.3% |
| Indian | 7% | 9.6% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 6.5% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.7% | -1.6% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.6% | 0.2% |
| Black African | 2.4% | 1.8% | -0.6% | 2.5% | -0.7% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.7% | 2.5% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 1.5% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| White | 86% | 80% | -6.0% | 81.4% | -1.4% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Arab | 0% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| Other | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -0.9% |
In this area, 81.4% 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 | 84.6% | 81.4% | -3.2% | 83.2% | -1.8% |
| European Union | 8% | 10% | 2.0% | 6.1% | 3.9% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Africa | 1.7% | 3.2% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 3.8% | 2.9% | -0.9% | 5.6% | -2.7% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.7% | 1.1% | -0.6% | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| Oceania | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 83.9% | 81.1% | -2.8% | 83.2% | -2.1% |
| 10+ Years | 1.4% | 13.9% | 12.5% | 9.8% | 4.1% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.1% | 4.3% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 1.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.8% | 0.4% | -2.4% | 2.2% | -1.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 9.8% | 0.4% | -9.4% | 1.9% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 74.4% | 76.7% | -2.3% |
| Ireland | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Italy | 1.8% | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| Poland | 3.9% | 1.3% | 2.6% |
| Romania | 0.7% | 0.9% | -0.2% |
| Other EU countries | 1.1% | 1.5% | -0.4% |
| North Africa | 1.8% | 0.1% | 1.7% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 0.4% | 1.2% | -0.8% |
| No passport held | 14.6% | 13.5% | 1.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27% | 37.2% | -10.2% |
| Christian | 57.8% | 46.2% | 11.6% |
| Hindu | 4.3% | 1.7% | 2.6% |
| Muslim | 5% | 6.5% | -1.5% |
| Sikh | 3.2% | 0.9% | 2.3% |
| Not answered | 2.8% | 6.0% | -3.2% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Elstow Road was 103.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 20.9% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Elstow Road has the 18th highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 131st highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 36.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 62.9%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 Elstow Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £355,000 | 2024-06-28 | £389,473 |
| 56 Elstow Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £320,000 | 2022-02-01 | £355,406 |
| 62 Elstow Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £294,000 | 2021-06-11 | £359,710 |
| 54 Elstow Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £290,000 | 2021-04-01 | £357,285 |
| 60 Elstow Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £226,000 | 2014-09-23 | £392,176 |
MK42 8HJ 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.
The percentage of retired residents living in MK42 8HJ area is much higher than the country's average. According to Census 2011, 33% residents of this area were retired, while the average in the UK was 14%.
| Full-Time Employee | 83 |
| Retired | 81 |
| Self-Employed | 19 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 16 |
| Part-Time Employee | 14 |
| Looking after home or family | 10 |
| Other | 10 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Unemployed | 4 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 0 |
| Human health and social work activities | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Construction | 13 |
| Education | 11 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 8 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 5 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 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 | 1,689 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,188 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 | 387 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 514 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 547 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 1,146 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,652 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 | 460 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,646 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,527 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,592 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,758 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 | 2,616 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 | 759 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 836 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,324 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,774 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,122 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caprinos Pizza | 44-46 Bunyan Road | 455 yd | |
| The Hen Pen | 2a Cleveland Street | 520 yd | |
| Carmichael's Coffee | 166 Bedford Road | 548 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 549 yd | |
| Diya Royal | The Griffin, 174 Bedford Road | 575 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mulberry Bush | The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre | 239 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 508 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 575 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 677 yd | |
| Daleys Club | 86 Bedford Road | 733 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | 2 Springfield Centre | 239 yd | |
| Mangal BBQ | 3 Springfield Centre | 239 yd | |
| Kim Hing Takeaway | 7 Springfield Centre | 239 yd | |
| The Café Grill | 14 Bunyan Road | 543 yd | |
| Thai To Walk | 170 Bedford Road | 548 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 549 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 619 yd | |
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 853 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 336 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 543 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 610 yd | |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 852 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 873 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 941 yd |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 958 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 | 78.8 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 102 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 18.6 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.7 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.