Hillgrounds Road is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 8QH is located in the Kempston North electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1992-08-01.
StreetScan combines information about Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8QH and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 8QQ, MK42 8QJ, MK42 8QB, MK42 8QL, MK42 8QF, MK42 8BN, MK42 8PX, MK42 8BP, MK42 8BW.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 8QH has a slightly higher male population, with 50.3% 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 | 51.3% | 49.7% | -1.6% | 51.0% | -1.3% |
| Male | 48.7% | 50.3% | 1.6% | 49.0% | 1.3% |
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 | 33.9% | 36.7% | 2.8% | 37.9% | -1.2% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 51% | 45.7% | -5.3% | 44.2% | 1.5% |
| Separated | 0.8% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 0.9% |
| Divorced | 8.9% | 8.2% | -0.7% | 9.1% | -0.9% |
| Widowed | 5.4% | 6.3% | 0.9% | 6.1% | 0.2% |
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 (87.3%) 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 | 47.1% | 43.5% | -3.6% | 48.4% | -4.9% |
| Good health | 39.3% | 43.8% | 4.5% | 33.6% | 10.2% |
| Fair health | 9.7% | 9.7% | 0.0% | 12.7% | -3.0% |
| Bad health | 3.2% | 2.3% | -0.9% | 4.0% | -1.7% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.2% | -0.6% |
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 | 23.3% | 16.8% | -6.5% | 18.2% | -1.4% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 21% | 10.5% | -10.5% | 9.6% | 0.9% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 11.7% | 13.3% | 1.6% | 13.4% | -0.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.4% | 8.6% | 3.2% | 5.3% | 3.3% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 8.9% | 21.5% | 12.6% | 16.9% | 4.6% |
| Degree or Similar | 23.3% | 25% | 1.7% | 33.8% | -8.8% |
| Other | 6.2% | 4.3% | -1.9% | 2.8% | 1.5% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 79.5% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.2% |
| Chinese | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 15.3% | 9.1% | -6.2% | 3.1% | 6.0% |
| Other Asian | 1% | 0.7% | -0.3% | 1.6% | -0.9% |
| Black African | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 2.5% | -1.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.9% | 2.3% | 0.4% | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Other Black | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1% | 1% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0.1% |
| Mixed Other | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| White | 78.6% | 79.5% | 0.9% | 81.4% | -1.9% |
| Other | 0% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 1.7% |
In this area, 78.6% 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% | 78.6% | -5.8% | 83.2% | -4.6% |
| European Union | 6.8% | 12.3% | 5.5% | 6.1% | 6.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Africa | 1% | 1.9% | 0.9% | 2.7% | -0.8% |
| Middle East and Asia | 6.2% | 3.6% | -2.6% | 5.6% | -2.0% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.6% | 2.3% | 0.7% | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Oceania | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 84.1% | 78.3% | -5.8% | 83.2% | -4.9% |
| 10+ Years | 0.6% | 13.9% | 13.3% | 9.8% | 4.1% |
| 5-10 Years | 1% | 3.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 4.5% | 2.9% | -1.6% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| Less than 2 years | 9.7% | 1% | -8.7% | 1.9% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 74.5% | 76.7% | -2.2% |
| Italy | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Portugal | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Lithuania | 1.6% | 0.3% | 1.3% |
| Poland | 5.6% | 1.3% | 4.3% |
| Romania | 2% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Southern Asia | 1% | 1.2% | -0.2% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| No passport held | 12.4% | 13.5% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27.9% | 37.2% | -9.3% |
| Christian | 58.4% | 46.2% | 12.2% |
| Muslim | 1.6% | 6.5% | -4.9% |
| Sikh | 5.5% | 0.9% | 4.6% |
| Not answered | 6.5% | 6.0% | 0.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Hillgrounds Road was 42.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 67.6% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Hillgrounds Road has the 13th lowest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 206th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 13.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -46.9%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Hillgrounds Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £245,000 | 2020-10-16 | £307,917 |
| 13 Hillgrounds Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £142,000 | 2011-05-31 | £282,132 |
| 13 Hillgrounds Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire Terraced, an established residential building | £136,000 | 2004-06-01 | £303,915 |
| 13 Hillgrounds Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire Terraced, an established residential building | £95,000 | 2002-03-28 | £314,781 |
| 15 Hillgrounds Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire Terraced, an established residential building | £82,500 | 2002-01-04 | £286,850 |
MK42 8QH area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 1% 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 | 116 |
| Retired | 51 |
| Part-Time Employee | 35 |
| Self-Employed | 23 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 6 |
| Looking after home or family | 5 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 5 |
| Other | 3 |
| Unemployed | 3 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 52 |
| Human health and social work activities | 21 |
| Manufacturing | 19 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 13 |
| Education | 13 |
| Construction | 12 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 10 |
| Transport and storage | 9 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 8 |
| Other | 6 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 5 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 2,063 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,722 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 | 213 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 908 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,035 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 1,222 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Rural Primary School Martell Drive , MK42 7FJ | 4out of 4 | 1,377 yd | Community 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 | 1,208 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,355 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,141 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,887 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,427 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 | 2,876 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 252 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 554 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,490 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,494 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,507 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 | 206 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 214 yd | |
| Diya Royal | The Griffin, 174 Bedford Road | 265 yd | |
| Caprinos Pizza | 44-46 Bunyan Road | 318 yd | |
| Carmichael's Coffee | 166 Bedford Road | 403 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 265 yd | |
| King William IV | King William Iv, 56 High Street | 578 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 600 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 653 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 809 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domino's Pizza | 232 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 214 yd | |
| The Pearl | 12 Bunyan Road | 217 yd | |
| The Café Grill | 14 Bunyan Road | 221 yd | |
| Naims Tandoori | 192 Bedford Road | 265 yd | |
| kempston Kebab | 180 Bedford Road | 265 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 214 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 444 yd | |
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 464 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 183 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 298 yd | |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 512 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 776 yd |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 818 yd |
| Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 918 yd |
| Kempston Hammers Sports And Social Club HIGH STREET | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 978 yd |
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 1,077 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 | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 232.3 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 18.9 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.