Gilbert Close is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 8RN is located in the Kempston North electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1982-03-01.
StreetScan combines information about Gilbert Close, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8RN and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 8QG, MK42 8RE, MK42 8PG, MK42 8RZ, MK42 8RY, MK42 8RG, MK42 8RF, MK42 8UG, MK42 8HQ.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 8RN is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 49.7%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 47.6% | 50.3% | 2.7% | 51.0% | -0.7% |
| Male | 52.4% | 49.7% | -2.7% | 49.0% | 0.7% |
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 | 33.2% | 41.7% | 8.5% | 37.9% | 3.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 50% | 45.6% | -4.4% | 44.2% | 1.4% |
| Separated | 2.9% | 0.4% | -2.5% | 2.2% | -1.8% |
| Divorced | 9.7% | 8.3% | -1.4% | 9.1% | -0.8% |
| Widowed | 4.2% | 4% | -0.2% | 6.1% | -2.1% |
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 | 44% | 37.8% | -6.2% | 48.4% | -10.6% |
| Good health | 42.3% | 40.9% | -1.4% | 33.6% | 7.3% |
| Fair health | 9.8% | 15.8% | 6.0% | 12.7% | 3.1% |
| Bad health | 3.3% | 4.1% | 0.8% | 4.0% | 0.1% |
| Very bad health | 0.7% | 1.4% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 0.2% |
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 | 15.1% | 17.1% | 2.0% | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 16.8% | 14.7% | -2.1% | 9.6% | 5.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 19.3% | 14.3% | -5.0% | 13.4% | 0.9% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.5% | 4.8% | 2.3% | 5.3% | -0.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.1% | 15.5% | 5.4% | 16.9% | -1.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 31.1% | 31% | -0.1% | 33.8% | -2.8% |
| Other | 5% | 2.8% | -2.2% | 2.8% | 0.0% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 64.2% 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 | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 0.7% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Indian | 18.2% | 14.7% | -3.5% | 3.1% | 11.6% |
| Other Asian | 2.3% | 2% | -0.3% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| Black African | 4.6% | 2% | -2.6% | 2.5% | -0.5% |
| Black Caribbean | 3.9% | 3.8% | -0.1% | 1.0% | 2.8% |
| Other Black | 1% | 0.3% | -0.7% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.3% | 4.1% | 2.8% | 0.9% | 3.2% |
| Mixed Other | 1% | 1.4% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| White | 65.5% | 64.2% | -1.3% | 81.4% | -17.2% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Other | 0.3% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 1.6% | 1.5% |
In this area, 72.4% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is lower than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 82.7% | 72.4% | -10.3% | 83.2% | -10.8% |
| European Union | 2% | 11.6% | 9.6% | 6.1% | 5.5% |
| Rest of Europe | 2.3% | 2% | -0.3% | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Africa | 3.9% | 3.8% | -0.1% | 2.7% | 1.1% |
| Middle East and Asia | 8.1% | 8.2% | 0.1% | 5.6% | 2.6% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.7% | 1.4% | 0.7% | 1.3% | 0.1% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 82.7% | 72.4% | -10.3% | 83.2% | -10.8% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 9.8% | 9.7% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.3% | 4.8% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.6% | 2% | -1.6% | 2.2% | -0.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 11.4% | 1.4% | -10.0% | 1.9% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 76.1% | 76.7% | -0.6% |
| Italy | 1% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Poland | 2.4% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Romania | 5.1% | 0.9% | 4.2% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Southern Asia | 2.7% | 1.2% | 1.5% |
| Central and South America | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 11.9% | 13.5% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 29.1% | 37.2% | -8.1% |
| Christian | 49.7% | 46.2% | 3.5% |
| Buddhist | 2.1% | 0.5% | 1.6% |
| Hindu | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.0% |
| Muslim | 2.1% | 6.5% | -4.4% |
| Sikh | 6.8% | 0.9% | 5.9% |
| Other religion | 5.5% | 0.6% | 4.9% |
| Not answered | 3.1% | 6.0% | -2.9% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Gilbert Close was 62.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 52.1% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Gilbert Close has the 23rd lowest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 245th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 36.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -74.2%.

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 Gilbert Close, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £420,000 | 2024-10-21 | £446,040 |
| 38 Gilbert Close, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £355,000 | 2024-03-01 | £375,296 |
| 8 Gilbert Close, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £407,000 | 2023-02-13 | £430,701 |
| 17 Gilbert Close, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £386,000 | 2022-07-15 | £418,564 |
| 6 Gilbert Close, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £370,000 | 2021-09-23 | £431,328 |
| Full-Time Employee | 99 |
| Retired | 49 |
| Part-Time Employee | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 16 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 14 |
| Looking after home or family | 13 |
| Other | 11 |
| Unemployed | 10 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 39 |
| Human health and social work activities | 33 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Education | 15 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 12 |
| Construction | 9 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 8 |
| Transport and storage | 8 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 7 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 4 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| 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 | 2,018 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,816 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Denham Primary School Greenkeepers Road , Great Denham MK40 4GG | 3out of 4 | 628 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Westfield Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HW | 2out of 4 | 1,061 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Joseph's and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HN | 3out of 4 | 1,115 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 1,154 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 1,217 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,147 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,032 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 2,234 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,601 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,727 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 | 2,542 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 | 850 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 1,232 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,351 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 2,358 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 2,380 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Eatery | Unit A, Roman Gate | 954 yd | |
| Cafe Mar-Chelles | 243 Bedford Road | 1,025 yd | |
| Carmichael's Coffee | 166 Bedford Road | 1,040 yd | |
| Diya Royal | The Griffin, 174 Bedford Road | 1,048 yd | |
| The Pantry | 88 Bedford Road | 1,065 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Kempston Rovers Football Club | Kempston Rovers Football Club, Hillgrounds Road | 101 yd | |
| Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club | 290 Hillgrounds Road | 908 yd | |
| Addison Howard Centre | Addison Howard Park, Bedford Road | 928 yd | |
| Sport for Bedford Ltd | The Pavilion, Chester Road | 1,029 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 1,048 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mo's Fish & Grill | Unit 4, Anglia Way | 872 yd | |
| KFC | 197-199 Bedford Road | 969 yd | |
| King Cod | 193 Bedford Road | 969 yd | |
| Subway | 209-211 Bedford Road | 969 yd | |
| Boba Aloha | 136 Bedford Road | 1,016 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's | Unit 1, Anglia Way | 902 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 969 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hillgrounds Playing Fields ODELL CLOSE | grass pitches | 291 yd |
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 691 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 739 yd |
| Allen Park OLD FORD END ROAD | grass pitches, tennis courts | 743 yd |
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 808 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 859 yd |
| Biddenham Tennis Club Biddenham Turn | tennis courts | 896 yd |
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 909 yd |
| Bedford Sports And Hockey Centre THE PAVILION THE PAVILION CHESTER ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 958 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 967 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 | 231.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 23.4 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.