Prentice Gardens is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 8TJ is located in the Kempston North electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1986-07-01.
StreetScan combines information about Prentice Gardens, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8TJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 8TH, MK42 8UA, MK42 8TU, MK42 8TT, MK42 8TR, MK42 8AW, MK42 8TN, MK42 8DG, MK42 8TW.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 8TJ is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.3%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 52.6% | 51.7% | -0.9% | 51.0% | 0.7% |
| Male | 47.4% | 48.3% | 0.9% | 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 | 22.1% | 31.4% | 9.3% | 37.9% | -6.5% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 56.9% | 46% | -10.9% | 44.2% | 1.8% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Separated | 3.3% | 2.3% | -1.0% | 2.2% | 0.1% |
| Divorced | 7% | 9.9% | 2.9% | 9.1% | 0.8% |
| Widowed | 10% | 9.9% | -0.1% | 6.1% | 3.8% |
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 (89.1%) 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 | 35.2% | 46.5% | 11.3% | 48.4% | -1.9% |
| Good health | 39.3% | 42.6% | 3.3% | 33.6% | 9.0% |
| Fair health | 19.8% | 8.4% | -11.4% | 12.7% | -4.3% |
| Bad health | 5.4% | 2% | -3.4% | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| Very bad health | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 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 | 25.8% | 23.1% | -2.7% | 18.2% | 4.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 16.7% | 12.1% | -4.6% | 9.6% | 2.5% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14% | 11.8% | -2.2% | 13.4% | -1.6% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.7% | 4.8% | -1.9% | 5.3% | -0.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 7.4% | 11.8% | 4.4% | 16.9% | -5.1% |
| Degree or Similar | 19.7% | 30.1% | 10.4% | 33.8% | -3.7% |
| Other | 9.7% | 6.2% | -3.5% | 2.8% | 3.4% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 56.7% 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 | 4.9% | 3.6% | -1.3% | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.7% | -0.5% |
| Indian | 25.5% | 21.7% | -3.8% | 3.1% | 18.6% |
| Pakistani | 1.4% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 2.7% | -0.2% |
| Other Asian | 0.5% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -0.7% |
| Black African | 0.5% | 2.5% | 2.0% | 2.5% | 0.0% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.6% | 0.7% | -0.9% | 1.0% | -0.3% |
| Other Black | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.8% | 0.4% | -0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.5% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.7% | 1.1% | -1.6% | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| White | 60.4% | 56.7% | -3.7% | 81.4% | -24.7% |
| Arab | 0.5% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.6% |
| Other | 0% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 1.6% | 3.3% |
In this area, 67.8% 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 | 77.5% | 67.8% | -9.7% | 83.2% | -15.4% |
| European Union | 3.5% | 11% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 4.9% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.5% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Africa | 1.9% | 2.5% | 0.6% | 2.7% | -0.2% |
| Middle East and Asia | 15.7% | 15.8% | 0.1% | 5.6% | 10.2% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 0.1% |
| 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 | 77.5% | 68.1% | -9.4% | 83.2% | -15.1% |
| 10+ Years | 0.5% | 19% | 18.5% | 9.8% | 9.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 2.9% | 4.8% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.5% | 2.9% | -0.6% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| Less than 2 years | 17.1% | 2.3% | -14.8% | 1.9% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 69.6% | 76.7% | -7.1% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Germany | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Italy | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Portugal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Spain | 1.8% | 0.4% | 1.4% |
| Lithuania | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Poland | 2% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Romania | 2.3% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Other EU countries | 1.6% | 1.5% | 0.1% |
| North Africa | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Southern Asia | 3.9% | 1.2% | 2.7% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Central and South America | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| No passport held | 13.4% | 13.5% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 22.5% | 37.2% | -14.7% |
| Christian | 36.5% | 46.2% | -9.7% |
| Buddhist | 2.5% | 0.5% | 2.0% |
| Hindu | 5% | 1.7% | 3.3% |
| Muslim | 9.7% | 6.5% | 3.2% |
| Sikh | 14.2% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Other religion | 3.6% | 0.6% | 3.0% |
| Not answered | 6.1% | 6.0% | 0.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Prentice Gardens was 129.0 per 1,000 residents, which is 2.0% higher than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Prentice Gardens has the 13th highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 104th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 68.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -50.2%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Prentice Gardens, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £395,000 | 2022-01-14 | £433,280 |
| 6 Prentice Gardens, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £387,500 | 2020-08-24 | £476,852 |
| 18 Prentice Gardens, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £335,000 | 2018-03-29 | £409,798 |
| 19 Prentice Gardens, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £324,000 | 2016-12-02 | £415,075 |
| 16 Prentice Gardens, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £279,995 | 2015-12-14 | £407,914 |
| Full-Time Employee | 133 |
| Retired | 86 |
| Part-Time Employee | 40 |
| Self-Employed | 31 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 17 |
| Unemployed | 14 |
| Looking after home or family | 11 |
| Other | 9 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 8 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 29 |
| Human health and social work activities | 26 |
| Education | 21 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Construction | 14 |
| Transport and storage | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 9 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 8 |
| Other | 6 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 6 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Real estate 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 | 1,157 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,594 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,928 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 | 931 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 943 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | - not rated | 965 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,135 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 1,135 yd | Community school | 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 | 1,405 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,519 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 1,890 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 2,373 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | - not rated | 2,373 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 1,069 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 1,069 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 1,405 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 1,682 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Bede's RC Middle School 112 Bromham Road , MK40 2QR | - not rated | 1,889 yd | Voluntary aided school | 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 | 1,866 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 | 475 yd | Foundation special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 475 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | - not rated | 505 yd | Foundation special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 3out of 4 | 505 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Rivertree Free School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QP | - not rated | 1,062 yd | Free schools special | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pantry | 88 Bedford Road | 487 yd | |
| Tiger Lily Chinese Takeaway | 112 Bedford Road | 487 yd | |
| Blue Ginger | 116 Bedford Road | 487 yd | |
| The Elephant Restaurant | 118-120 Bedford Road | 498 yd | |
| The Hen Pen | 2a Cleveland Street | 666 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addison Howard Centre | Addison Howard Park, Bedford Road | 147 yd | |
| Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club | 290 Hillgrounds Road | 177 yd | |
| Daleys Club | 86 Bedford Road | 411 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 551 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 610 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Oriental Fusion | 76 Bedford Road | 411 yd | |
| Paul's Fish and Chips | 114 Bedford Road | 487 yd | |
| Subway | 209-211 Bedford Road | 609 yd | |
| KFC | 197-199 Bedford Road | 609 yd | |
| King Cod | 193 Bedford Road | 609 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 609 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 998 yd | |
| Tesco | 8-12 Ford End Road | 1,026 yd | |
| POD ORLEM POLSKI SKLEP | 55 Ford End Road | 1,090 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 138 yd |
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 178 yd |
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 229 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 254 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 478 yd |
| Hillgrounds Playing Fields ODELL CLOSE | grass pitches | 645 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 741 yd | |
| Allen Park OLD FORD END ROAD | grass pitches, tennis courts | 950 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 1,063 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 | 226.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 11.9 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 20.2 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.