Holme Street is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9AW is located in the Cauldwell electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 2001-06-01.
StreetScan combines information about Holme Street, Bedford, MK42 9AW and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9AU, MK42 9AT, MK42 9DB, MK42 9DN, MK42 9AX, MK42 9HD, MK42 9ET, MK42 9DA, MK42 9BY.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 9AW has a slightly higher male population, with 50.4% 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% | 49.6% | -1.4% | 51.0% | -1.4% |
| Male | 49% | 50.4% | 1.4% | 49.0% | 1.4% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around MK42 9AW, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 48.8% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 38.5% | 48.8% | 10.3% | 37.9% | 10.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 43.5% | 40.1% | -3.4% | 44.2% | -4.1% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Separated | 3.9% | 3% | -0.9% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Divorced | 8.8% | 5.5% | -3.3% | 9.1% | -3.6% |
| Widowed | 4.6% | 2.5% | -2.1% | 6.1% | -3.6% |
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 | 45.9% | 50.8% | 4.9% | 48.4% | 2.4% |
| Good health | 38% | 33.3% | -4.7% | 33.6% | -0.3% |
| Fair health | 12.4% | 12.5% | 0.1% | 12.7% | -0.2% |
| Bad health | 2.3% | 2.5% | 0.2% | 4.0% | -1.5% |
| Very bad health | 1.4% | 1% | -0.4% | 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.
In the area around MK42 9AW this area, 32.6% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 18.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 26.1% | 32.6% | 6.5% | 18.2% | 14.4% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 9.9% | 13% | 3.1% | 9.6% | 3.4% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 10.6% | 9.7% | -0.9% | 13.4% | -3.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.8% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 5.3% | 0.0% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 13.4% | 10.4% | -3.0% | 16.9% | -6.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 25.1% | 25.9% | 0.8% | 33.8% | -7.9% |
| Other | 13.1% | 3% | -10.1% | 2.8% | 0.2% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 56% 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 | 5.1% | 5.2% | 0.1% | 1.1% | 4.1% |
| Chinese | 0.8% | 0.6% | -0.2% | 0.7% | -0.1% |
| Indian | 31.3% | 15.9% | -15.4% | 3.1% | 12.8% |
| Pakistani | 3.4% | 1.9% | -1.5% | 2.7% | -0.8% |
| Other Asian | 3.4% | 4.6% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 3.0% |
| Black African | 4.5% | 4.4% | -0.1% | 2.5% | 1.9% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.4% | 0.8% | -0.6% | 1.0% | -0.2% |
| Other Black | 1.1% | 0.6% | -0.5% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.6% | 1.5% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.7% | 0.4% | -1.3% | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| Mixed Other | 0.6% | 0.4% | -0.2% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 45.6% | 56% | 10.4% | 81.4% | -25.4% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| Roma | 0% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 0.2% | 3.2% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.6% | -0.4% |
| Other | 0.6% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.6% | 1.7% |
In this area, just 36.6% of residents were born in the United Kingdom, meaning that the majority of residents originate from outside the UK.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 53% | 36.6% | -16.4% | 83.2% | -46.6% |
| European Union | 16.6% | 37.8% | 21.2% | 6.1% | 31.7% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.1% | 2.7% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 1.9% |
| Africa | 5.1% | 4.4% | -0.7% | 2.7% | 1.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 23.4% | 17.2% | -6.2% | 5.6% | 11.6% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.8% | 1.3% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 0.0% |
In this area majority of residents originate from outside the UK. Only 36.6% of residents were born in the United Kingdom. 21.6% of residents have lived in the UK for 10 years or more.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 51.8% | 36.6% | -15.2% | 83.2% | -46.6% |
| 10+ Years | 7.3% | 21.6% | 14.3% | 9.8% | 11.8% |
| 5-10 Years | 8.2% | 13.9% | 5.7% | 2.9% | 11.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 14.4% | 11.5% | -2.9% | 2.2% | 9.3% |
| Less than 2 years | 18.3% | 16.4% | -1.9% | 1.9% | 14.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 35.2% | 76.7% | -41.5% |
| France | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Germany | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Italy | 3.6% | 0.6% | 3.0% |
| Portugal | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Spain | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Lithuania | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Poland | 4.8% | 1.3% | 3.5% |
| Romania | 23% | 0.9% | 22.1% |
| Other EU countries | 4% | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Other Europe | 1.5% | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| North Africa | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Southern Asia | 9.4% | 1.2% | 8.2% |
| South-East Asia | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Central and South America | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| No passport held | 13.2% | 13.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 16.8% | 37.2% | -20.4% |
| Christian | 53.5% | 46.2% | 7.3% |
| Buddhist | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Hindu | 4% | 1.7% | 2.3% |
| Muslim | 8.6% | 6.5% | 2.1% |
| Sikh | 5.4% | 0.9% | 4.5% |
| Other religion | 6.9% | 0.6% | 6.3% |
| Not answered | 4% | 6.0% | -2.0% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Holme Street was 549.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 255.1% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Holme Street has the 4th highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 15th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 329.8 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -52.8%.

Households in this area have a similar level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 57% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat 6 Pilcroft House Holme Street, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £150,174 | 2025-01-16 | £152,166 |
| Flat 6 Pilcroft House Holme Street, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £130,000 | 2018-08-09 | £140,468 |
MK42 9AW area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 22% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 12% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 165 |
| Self-Employed | 53 |
| Looking after home or family | 43 |
| Part-Time Employee | 41 |
| Retired | 30 |
| Other | 28 |
| Unemployed | 25 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 25 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 14 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 10 |
| Human health and social work activities | 38 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 22 |
| Transport and storage | 20 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 12 |
| Manufacturing | 11 |
| Construction | 11 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 11 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 10 |
| Education | 8 |
| Other | 6 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 470 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 704 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 987 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 417 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 742 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 742 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Drake Lower School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 742 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | - not rated | 867 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 241 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 1,958 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,992 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,134 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,196 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Bede's RC Middle School 112 Bromham Road , MK40 2QR | - not rated | 1,091 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,432 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,701 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,701 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 1,981 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 252 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Service for Excluded Pupils 2nd Floor, Riverside Suite , County Hall MK42 9AP | - not rated | 162 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 417 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Raleigh Education Centre Raleigh and Southway Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 470 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 638 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Bedford High School Bromham Road , MK40 2BS | - not rated | 963 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell's Table | Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street | 165 yd | |
| Tana Thai | 20-22 Cauldwell Street | 211 yd | |
| Kids World | 9 Kingsway | 292 yd | |
| Cocos | Unit 5b, Riverside Square | 367 yd | |
| Wagamama | Unit 3c, Merchant Gate, Riverside Square | 391 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 380 yd | |
| Bedford Rowing Club | Bedford Rowing Club, Duckmill Lane | 409 yd | |
| Pilgrims Progress | 42 Midland Road | 579 yd | |
| Astons | 32 High Street | 616 yd | |
| The Rose | The Rose, 45 High Street | 620 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee's Kitchen | Lee's Kitchen, Duckmill Lane | 409 yd | |
| Italian Express Pizza | 33 Commercial Road | 435 yd | |
| Emporium cafe | 18 The Boulevards | 508 yd | |
| Greggs | 19 Harpur Centre | 555 yd | |
| S&D Fish 'n' Chips | 34 Ampthill Road | 567 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 195 yd | |
| Liana International Market | 59 Midland Road | 606 yd | |
| Bedford Fruit and Vegetable Ltd | 109 Midland Road | 617 yd | |
| M-C-N Store Limited | 131 Midland Road | 649 yd | |
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 652 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 236 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 242 yd | |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 400 yd |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 586 yd |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 640 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 716 yd |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 718 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 772 yd | |
| Hmp Bedford ST. LOYES STREET | artificial grass pitch | 952 yd |
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 986 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% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.