Palgrave Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9BY is located in the Cauldwell electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 2007-08-01.
StreetScan combines information about Palgrave Road, Bedford, MK42 9BY and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9BX, MK42 9DN, MK42 9DA, MK42 9EX, MK42 9GQ, MK42 9ET, MK42 9HD, MK42 9DH, MK42 9BH.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 9BY has a slightly higher male population, with 51.7% 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 | 47.5% | 48.3% | 0.8% | 51.0% | -2.7% |
| Male | 52.5% | 51.7% | -0.8% | 49.0% | 2.7% |
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 9BY, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 52.3% 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 | 64.5% | 52.3% | -12.2% | 37.9% | 14.4% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 23.6% | 34.6% | 11.0% | 44.2% | -9.6% |
| Separated | 3.4% | 3.3% | -0.1% | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| Divorced | 7.4% | 9.9% | 2.5% | 9.1% | 0.8% |
| Widowed | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 6.1% | -6.1% |
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.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (90.3%) 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 | 49.8% | 59.1% | 9.3% | 48.4% | 10.7% |
| Good health | 41% | 31.2% | -9.8% | 33.6% | -2.4% |
| Fair health | 6.5% | 7.7% | 1.2% | 12.7% | -5.0% |
| Bad health | 2.3% | 1.7% | -0.6% | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| Very bad health | 0.5% | 0.3% | -0.2% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
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 9BY this area, 8.6% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%. This area stands out for its high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 54.1%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 5.4% | 8.6% | 3.2% | 18.2% | -9.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 11.3% | 8.2% | -3.1% | 9.6% | -1.4% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 8.4% | 7.4% | -1.0% | 13.4% | -6.0% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 2.9% | 0.9% | 5.3% | -2.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 12.3% | 14.8% | 2.5% | 16.9% | -2.1% |
| Degree or Similar | 53.2% | 54.1% | 0.9% | 33.8% | 20.3% |
| Other | 7.4% | 4.1% | -3.3% | 2.8% | 1.3% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 46.2% 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 | 1.4% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 1.1% | 2.6% |
| Chinese | 0.9% | 1% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Indian | 3.7% | 15.1% | 11.4% | 3.1% | 12.0% |
| Pakistani | 0.5% | 9% | 8.5% | 2.7% | 6.3% |
| Other Asian | 3.2% | 4.7% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 3.1% |
| Black African | 6% | 5.7% | -0.3% | 2.5% | 3.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.8% | 2.3% | -0.5% | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Other Black | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 1.8% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.4% | 1.3% | -0.1% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 4.6% | 4.3% | -0.3% | 0.9% | 3.4% |
| Mixed Other | 1.8% | 1% | -0.8% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| White | 69.1% | 46.2% | -22.9% | 81.4% | -35.2% |
| Arab | 1.4% | 1.3% | -0.1% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Other | 0.9% | 1% | 0.1% | 1.6% | -0.6% |
In this area, just 43.1% 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 | 66.8% | 43.1% | -23.7% | 83.2% | -40.1% |
| European Union | 13.4% | 19.5% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 13.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.4% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 2.9% |
| Africa | 6.5% | 7.4% | 0.9% | 2.7% | 4.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 6.5% | 23.9% | 17.4% | 5.6% | 18.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 3.7% | 2.4% | -1.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Oceania | 1.4% | 0% | -1.4% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| British Overseas | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
In this area majority of residents originate from outside the UK. Only 43.1% of residents were born in the United Kingdom. 15.8% 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 | 66.4% | 43% | -23.4% | 83.2% | -40.2% |
| 10+ Years | 4.6% | 15.8% | 11.2% | 9.8% | 6.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 6.5% | 10.1% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 7.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 9.7% | 16.1% | 6.4% | 2.2% | 13.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 12.9% | 15.1% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 13.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 44.7% | 76.7% | -32.0% |
| Ireland | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Italy | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Spain | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Lithuania | 2.7% | 0.3% | 2.4% |
| Poland | 8.7% | 1.3% | 7.4% |
| Romania | 2.7% | 0.9% | 1.8% |
| Other EU countries | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Other Europe | 2.3% | 0.2% | 2.1% |
| North Africa | 1.3% | 0.1% | 1.2% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Middle East | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Southern Asia | 18.7% | 1.2% | 17.5% |
| South-East Asia | 2.3% | 0.2% | 2.1% |
| No passport held | 8.3% | 13.5% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 22.1% | 37.2% | -15.1% |
| Christian | 51% | 46.2% | 4.8% |
| Buddhist | 2.7% | 0.5% | 2.2% |
| Hindu | 4% | 1.7% | 2.3% |
| Jewish | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 15.1% | 6.5% | 8.6% |
| Not answered | 4.7% | 6.0% | -1.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Palgrave Road was 0.0 per 1,000 residents, matching the Cauldwell average.
Violent and sexual offences accounted for a small share of all recorded crimes .

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 9 Britannia House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £137,000 | 2026-03-12 | £137,000 |
| Flat 14 Britannia House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £160,000 | 2024-12-18 | £160,161 |
| Flat 71 Britannia House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £143,500 | 2024-12-18 | £143,645 |
| Flat 72 Britannia House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £170,000 | 2024-02-07 | £171,729 |
| Flat 16 Britannia House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £206,000 | 2023-07-14 | £206,000 |
MK42 9BY 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.
| Full-Time Employee | 151 |
| Part-Time Employee | 20 |
| Looking after home or family | 17 |
| Other | 15 |
| Self-Employed | 15 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 6 |
| Retired | 5 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Unemployed | 4 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 4 |
| Human health and social work activities | 32 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 23 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 18 |
| Manufacturing | 16 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 13 |
| Education | 10 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 10 |
| Information and communication | 9 |
| Other | 8 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 4 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Construction | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 535 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 564 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,083 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 | 480 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 598 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 598 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Drake Lower School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 598 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | - not rated | 851 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 | 510 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,909 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 2,078 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,117 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 2,256 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 | 1,038 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,637 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 1,785 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,875 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,875 yd | Community 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 | 484 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 | 312 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 480 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Raleigh Education Centre Raleigh and Southway Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 535 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | - not rated | 898 yd | Foundation special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 3out of 4 | 898 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | 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 | 313 yd | |
| The Salvation Army | The Salvation Army, Commercial Road | 397 yd | |
| Peri Peri Original | 67 Commercial Road | 397 yd | |
| Woolpack Hub | The Woolpack Hub, 1 Commercial Road | 402 yd | |
| Prebend Day Centre | 12-14 Prebend Street | 456 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilgrims Progress | 42 Midland Road | 609 yd | |
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 637 yd | |
| Bedford Rowing Club | Bedford Rowing Club, Duckmill Lane | 668 yd | |
| The Studio Club | 32 Alexandra Road | 674 yd | |
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 675 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Fitness Camps | 416 yd | ||
| Italian Express Pizza | 33 Commercial Road | 470 yd | |
| S&D Fish 'n' Chips | 34 Ampthill Road | 535 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 70 Midland Road | 580 yd | |
| Cai ba | 80 Midland Road | 580 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 465 yd | |
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 574 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 574 yd | |
| M-C-N Store Limited | 131 Midland Road | 575 yd | |
| Bedford Fruit and Vegetable Ltd | 109 Midland Road | 600 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 452 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 512 yd | |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 562 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 647 yd |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 885 yd |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 912 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 943 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 991 yd | |
| Hmp Bedford ST. LOYES STREET | artificial grass pitch | 1,044 yd |
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 1,051 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 | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| 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 | 63.5 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 57.8 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 80 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 80 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.2 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.