Victoria Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9BZ is located in the Cauldwell electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 2008-03-01.
StreetScan combines information about Victoria Road, Bedford, MK42 9BZ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9JE, MK42 9JP, MK42 9HP, MK42 9HL, MK42 9JR, MK42 9HS, MK42 9HR, MK42 9JU, MK42 9HG.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9BZ is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 49.5%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 48.2% | 50.5% | 2.3% | 51.0% | -0.5% |
| Male | 51.8% | 49.5% | -2.3% | 49.0% | 0.5% |
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 9BZ, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 46% 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 | 37.4% | 46% | 8.6% | 37.9% | 8.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 48.1% | 35.9% | -12.2% | 44.2% | -8.3% |
| Separated | 2.7% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 1.6% |
| Divorced | 6.4% | 7.9% | 1.5% | 9.1% | -1.2% |
| 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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 35.6% | 42.1% | 6.5% | 48.4% | -6.3% |
| Good health | 41.1% | 35.5% | -5.6% | 33.6% | 1.9% |
| Fair health | 14.5% | 15.3% | 0.8% | 12.7% | 2.6% |
| Bad health | 6.6% | 5.6% | -1.0% | 4.0% | 1.6% |
| Very bad health | 2.2% | 1.5% | -0.7% | 1.2% | 0.3% |
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 9BZ this area, 32.7% 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 | 29% | 32.7% | 3.7% | 18.2% | 14.5% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.5% | 14.3% | -1.2% | 9.6% | 4.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 10.8% | 10.5% | -0.3% | 13.4% | -2.9% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 5.3% | -0.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 8.8% | 8.9% | 0.1% | 16.9% | -8.0% |
| Degree or Similar | 15.8% | 24.8% | 9.0% | 33.8% | -9.0% |
| Other | 19.2% | 3.8% | -15.4% | 2.8% | 1.0% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 42.9% 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 | 2.7% | 2.5% | -0.2% | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| Indian | 31.8% | 27.8% | -4.0% | 3.1% | 24.7% |
| Pakistani | 4.9% | 1% | -3.9% | 2.7% | -1.7% |
| Other Asian | 4.1% | 1% | -3.1% | 1.6% | -0.6% |
| Black African | 4.9% | 3.3% | -1.6% | 2.5% | 0.8% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.5% | 3% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 2.0% |
| Other Black | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.6% | 1% | -0.6% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.5% | 0.3% | -0.2% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.9% | 3% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 2.1% |
| Mixed Other | 1.4% | 2% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| White | 42.2% | 42.9% | 0.7% | 81.4% | -38.5% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.3% | 2.5% | 2.2% | 0.1% | 2.4% |
| Roma | 0% | 3% | 3.0% | 0.2% | 2.8% |
| Other | 0.8% | 5.8% | 5.0% | 1.6% | 4.2% |
In this area, just 47.3% 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 | 45.8% | 47.3% | 1.5% | 83.2% | -35.9% |
| European Union | 19.7% | 26.5% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 20.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.4% | 1.5% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Africa | 5.2% | 3.6% | -1.6% | 2.7% | 0.9% |
| Middle East and Asia | 27.1% | 20.1% | -7.0% | 5.6% | 14.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.8% | 1% | 0.2% | 1.3% | -0.3% |
In this area majority of residents originate from outside the UK. Only 47.3% of residents were born in the United Kingdom. 20.7% 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 | 44.9% | 46.9% | 2.0% | 83.2% | -36.3% |
| 10+ Years | 13.2% | 20.7% | 7.5% | 9.8% | 10.9% |
| 5-10 Years | 10.4% | 15.1% | 4.7% | 2.9% | 12.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 8.2% | 8.2% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 6.0% |
| Less than 2 years | 23.3% | 9.2% | -14.1% | 1.9% | 7.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 45.5% | 76.7% | -31.2% |
| Italy | 1.5% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Portugal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Lithuania | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Poland | 5.6% | 1.3% | 4.3% |
| Romania | 15.3% | 0.9% | 14.4% |
| Other EU countries | 6.4% | 1.5% | 4.9% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Middle East | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Southern Asia | 9.5% | 1.2% | 8.3% |
| South-East Asia | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 11.5% | 13.5% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 20.6% | 37.2% | -16.6% |
| Christian | 45% | 46.2% | -1.2% |
| Hindu | 9% | 1.7% | 7.3% |
| Muslim | 5.4% | 6.5% | -1.1% |
| Sikh | 7.2% | 0.9% | 6.3% |
| Other religion | 9% | 0.6% | 8.4% |
| Not answered | 3.9% | 6.0% | -2.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Victoria Road was 222.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 43.9% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Victoria Road has the 12th highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 45th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 101.3 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -20.0%.

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 5 Tudor Court, 91 Victoria Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £166,000 | 2024-11-19 | £166,503 |
| Flat 5 Tudor Court, 91 Victoria Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £142,500 | 2019-03-25 | £159,170 |
| Flat 12 Tudor Court, 91 Victoria Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £136,500 | 2016-12-14 | £158,162 |
| Flat 4 Tudor Court, 91 Victoria Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £135,000 | 2016-08-10 | £161,318 |
| Flat 11 Tudor Court, 91 Victoria Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £100,000 | 2013-06-07 | £162,255 |
MK42 9BZ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% 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 | 125 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 35 |
| Retired | 32 |
| Part-Time Employee | 28 |
| Self-Employed | 22 |
| Looking after home or family | 22 |
| Other | 20 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 19 |
| Unemployed | 9 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 3 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 33 |
| Human health and social work activities | 30 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 26 |
| Manufacturing | 16 |
| Construction | 12 |
| Transport and storage | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 10 |
| Other | 9 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 6 |
| Education | 6 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 166 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 340 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 646 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 178 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 178 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Drake Lower School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 178 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Raleigh School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 355 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 735 yd | Academy converter | No | 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 | 878 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 1,599 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,647 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 1,772 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,301 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,392 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 1,461 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,522 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,522 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Bede's RC Middle School 112 Bromham Road , MK40 2QR | - not rated | 1,657 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 | 943 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh Education Centre Raleigh and Southway Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 340 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 355 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | - not rated | 829 yd | Foundation special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 3out of 4 | 829 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Teaching Service for Excluded Pupils 2nd Floor, Riverside Suite , County Hall MK42 9AP | - not rated | 844 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fat Pizza/The Fat Burger | 36 Ampthill Road | 150 yd | |
| Greek Bites | 2 Althorpe Street | 282 yd | |
| DVCC Recovery Bar | Millfield House, Miller Road | 487 yd | |
| Joyes Boba Bedford Bubble Tea | 35A Elstow Road | 543 yd | |
| Bedford Sweets & Snacks | 70 Elstow Road | 551 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 108 yd | |
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 423 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 765 yd | |
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 1,027 yd | |
| Bedford Rowing Club | Bedford Rowing Club, Duckmill Lane | 1,051 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jemz Caribbean Take Away | 76 Ampthill Road | 64 yd | |
| S&D Fish 'n' Chips | 34 Ampthill Road | 150 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 190 yd | |
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 293 yd | |
| Desi Grill | Unit 1, 124 Ampthill Road | 362 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 49 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 49 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 181 yd | |
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 296 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 768 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 589 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 876 yd | |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 889 yd |
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 934 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 1,065 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 | 41.7% |
| 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% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.