Kingsway is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9DB is located in the Cauldwell electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 2009-05-01.
StreetScan combines information about Kingsway, Bedford, MK42 9DB and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9AU, MK42 9AT, MK42 9AX, MK42 9AW, MK42 0FT, MK42 0FW, MK42 9EZ, MK42 0AH, MK42 0DH.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 9DB has a slightly higher male population, with 51.9% 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% | 48.1% | 1.1% | 51.0% | -2.9% |
| Male | 53% | 51.9% | -1.1% | 49.0% | 2.9% |
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 9DB, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 61.7% 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 | 48.8% | 61.7% | 12.9% | 37.9% | 23.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 36.3% | 25.2% | -11.1% | 44.2% | -19.0% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Separated | 2.7% | 2.9% | 0.2% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| Divorced | 8.4% | 8.6% | 0.2% | 9.1% | -0.5% |
| Widowed | 3.3% | 1% | -2.3% | 6.1% | -5.1% |
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 (85.4%) 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 | 48.1% | 50.1% | 2.0% | 48.4% | 1.7% |
| Good health | 36% | 35.3% | -0.7% | 33.6% | 1.7% |
| Fair health | 11.7% | 11.2% | -0.5% | 12.7% | -1.5% |
| Bad health | 3.1% | 2.7% | -0.4% | 4.0% | -1.3% |
| Very bad health | 1.1% | 0.5% | -0.6% | 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 | 22.2% | 15.1% | -7.1% | 18.2% | -3.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 13.8% | 9.6% | -4.2% | 9.6% | 0.0% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13% | 12.2% | -0.8% | 13.4% | -1.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.1% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 5.3% | -0.8% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 13% | 13.5% | 0.5% | 16.9% | -3.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 23% | 41.2% | 18.2% | 33.8% | 7.4% |
| Other | 13.8% | 3.9% | -9.9% | 2.8% | 1.1% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 57.9% 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 | 3.8% | 1.9% | -1.9% | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Chinese | 2% | 1.1% | -0.9% | 0.7% | 0.4% |
| Indian | 22.9% | 8.4% | -14.5% | 3.1% | 5.3% |
| Pakistani | 5.2% | 0.8% | -4.4% | 2.7% | -1.9% |
| Other Asian | 0.4% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 1.6% | 2.0% |
| Black African | 1.6% | 6.4% | 4.8% | 2.5% | 3.9% |
| Black Caribbean | 4.9% | 6.4% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 5.4% |
| Other Black | 0.7% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.3% | 1.7% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.7% | 0.6% | -0.1% | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.7% | 1.4% | -1.3% | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Mixed Other | 1.1% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| White | 52.4% | 57.9% | 5.5% | 81.4% | -23.5% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Roma | 0% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 0.2% | 2.9% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.2% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 0.3% |
In this area, 53% 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 | 60.4% | 53% | -7.4% | 83.2% | -30.2% |
| European Union | 15.5% | 23.4% | 7.9% | 6.1% | 17.3% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.2% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 5.5% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Middle East and Asia | 19.1% | 12.4% | -6.7% | 5.6% | 6.8% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.5% | 3.8% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 2.5% |
| Oceania | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 59.6% | 52.7% | -6.9% | 83.2% | -30.5% |
| 10+ Years | 8.5% | 21.3% | 12.8% | 9.8% | 11.5% |
| 5-10 Years | 5.2% | 8.5% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 5.6% |
| 2-5 Years | 7.6% | 8.7% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 6.5% |
| Less than 2 years | 19.1% | 8.7% | -10.4% | 1.9% | 6.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 45% | 76.7% | -31.7% |
| Ireland | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| France | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Italy | 3.3% | 0.6% | 2.7% |
| Portugal | 1.7% | 0.5% | 1.2% |
| Spain | 1.4% | 0.4% | 1.0% |
| Lithuania | 1.7% | 0.3% | 1.4% |
| Poland | 7.2% | 1.3% | 5.9% |
| Romania | 6.4% | 0.9% | 5.5% |
| Other EU countries | 0.8% | 1.5% | -0.7% |
| Other Europe | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| North Africa | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1.1% | 0.2% | 0.9% |
| Middle East | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Southern Asia | 6.4% | 1.2% | 5.2% |
| South-East Asia | 1.9% | 0.2% | 1.7% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Central and South America | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 17.7% | 13.5% | 4.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 32.3% | 37.2% | -4.9% |
| Christian | 47.2% | 46.2% | 1.0% |
| Buddhist | 3% | 0.5% | 2.5% |
| Hindu | 3.6% | 1.7% | 1.9% |
| Muslim | 6.1% | 6.5% | -0.4% |
| Not answered | 7.7% | 6.0% | 1.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Kingsway was 539.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 248.6% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Kingsway has the 5th highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 16th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 217.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -32.1%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne House Kingsway, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £5,105,000 | 2017-07-14 | £5,582,891 |
| Melbourne House Kingsway, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £3,700,000 | 2016-12-21 | £4,287,165 |
| Full-Time Employee | 163 |
| Other | 28 |
| Part-Time Employee | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 25 |
| Unemployed | 19 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 17 |
| Looking after home or family | 13 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 8 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 7 |
| Retired | 4 |
| Human health and social work activities | 44 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 34 |
| Manufacturing | 29 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 26 |
| Transport and storage | 24 |
| Education | 14 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 11 |
| Other | 10 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 5 |
| Construction | 5 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 412 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 734 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 887 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 | 367 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 772 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 772 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Drake Lower School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 772 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 933 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 | 181 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 1,841 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,873 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,159 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | - not rated | 2,159 yd | Foundation school | 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 | 1,207 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,293 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,568 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,568 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 1,963 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 | 267 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 | 272 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 367 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Raleigh Education Centre Raleigh and Southway Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 412 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 522 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Bedford High School Bromham Road , MK40 2BS | - not rated | 1,034 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids World | 9 Kingsway | 150 yd | |
| Tana Thai | 20-22 Cauldwell Street | 174 yd | |
| Mitchell's Table | Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street | 275 yd | |
| Starbucks Coffee Company | 66 St Johns Street | 353 yd | |
| Cocos | Unit 5b, Riverside Square | 443 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 330 yd | |
| Bedford Rowing Club | Bedford Rowing Club, Duckmill Lane | 356 yd | |
| The Rose | The Rose, 45 High Street | 605 yd | |
| Astons | 32 High Street | 628 yd | |
| Slug & Lettuce Bedford | 53-55 High Street | 672 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee's Kitchen | Lee's Kitchen, Duckmill Lane | 356 yd | |
| Italian Express Pizza | 33 Commercial Road | 544 yd | |
| S&D Fish 'n' Chips | 34 Ampthill Road | 552 yd | |
| Emporium cafe | 18 The Boulevards | 576 yd | |
| Subway | Pod A, London Road | 578 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 79 yd | |
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 653 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 653 yd | |
| Tesco | 63 High Street | 672 yd | |
| Liana International Market | 59 Midland Road | 687 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 179 yd | |
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 275 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 369 yd |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 524 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 575 yd |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 704 yd |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 745 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 751 yd | |
| Hmp Bedford ST. LOYES STREET | artificial grass pitch | 1,014 yd |
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 1,061 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.