Kempston Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9DP is located in the Cauldwell electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Kempston Road, Bedford, MK42 9DP and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9AE, MK42 9DL, MK42 9DS, MK42 9JS, MK42 9AY, MK42 9DR, MK42 9AF, MK42 9AG, MK42 9AL.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9DP 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 | 49.9% | 50.5% | 0.6% | 51.0% | -0.5% |
| Male | 50.1% | 49.5% | -0.6% | 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 9DP, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 46.5% 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 | 42.9% | 46.5% | 3.6% | 37.9% | 8.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 41.5% | 33.7% | -7.8% | 44.2% | -10.5% |
| Separated | 4.5% | 3% | -1.5% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Divorced | 8% | 11.8% | 3.8% | 9.1% | 2.7% |
| Widowed | 3.1% | 5.1% | 2.0% | 6.1% | -1.0% |
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 | 40.4% | 46.5% | 6.1% | 48.4% | -1.9% |
| Good health | 43.6% | 34.8% | -8.8% | 33.6% | 1.2% |
| Fair health | 10.3% | 12.9% | 2.6% | 12.7% | 0.2% |
| Bad health | 3.8% | 4.5% | 0.7% | 4.0% | 0.5% |
| Very bad health | 1.9% | 1.3% | -0.6% | 1.2% | 0.1% |
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 9DP this area, 28.1% 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 | 16.4% | 28.1% | 11.7% | 18.2% | 9.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 18.1% | 14% | -4.1% | 9.6% | 4.4% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 15.7% | 11.7% | -4.0% | 13.4% | -1.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 4.3% | 3.3% | 5.3% | -1.0% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.8% | 9.4% | -1.4% | 16.9% | -7.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 21.3% | 29.1% | 7.8% | 33.8% | -4.7% |
| Other | 16.7% | 3.3% | -13.4% | 2.8% | 0.5% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 55.2% 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 | 7.9% | 8.9% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 7.8% |
| Chinese | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| Indian | 19.2% | 13.4% | -5.8% | 3.1% | 10.3% |
| Pakistani | 1.1% | 1% | -0.1% | 2.7% | -1.7% |
| Other Asian | 7.6% | 1% | -6.6% | 1.6% | -0.6% |
| Black African | 1.9% | 6.8% | 4.9% | 2.5% | 4.3% |
| Black Caribbean | 3.8% | 1.5% | -2.3% | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Other Black | 0.8% | 1.3% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.4% | 1.8% | -0.6% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| Mixed Other | 1.1% | 1% | -0.1% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| White | 50.4% | 55.2% | 4.8% | 81.4% | -26.2% |
| Roma | 0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.2% | 2.1% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 2.7% | 4.6% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 3.0% |
In this area, 51.4% 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 | 59.6% | 51.4% | -8.2% | 83.2% | -31.8% |
| European Union | 11.9% | 28.8% | 16.9% | 6.1% | 22.7% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Africa | 2.4% | 4.3% | 1.9% | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 22.5% | 12.7% | -9.8% | 5.6% | 7.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.4% | 1.8% | -0.6% | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| British Overseas | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 58.5% | 51.1% | -7.4% | 83.2% | -32.1% |
| 10+ Years | 5.7% | 23.5% | 17.8% | 9.8% | 13.7% |
| 5-10 Years | 10.8% | 6.6% | -4.2% | 2.9% | 3.7% |
| 2-5 Years | 7.3% | 9.6% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 7.4% |
| Less than 2 years | 17.6% | 9.1% | -8.5% | 1.9% | 7.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 47.7% | 76.7% | -29.0% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Italy | 3.3% | 0.6% | 2.7% |
| Portugal | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Spain | 0.8% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Lithuania | 1.5% | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Poland | 8% | 1.3% | 6.7% |
| Romania | 8.8% | 0.9% | 7.9% |
| Other EU countries | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.3% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.5% | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Southern Asia | 7.3% | 1.2% | 6.1% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Central and South America | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 16.3% | 13.5% | 2.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 23% | 37.2% | -14.2% |
| Christian | 49% | 46.2% | 2.8% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Hindu | 1.8% | 1.7% | 0.1% |
| Muslim | 14.4% | 6.5% | 7.9% |
| Sikh | 5.3% | 0.9% | 4.4% |
| Other religion | 2% | 0.6% | 1.4% |
| Not answered | 4.3% | 6.0% | -1.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Kempston Road was 263.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 60.9% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Kempston Road has the 10th highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 35th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 142.2 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 9.7%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Kempston Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £350,000 | 2024-05-01 | £377,118 |
| Flat 1 22 Kempston Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £130,000 | 2022-03-14 | £136,821 |
| Flat 3 22 Kempston Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £150,000 | 2021-03-19 | £166,975 |
| 18 Kempston Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £335,000 | 2019-04-18 | £416,951 |
| Flat 4 22 Kempston Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £132,950 | 2018-09-11 | £147,835 |
MK42 9DP 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 | 112 |
| Part-Time Employee | 34 |
| Looking after home or family | 28 |
| Other | 27 |
| Retired | 25 |
| Self-Employed | 25 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 21 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 13 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Human health and social work activities | 43 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 33 |
| Transport and storage | 23 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 16 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 12 |
| Education | 11 |
| Other | 7 |
| Construction | 5 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation 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 | 338 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,124 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 | 348 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | 4out of 4 | 1,180 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 1,210 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 1,296 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Joseph's and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HN | 3out of 4 | 1,350 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 | 3out of 4 | 923 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,809 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 1,843 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,139 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,854 yd | Foundation 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 | 919 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 475 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 631 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,293 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,418 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 1,511 yd | Other independent school | Yes | 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 | 394 yd | |
| Greek Bites | 2 Althorpe Street | 501 yd | |
| Mitchell's Table | Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street | 721 yd | |
| Kids World | 9 Kingsway | 784 yd | |
| The Salvation Army | The Salvation Army, Commercial Road | 798 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 466 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 585 yd | |
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 788 yd | |
| Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club | 290 Hillgrounds Road | 900 yd | |
| Addison Howard Centre | Addison Howard Park, Bedford Road | 966 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Fitness Camps | 32 yd | ||
| S&D Fish 'n' Chips | 34 Ampthill Road | 394 yd | |
| Jemz Caribbean Take Away | 76 Ampthill Road | 426 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 504 yd | |
| Desi Grill | Unit 1, 124 Ampthill Road | 631 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 335 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 335 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 502 yd | |
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 532 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 777 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 848 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 861 yd | |
| Kempston Indoor Bowls Club HILLGROUNDS ROAD | indoor bowls | 900 yd |
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 903 yd |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 946 yd |
| Kempston Pool HILLGROUNDS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 986 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 1,027 yd |
| Kempston Rovers Fc HILLGROUNDS ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 1,080 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 | 128.5 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.4 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 30.01 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.