Palgrave Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9EX 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 Palgrave Road, Bedford, MK42 9EX and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9GQ, MK42 9DH, MK42 9BY, MK42 9DA, MK42 9BH, MK42 9BX, MK42 9DN, MK42 9ET, MK42 9AG.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9EX 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 | 52.8% | 50.5% | -2.3% | 51.0% | -0.5% |
| Male | 47.2% | 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 9EX, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 47.3% 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 | 59.9% | 47.3% | -12.6% | 37.9% | 9.4% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 26.4% | 40.2% | 13.8% | 44.2% | -4.0% |
| Separated | 4.1% | 1.8% | -2.3% | 2.2% | -0.4% |
| Divorced | 9.1% | 10% | 0.9% | 9.1% | 0.9% |
| Widowed | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 6.1% | -5.4% |
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 (88.6%) 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 | 45.9% | 55.8% | 9.9% | 48.4% | 7.4% |
| Good health | 42% | 32.8% | -9.2% | 33.6% | -0.8% |
| Fair health | 6.8% | 7.7% | 0.9% | 12.7% | -5.0% |
| Bad health | 3.9% | 2.6% | -1.3% | 4.0% | -1.4% |
| Very bad health | 1.3% | 1.1% | -0.2% | 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.
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 46.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 12.4% | 13.7% | 1.3% | 18.2% | -4.5% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.3% | 9.4% | -5.9% | 9.6% | -0.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.5% | 12.6% | -1.9% | 13.4% | -0.8% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.1% | 2.9% | 0.8% | 5.3% | -2.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.3% | 14% | 3.7% | 16.9% | -2.9% |
| Degree or Similar | 34.7% | 46.4% | 11.7% | 33.8% | 12.6% |
| Other | 10.7% | 1.1% | -9.6% | 2.8% | -1.7% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 51.8% 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 | 6.5% | 3.7% | -2.8% | 1.1% | 2.6% |
| Chinese | 1% | 0.3% | -0.7% | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| Indian | 7.2% | 13.7% | 6.5% | 3.1% | 10.6% |
| Pakistani | 1.6% | 3.9% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 1.2% |
| Other Asian | 2% | 8.2% | 6.2% | 1.6% | 6.6% |
| Black African | 1.6% | 5.3% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.8% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.3% | 1.3% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Other Black | 0.3% | 1.3% | 1.0% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 3.9% | 1.8% | -2.1% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Mixed White and African | 2% | 0.3% | -1.7% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 3.6% | 2.9% | -0.7% | 0.9% | 2.0% |
| Mixed Other | 2% | 1.3% | -0.7% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| White | 67.4% | 51.8% | -15.6% | 81.4% | -29.6% |
| Roma | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.2% | 1.6% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.3% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 0.0% |
In this area, 50.4% 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 | 68.7% | 50.4% | -18.3% | 83.2% | -32.8% |
| European Union | 17.9% | 21.8% | 3.9% | 6.1% | 15.7% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.7% | 2.4% | 1.7% | 0.8% | 1.6% |
| Africa | 3.9% | 4.8% | 0.9% | 2.7% | 2.1% |
| Middle East and Asia | 7.8% | 19.6% | 11.8% | 5.6% | 14.0% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1% | 1.1% | 0.1% | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 68.4% | 50.3% | -18.1% | 83.2% | -32.9% |
| 10+ Years | 2.6% | 20.1% | 17.5% | 9.8% | 10.3% |
| 5-10 Years | 11.4% | 9% | -2.4% | 2.9% | 6.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 10.1% | 12.2% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 10.0% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.5% | 8.5% | 1.0% | 1.9% | 6.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 46.4% | 76.7% | -30.3% |
| Ireland | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Germany | 1.1% | 0.2% | 0.9% |
| Italy | 2.1% | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| Portugal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Spain | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Lithuania | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% |
| Poland | 9.2% | 1.3% | 7.9% |
| Romania | 2.6% | 0.9% | 1.7% |
| Other EU countries | 3.4% | 1.5% | 1.9% |
| Other Europe | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| North Africa | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.7% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.8% | 0.3% | 1.5% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Southern Asia | 12.9% | 1.2% | 11.7% |
| South-East Asia | 1.8% | 0.2% | 1.6% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| No passport held | 11.1% | 13.5% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27.5% | 37.2% | -9.7% |
| Christian | 46.3% | 46.2% | 0.1% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Hindu | 4.8% | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Jewish | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Muslim | 11.1% | 6.5% | 4.6% |
| Sikh | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Not answered | 8.5% | 6.0% | 2.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Palgrave Road was 57.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 65.1% lower than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Palgrave Road has the 21st lowest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 264th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 25.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -34.6%.

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 19 Wheelwright House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £156,000 | 2025-08-11 | £156,462 |
| Flat 73 Wheelwright House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £220,000 | 2025-05-07 | £230,433 |
| Flat 2 Wheelwright House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £175,000 | 2025-03-12 | £178,693 |
| Flat 61 Wheelwright House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £180,000 | 2023-08-01 | £183,799 |
| Flat 74 Wheelwright House Palgrave Road, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £229,000 | 2023-03-03 | £231,276 |
| Full-Time Employee | 153 |
| Part-Time Employee | 28 |
| Self-Employed | 23 |
| Looking after home or family | 17 |
| Other | 16 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 11 |
| Unemployed | 11 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 10 |
| Retired | 8 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 7 |
| Human health and social work activities | 31 |
| Education | 19 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 19 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 13 |
| Information and communication | 12 |
| Other | 11 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 10 |
| Transport and storage | 8 |
| Construction | 8 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 6 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 1 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Real estate 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 | 562 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,207 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 | 589 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | 4out of 4 | 861 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 1,206 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 1,282 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Joseph's and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HN | 3out of 4 | 1,284 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 | 696 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,742 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,170 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,244 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,556 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 | 655 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 619 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 743 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,101 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 1,205 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 1,587 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | 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 | 413 yd | |
| The Salvation Army | The Salvation Army, Commercial Road | 474 yd | |
| Peri Peri Original | 67 Commercial Road | 474 yd | |
| Woolpack Hub | The Woolpack Hub, 1 Commercial Road | 479 yd | |
| The Fat Pizza/The Fat Burger | 36 Ampthill Road | 506 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 637 yd | |
| Pilgrims Progress | 42 Midland Road | 688 yd | |
| The Studio Club | 32 Alexandra Road | 733 yd | |
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 735 yd | |
| Greyfriars Snooker Centre | Greyfriars Snooker Centre, Greyfriars | 762 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Fitness Camps | 321 yd | ||
| S&D Fish 'n' Chips | 34 Ampthill Road | 506 yd | |
| Italian Express Pizza | 33 Commercial Road | 555 yd | |
| Jemz Caribbean Take Away | 76 Ampthill Road | 636 yd | |
| Tasty Chicken | 13 Ford End Road | 642 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 524 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 524 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 549 yd | |
| M-C-N Store Limited | 131 Midland Road | 626 yd | |
| Bedford Fruit and Vegetable Ltd | 109 Midland Road | 668 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 552 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 605 yd | |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 629 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 746 yd |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 982 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 998 yd |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 999 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 1,091 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 | 75.3 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 62.2 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 160 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 160 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.2 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 30 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.