Dorsey Drive is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9FL is located in the Cauldwell electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1999-06-01.
StreetScan combines information about Dorsey Drive, Bedford, MK42 9FL and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9FJ, MK42 9FP, MK42 9FN, MK42 9LG, MK42 9NZ, MK42 9FQ, MK42 9PL, MK42 9JD, MK42 9PS.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 9FL, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.3% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 51.8% | 52.3% | 0.5% | 51.0% | 1.3% |
| Male | 48.2% | 47.7% | -0.5% | 49.0% | -1.3% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 40.2% | 41% | 0.8% | 37.9% | 3.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 43.4% | 41.4% | -2.0% | 44.2% | -2.8% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Separated | 2.3% | 3.4% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 1.2% |
| Divorced | 8.2% | 9.4% | 1.2% | 9.1% | 0.3% |
| Widowed | 5.1% | 4.5% | -0.6% | 6.1% | -1.6% |
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 | 51.2% | 42.8% | -8.4% | 48.4% | -5.6% |
| Good health | 35.6% | 40% | 4.4% | 33.6% | 6.4% |
| Fair health | 9.7% | 14.1% | 4.4% | 12.7% | 1.4% |
| Bad health | 3.5% | 3.1% | -0.4% | 4.0% | -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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 17.6% | 19.5% | 1.9% | 18.2% | 1.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 17.6% | 11.2% | -6.4% | 9.6% | 1.6% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 12.9% | 16.1% | 3.2% | 13.4% | 2.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.5% | 4.1% | 0.6% | 5.3% | -1.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.5% | 13.5% | 3.0% | 16.9% | -3.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 24.6% | 33.7% | 9.1% | 33.8% | -0.1% |
| Other | 13.3% | 1.9% | -11.4% | 2.8% | -0.9% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 69.4% 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 | 2.4% | 0% | -2.4% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| Indian | 10.6% | 10.2% | -0.4% | 3.1% | 7.1% |
| Pakistani | 0.6% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 0.7% |
| Other Asian | 2.4% | 1.2% | -1.2% | 1.6% | -0.4% |
| Black African | 3.2% | 6.5% | 3.3% | 2.5% | 4.0% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.6% | 1.2% | -1.4% | 1.0% | 0.2% |
| Other Black | 0.9% | 1.5% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.2% | 0.9% | -0.3% | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| White | 75.3% | 69.4% | -5.9% | 81.4% | -12.0% |
| Roma | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| Other | 0% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.3% |
In this area, 59.9% 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 | 78.2% | 59.9% | -18.3% | 83.2% | -23.3% |
| European Union | 13.5% | 26.1% | 12.6% | 6.1% | 20.0% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 2.5% | 2.2% | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| Africa | 2.4% | 5% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 2.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 5% | 6.5% | 1.5% | 5.6% | 0.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 76.5% | 59.8% | -16.7% | 83.2% | -23.4% |
| 10+ Years | 1.2% | 22.3% | 21.1% | 9.8% | 12.5% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.5% | 9.3% | 5.8% | 2.9% | 6.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 6.8% | 4.3% | -2.5% | 2.2% | 2.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 12.1% | 4.3% | -7.8% | 1.9% | 2.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 56.5% | 76.7% | -20.2% |
| Ireland | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Germany | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Italy | 7.8% | 0.6% | 7.2% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Lithuania | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Poland | 12.4% | 1.3% | 11.1% |
| Romania | 4% | 0.9% | 3.1% |
| Other EU countries | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Other Europe | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.9% | 0.3% | 1.6% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1.6% | 0.2% | 1.4% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Southern Asia | 2.5% | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| No passport held | 7.1% | 13.5% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 24.5% | 37.2% | -12.7% |
| Christian | 55.7% | 46.2% | 9.5% |
| Buddhist | 1.2% | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Hindu | 2.8% | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Muslim | 5.9% | 6.5% | -0.6% |
| Sikh | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Other religion | 2.2% | 0.6% | 1.6% |
| Not answered | 6.5% | 6.0% | 0.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Dorsey Drive was 39.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 75.8% lower than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Dorsey Drive has the 12th lowest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 189th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 13.2 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -22.5%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £270,000 | 2025-05-23 | £285,390 |
| 26 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £108,000 | 2025-02-14 | £110,836 |
| 33 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £200,000 | 2023-06-01 | £215,935 |
| 40 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £265,000 | 2022-06-10 | £291,169 |
| 24 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £260,000 | 2022-03-22 | £289,589 |
MK42 9FL 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 | 123 |
| Part-Time Employee | 37 |
| Retired | 33 |
| Self-Employed | 28 |
| Looking after home or family | 17 |
| Other | 7 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 6 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 6 |
| Unemployed | 6 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 27 |
| Manufacturing | 26 |
| Human health and social work activities | 18 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 16 |
| Transport and storage | 15 |
| Education | 14 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 14 |
| Construction | 14 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 10 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 6 |
| Other | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 4 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 471 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 579 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 | 453 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 663 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,230 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 1,339 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 1,482 yd | Community 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 | 3out of 4 | 1,200 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,424 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 1,533 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,578 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 3,138 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 | 1,283 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 | 657 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 992 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,375 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,691 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 2,207 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DVCC Recovery Bar | Millfield House, Miller Road | 176 yd | |
| Joyes Boba Bedford Bubble Tea | 35A Elstow Road | 233 yd | |
| Bedford Sweets & Snacks | 70 Elstow Road | 364 yd | |
| The Fat Pizza/The Fat Burger | 36 Ampthill Road | 542 yd | |
| Red Lion (Sizzling Pub Co) | The Red Lion, High Street | 555 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 255 yd | |
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 397 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 990 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 169 yd | |
| Joyes Chicken | 33 Elstow Road | 188 yd | |
| Desi Grill | Unit 1, 124 Ampthill Road | 250 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 297 yd | |
| Jemz Caribbean Take Away | 76 Ampthill Road | 391 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 298 yd | |
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 333 yd | |
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 502 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 502 yd | |
| Tesco | 13 Beauvais Square | 961 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 176 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 1,009 yd |
| Abbey Middle School (Closed) Mowbray Road | grass pitches, swimming pool | 1,035 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 | 137 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 15.5 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.