Dorsey Drive is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9FP is located in the Cauldwell electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1999-12-01.
StreetScan combines information about Dorsey Drive, Bedford, MK42 9FP and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9FQ, MK42 9LG, MK42 9FL, MK42 9FJ, MK42 9JD, MK42 9FU, MK42 9FR, MK42 9FT, MK42 9FN.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9FP is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 49.9%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 47.8% | 50.1% | 2.3% | 51.0% | -0.9% |
| Male | 52.2% | 49.9% | -2.3% | 49.0% | 0.9% |
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 | 40.6% | 37.2% | -3.4% | 37.9% | -0.7% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 42.5% | 45.8% | 3.3% | 44.2% | 1.6% |
| Separated | 2.7% | 4.5% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| Divorced | 7.7% | 6.6% | -1.1% | 9.1% | -2.5% |
| Widowed | 6.5% | 5.9% | -0.6% | 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.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (87.3%) 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 | 41.3% | 46.2% | 4.9% | 48.4% | -2.2% |
| Good health | 38.1% | 41.1% | 3.0% | 33.6% | 7.5% |
| Fair health | 14.7% | 9.6% | -5.1% | 12.7% | -3.1% |
| Bad health | 4.7% | 2% | -2.7% | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| Very bad health | 1.2% | 1% | -0.2% | 1.2% | -0.2% |
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 | 23.4% | 22.3% | -1.1% | 18.2% | 4.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 12.6% | 12.9% | 0.3% | 9.6% | 3.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.2% | 12.5% | -1.7% | 13.4% | -0.9% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.9% | 5.9% | 4.0% | 5.3% | 0.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.7% | 12.5% | 1.8% | 16.9% | -4.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 22.6% | 29.3% | 6.7% | 33.8% | -4.5% |
| Other | 14.6% | 4.5% | -10.1% | 2.8% | 1.7% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 53.6% 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 | 2.3% | 3.1% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 2.0% |
| Chinese | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 24.6% | 22.4% | -2.2% | 3.1% | 19.3% |
| Pakistani | 3.8% | 4.3% | 0.5% | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.6% | -0.8% |
| Black African | 3.8% | 5.4% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.8% | 1.5% | -0.3% | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Other Black | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.3% | 1.3% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.1% | 2.3% | 0.2% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Mixed Other | 0.9% | 1.3% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| White | 54.8% | 53.6% | -1.2% | 81.4% | -27.8% |
| Roma | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| Other | 3.8% | 2% | -1.8% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
In this area, 57.1% 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 | 66.9% | 57.1% | -9.8% | 83.2% | -26.1% |
| European Union | 12.6% | 22.4% | 9.8% | 6.1% | 16.3% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.8% | 0.5% | -1.3% | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| Africa | 4.4% | 2.3% | -2.1% | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| Middle East and Asia | 13.8% | 17.7% | 3.9% | 5.6% | 12.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| British Overseas | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 66% | 56.6% | -9.4% | 83.2% | -26.6% |
| 10+ Years | 5.9% | 18.4% | 12.5% | 9.8% | 8.6% |
| 5-10 Years | 6.2% | 11% | 4.8% | 2.9% | 8.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 8.8% | 6.6% | -2.2% | 2.2% | 4.4% |
| Less than 2 years | 13.2% | 7.4% | -5.8% | 1.9% | 5.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 56.4% | 76.7% | -20.3% |
| Italy | 1.5% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Portugal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Lithuania | 2% | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| Poland | 7.1% | 1.3% | 5.8% |
| Romania | 10.5% | 0.9% | 9.6% |
| Other EU countries | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Other Europe | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Southern Asia | 9.2% | 1.2% | 8.0% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 8.9% | 13.5% | -4.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 19.1% | 37.2% | -18.1% |
| Christian | 53.1% | 46.2% | 6.9% |
| Hindu | 6.1% | 1.7% | 4.4% |
| Muslim | 8.4% | 6.5% | 1.9% |
| Sikh | 4.3% | 0.9% | 3.4% |
| Other religion | 2.3% | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| Not answered | 6.6% | 6.0% | 0.6% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Dorsey Drive was 738.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 350.9% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Shoplifting.
Dorsey Drive has the highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 10th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 85.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 15.6%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £270,000 | 2025-05-23 | £285,390 |
| 116 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £268,000 | 2025-04-02 | £276,907 |
| 64 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £255,000 | 2024-01-19 | £274,755 |
| 72 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £275,000 | 2022-06-21 | £304,219 |
| 70 Dorsey Drive, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £270,000 | 2022-01-06 | £307,661 |
| Full-Time Employee | 128 |
| Part-Time Employee | 28 |
| Self-Employed | 28 |
| Retired | 25 |
| Looking after home or family | 22 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 20 |
| Unemployed | 15 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Other | 6 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 6 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 31 |
| Human health and social work activities | 24 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 17 |
| Education | 16 |
| Transport and storage | 14 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 14 |
| Construction | 10 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 9 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 8 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 7 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Other | 2 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| 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 | 409 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 540 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 | 396 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 628 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,291 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 1,413 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 1,468 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 | 1,112 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,439 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 1,609 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,538 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 3,053 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 | 1,195 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 | 569 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 976 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,292 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,716 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 2,128 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 | 142 yd | |
| Joyes Boba Bedford Bubble Tea | 35A Elstow Road | 207 yd | |
| Bedford Sweets & Snacks | 70 Elstow Road | 311 yd | |
| The Fat Pizza/The Fat Burger | 36 Ampthill Road | 462 yd | |
| Greek Bites | 2 Althorpe Street | 512 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 184 yd | |
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 319 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 986 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 94 yd | |
| Joyes Chicken | 33 Elstow Road | 186 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 255 yd | |
| Desi Grill | Unit 1, 124 Ampthill Road | 263 yd | |
| Jemz Caribbean Take Away | 76 Ampthill Road | 324 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 251 yd | |
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 325 yd | |
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 432 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 432 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 1,025 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 263 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 930 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 | 171.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 19 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 18.3 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.