Althorpe Street is in Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 9HF 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 Althorpe Street, Bedford, MK42 9HF and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9HQ, MK42 9HE, MK42 9HJ, MK42 9QB, MK42 9HG, MK42 9GY, MK42 9HU, MK42 9HR, MK42 9JT.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 9HF, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.5% 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 | 55.6% | 52.5% | -3.1% | 51.0% | 1.5% |
| Male | 44.4% | 47.5% | 3.1% | 49.0% | -1.5% |
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 9HF, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 43% 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 | 40.1% | 43% | 2.9% | 37.9% | 5.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 39.6% | 40.1% | 0.5% | 44.2% | -4.1% |
| Separated | 5.8% | 5.5% | -0.3% | 2.2% | 3.3% |
| Divorced | 10.1% | 5.5% | -4.6% | 9.1% | -3.6% |
| Widowed | 4.3% | 5.9% | 1.6% | 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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 48.8% | 47.4% | -1.4% | 48.4% | -1.0% |
| Good health | 36.5% | 34.3% | -2.2% | 33.6% | 0.7% |
| Fair health | 9.9% | 12.5% | 2.6% | 12.7% | -0.2% |
| Bad health | 4.1% | 4% | -0.1% | 4.0% | 0.0% |
| Very bad health | 0.7% | 1.8% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 0.6% |
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 | 24.2% | 24.1% | -0.1% | 18.2% | 5.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 20.8% | 13.1% | -7.7% | 9.6% | 3.5% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 11.6% | 13.5% | 1.9% | 13.4% | 0.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 0.5% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 5.3% | -0.7% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 9.7% | 13.5% | 3.8% | 16.9% | -3.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 18.8% | 27.4% | 8.6% | 33.8% | -6.4% |
| Other | 14.5% | 3.8% | -10.7% | 2.8% | 1.0% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 38.4% 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 | 12.6% | 18% | 5.4% | 1.1% | 16.9% |
| Indian | 21.8% | 15.8% | -6.0% | 3.1% | 12.7% |
| Pakistani | 2% | 0% | -2.0% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 2% | 5.3% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 3.7% |
| Black African | 2.4% | 4.3% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 1.8% |
| Black Caribbean | 4.4% | 1.2% | -3.2% | 1.0% | 0.2% |
| Other Black | 1.7% | 1.2% | -0.5% | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 3.1% | 0.9% | -2.2% | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Mixed White and African | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.4% | 3.7% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 2.8% |
| Mixed Other | 2.7% | 0.6% | -2.1% | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| White | 43.7% | 38.4% | -5.3% | 81.4% | -43.0% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 0.1% | 1.8% |
| Arab | 0% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.6% | 1.6% |
| Other | 0% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1.6% | 4.9% |
In this area, 54.9% 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 | 62.8% | 54.9% | -7.9% | 83.2% | -28.3% |
| European Union | 12.6% | 18.5% | 5.9% | 6.1% | 12.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 3.4% | 3.7% | 0.3% | 2.7% | 1.0% |
| Middle East and Asia | 19.8% | 22.5% | 2.7% | 5.6% | 16.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.4% | 0% | -1.4% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 62.8% | 54.9% | -7.9% | 83.2% | -28.3% |
| 10+ Years | 5.5% | 20.4% | 14.9% | 9.8% | 10.6% |
| 5-10 Years | 6.5% | 11.4% | 4.9% | 2.9% | 8.5% |
| 2-5 Years | 11.9% | 5.2% | -6.7% | 2.2% | 3.0% |
| Less than 2 years | 13.3% | 8% | -5.3% | 1.9% | 6.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 54% | 76.7% | -22.7% |
| France | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Italy | 1.5% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Lithuania | 1.9% | 0.3% | 1.6% |
| Poland | 4.6% | 1.3% | 3.3% |
| Romania | 10.5% | 0.9% | 9.6% |
| Other EU countries | 0.9% | 1.5% | -0.6% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.9% | 0.3% | 1.6% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 11.4% | 1.2% | 10.2% |
| No passport held | 12% | 13.5% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 19.4% | 37.2% | -17.8% |
| Christian | 42% | 46.2% | -4.2% |
| Buddhist | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Hindu | 5.9% | 1.7% | 4.2% |
| Muslim | 19.8% | 6.5% | 13.3% |
| Sikh | 5.2% | 0.9% | 4.3% |
| Other religion | 3.7% | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Not answered | 3.4% | 6.0% | -2.6% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Althorpe Street was 188.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 15.3% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Althorpe Street has the 13th highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 53rd highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 111.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -8.5%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Althorpe Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £181,000 | 2025-03-10 | £187,566 |
| 44 Althorpe Street, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £170,000 | 2024-06-26 | £186,508 |
| 21 Althorpe Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £175,000 | 2024-04-19 | £189,524 |
| 43 Althorpe Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £182,000 | 2023-03-31 | £192,567 |
| 2 Althorpe Street, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £412,000 | 2022-10-28 | £426,110 |
| Full-Time Employee | 83 |
| Part-Time Employee | 32 |
| Looking after home or family | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 19 |
| Retired | 16 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 16 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 13 |
| Unemployed | 11 |
| Other | 10 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 8 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 34 |
| Human health and social work activities | 27 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 13 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Education | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Construction | 4 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 3 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Other | 2 |
| 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 | 313 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 674 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 |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 752 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | 4out of 4 | 1,263 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 1,589 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,629 yd | Community school | 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 | 624 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,711 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,021 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,257 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,599 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 | 690 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 | 139 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 894 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 936 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 1,633 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 1,736 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greek Bites | 2 Althorpe Street | 3 yd | |
| The Fat Pizza/The Fat Burger | 36 Ampthill Road | 137 yd | |
| Kids World | 9 Kingsway | 441 yd | |
| Starbucks Coffee Company | 66 St Johns Street | 496 yd | |
| Bedford Sweets & Snacks | 70 Elstow Road | 506 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 238 yd | |
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 436 yd | |
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 776 yd | |
| Bedford Rowing Club | Bedford Rowing Club, Duckmill Lane | 798 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 1,014 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&D Fish 'n' Chips | 34 Ampthill Road | 137 yd | |
| Jemz Caribbean Take Away | 76 Ampthill Road | 304 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 435 yd | |
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 438 yd | |
| Bedford Fitness Camps | 528 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 255 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 255 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 422 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 518 yd | |
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 563 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 622 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 630 yd | |
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 720 yd |
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 768 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 820 yd |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 849 yd |
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 1,059 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 | 144.8 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 17.8 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.