Hardwick Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9LF 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 Hardwick Road, Bedford, MK42 9LF and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9LJ, MK42 9NE, MK42 9NF, MK42 9LL, MK42 9JZ, MK42 9NW, MK42 9JW, MK42 9LR, MK42 9JH.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9LF is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.9%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 48.3% | 51.1% | 2.8% | 51.0% | 0.1% |
| Male | 51.7% | 48.9% | -2.8% | 49.0% | -0.1% |
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 | 43.1% | 41.6% | -1.5% | 37.9% | 3.7% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 40.9% | 40.7% | -0.2% | 44.2% | -3.5% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Separated | 3.1% | 2.7% | -0.4% | 2.2% | 0.5% |
| Divorced | 9.6% | 12.2% | 2.6% | 9.1% | 3.1% |
| Widowed | 2.4% | 2.7% | 0.3% | 6.1% | -3.4% |
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 (89.3%) 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 | 54% | 52.2% | -1.8% | 48.4% | 3.8% |
| Good health | 36.3% | 37.1% | 0.8% | 33.6% | 3.5% |
| Fair health | 7.3% | 7.9% | 0.6% | 12.7% | -4.8% |
| Bad health | 2% | 2.9% | 0.9% | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| Very bad health | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 1.2% | -1.2% |
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 | 13.4% | 20.7% | 7.3% | 18.2% | 2.5% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 12.5% | 10.4% | -2.1% | 9.6% | 0.8% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13.6% | 9% | -4.6% | 13.4% | -4.4% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.4% | 2.3% | 0.9% | 5.3% | -3.0% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 12.5% | 14% | 1.5% | 16.9% | -2.9% |
| Degree or Similar | 28.5% | 33.8% | 5.3% | 33.8% | 0.0% |
| Other | 18.1% | 9.9% | -8.2% | 2.8% | 7.1% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 52.9% 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 | 3.4% | 5.4% | 2.0% | 1.1% | 4.3% |
| Chinese | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0.0% |
| Indian | 18.6% | 12.9% | -5.7% | 3.1% | 9.8% |
| Pakistani | 1.4% | 5% | 3.6% | 2.7% | 2.3% |
| Other Asian | 1.8% | 2.5% | 0.7% | 1.6% | 0.9% |
| Black African | 4.3% | 9% | 4.7% | 2.5% | 6.5% |
| Black Caribbean | 2% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 1.0% | 3.3% |
| Other Black | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.5% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.9% | 1.1% | -1.8% | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Mixed Other | 1.1% | 1.4% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| White | 62.3% | 52.9% | -9.4% | 81.4% | -28.5% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Other | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.6% | -0.9% |
In this area, just 46.4% of residents were born in the United Kingdom, meaning that the majority of residents originate from outside the UK.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 56.7% | 46.4% | -10.3% | 83.2% | -36.8% |
| European Union | 19.9% | 24.5% | 4.6% | 6.1% | 18.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.8% | 3.6% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 2.8% |
| Africa | 6.3% | 6.8% | 0.5% | 2.7% | 4.1% |
| Middle East and Asia | 13.6% | 15.8% | 2.2% | 5.6% | 10.2% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.8% | 2.9% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.6% |
In this area majority of residents originate from outside the UK. Only 46.4% of residents were born in the United Kingdom. 24% of residents have lived in the UK for 10 years or more.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 56.4% | 46.2% | -10.2% | 83.2% | -37.0% |
| 10+ Years | 6.6% | 24% | 17.4% | 9.8% | 14.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 10% | 16.1% | 6.1% | 2.9% | 13.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 15% | 5% | -10.0% | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 12% | 8.6% | -3.4% | 1.9% | 6.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 56.1% | 76.7% | -20.6% |
| Germany | 1.4% | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| Italy | 2.9% | 0.6% | 2.3% |
| Portugal | 1.8% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Poland | 7.9% | 1.3% | 6.6% |
| Romania | 7.6% | 0.9% | 6.7% |
| Other EU countries | 7.2% | 1.5% | 5.7% |
| Other Europe | 1.1% | 0.2% | 0.9% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Southern Asia | 3.2% | 1.2% | 2.0% |
| No passport held | 8.6% | 13.5% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 24.4% | 37.2% | -12.8% |
| Christian | 43.7% | 46.2% | -2.5% |
| Buddhist | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Hindu | 2.9% | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| Muslim | 12.9% | 6.5% | 6.4% |
| Sikh | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Other religion | 8.2% | 0.6% | 7.6% |
| Not answered | 6.5% | 6.0% | 0.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Hardwick Road was 67.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 58.6% lower than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Hardwick Road has the 26th lowest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 223rd highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 27.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -12.9%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Hardwick Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £340,000 | 2022-12-20 | £358,570 |
| 12 Hardwick Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £305,000 | 2022-12-16 | £319,509 |
| 9 Hardwick Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £220,000 | 2019-07-04 | £283,585 |
| 6 Hardwick Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £210,000 | 2018-08-24 | £262,686 |
| 1 Hardwick Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £170,000 | 2017-12-08 | £220,749 |
MK42 9LF area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 20% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 13% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 104 |
| Self-Employed | 28 |
| Part-Time Employee | 27 |
| Looking after home or family | 15 |
| Retired | 14 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 13 |
| Other | 8 |
| Unemployed | 8 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 2 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 70 |
| Human health and social work activities | 42 |
| Transport and storage | 33 |
| Manufacturing | 33 |
| Education | 29 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 22 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 19 |
| Other | 17 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 16 |
| Construction | 13 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 10 |
| Information and communication | 7 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 313 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 565 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 386 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 585 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 1,226 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | 4out of 4 | 1,553 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 1,661 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 | 756 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,349 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,063 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,623 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,624 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 | 868 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 | 291 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 853 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,234 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 1,861 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 1,926 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Sweets & Snacks | 70 Elstow Road | 227 yd | |
| London Peri Peri Grill | 34c London Road | 350 yd | |
| Greek Bites | 2 Althorpe Street | 364 yd | |
| Joyes Boba Bedford Bubble Tea | 35A Elstow Road | 366 yd | |
| DVCC Recovery Bar | Millfield House, Miller Road | 380 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 277 yd | |
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 422 yd | |
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 937 yd | |
| Bedford Rowing Club | Bedford Rowing Club, Duckmill Lane | 949 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Fish Bar | 26 London Road | 350 yd | |
| Pizza Hut | 24 London Road | 350 yd | |
| Zest Pizza | 32 London Road | 350 yd | |
| Joyes Chicken | 33 Elstow Road | 430 yd | |
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 444 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 532 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 532 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 552 yd | |
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 694 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 715 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 478 yd |
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 702 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 818 yd | |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 865 yd |
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 958 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 990 yd |
| Harrowden Middle School (Closed) Oak Road | grass pitches | 1,017 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 | 214.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 24.3 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 49.41 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.