Bridge Road is in Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 9LJ 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 Bridge Road, Bedford, MK42 9LJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9LF, MK42 9LL, MK42 9NF, MK42 9NE, MK42 9NW, MK42 9LR, MK42 9JL, MK42 9LP, MK42 9NJ.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9LJ 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 Bridge 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.
Bridge 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Bridge Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £201,000 | 2024-04-08 | £218,487 |
| 15 Bridge Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £260,000 | 2023-05-16 | £278,066 |
| 19 Bridge Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £218,750 | 2022-11-01 | £226,241 |
| 5 Bridge Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2022-09-20 | £261,117 |
| 15 Bridge Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £194,000 | 2021-07-15 | £236,271 |
MK42 9LJ 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 | 269 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 605 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 | 340 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 623 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 1,181 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | 4out of 4 | 1,592 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 1,633 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 | 784 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,304 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,072 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,632 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,669 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 | 899 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 | 334 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 860 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,273 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 1,882 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 1,964 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 | 210 yd | |
| London Peri Peri Grill | 34c London Road | 339 yd | |
| Joyes Boba Bedford Bubble Tea | 35A Elstow Road | 357 yd | |
| DVCC Recovery Bar | Millfield House, Miller Road | 380 yd | |
| Greek Bites | 2 Althorpe Street | 410 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 284 yd | |
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 461 yd | |
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 966 yd | |
| Bedford Rowing Club | Bedford Rowing Club, Duckmill Lane | 977 yd | |
| The Bull | The Bull, 259 London Road | 1,078 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Fish Bar | 26 London Road | 339 yd | |
| Pizza Hut | 24 London Road | 339 yd | |
| Zest Pizza | 32 London Road | 339 yd | |
| Joyes Chicken | 33 Elstow Road | 423 yd | |
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 465 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 574 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 574 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 582 yd | |
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 721 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 750 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 | 706 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 851 yd | |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 878 yd |
| Harrowden Middle School (Closed) Oak Road | grass pitches | 972 yd |
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 994 yd |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 1,020 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 | 90 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 177.4 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 22 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.