College Road is in Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 9PL 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 College Road, Bedford, MK42 9PL and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9PH, MK42 9PR, MK42 9PP, MK42 9PJ, MK42 9PT, MK42 9PS, MK42 9JD, MK42 9FL, MK42 9JA.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9PL 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 College Road was 738.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 350.9% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Shoplifting.
College Road 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 College Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £210,000 | 2025-03-31 | £217,618 |
| 17 College Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £211,000 | 2025-03-28 | £218,654 |
| 57 College Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £174,500 | 2024-06-18 | £189,565 |
| 3 College Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £187,000 | 2023-04-27 | £199,857 |
| 3 College Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £145,460 | 2023-02-24 | £154,991 |
| 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 | 357 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 709 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 | 330 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 797 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,140 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 1,459 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 1,634 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 | 1,184 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 1,483 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,586 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,423 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 3,150 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 | 1,253 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 | 650 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 830 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,405 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,546 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 2,116 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 | 310 yd | |
| Joyes Boba Bedford Bubble Tea | 35A Elstow Road | 374 yd | |
| The Fat Pizza/The Fat Burger | 36 Ampthill Road | 472 yd | |
| Bedford Sweets & Snacks | 70 Elstow Road | 478 yd | |
| Greek Bites | 2 Althorpe Street | 562 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 330 yd | |
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 344 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 828 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desi Grill | Unit 1, 124 Ampthill Road | 94 yd | |
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 155 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 166 yd | |
| Jemz Caribbean Take Away | 76 Ampthill Road | 293 yd | |
| Joyes Chicken | 33 Elstow Road | 342 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 171 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 173 yd | |
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 401 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 401 yd | |
| Tesco | 13 Beauvais Square | 1,073 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 241 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 1,060 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 | 177.1 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 19.1 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.