Belfry Close is in Elstow, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9RQ is located in the Cauldwell electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Mid Bedfordshire. This postcode has been in use since 1994-05-01.
StreetScan combines information about Belfry Close, Elstow, Bedford, MK42 9RQ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9RR, MK42 9ZA, MK42 9YX, MK42 9AJ, MK42 9EB, MK42 9QJ, MK42 9PZ, MK42 9QA, MK42 9XP.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9RQ is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.3%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 50.9% | 51.7% | 0.8% | 51.0% | 0.7% |
| Male | 49.1% | 48.3% | -0.8% | 49.0% | -0.7% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of MK42 9RQ there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 63% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 25.8% | 26% | 0.2% | 37.9% | -11.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 59.1% | 63% | 3.9% | 44.2% | 18.8% |
| Separated | 1.6% | 3.1% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 0.9% |
| Divorced | 10.3% | 4.5% | -5.8% | 9.1% | -4.6% |
| Widowed | 3.2% | 3.5% | 0.3% | 6.1% | -2.6% |
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 (88.2%) 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 | 51.2% | 52% | 0.8% | 48.4% | 3.6% |
| Good health | 37.6% | 36.2% | -1.4% | 33.6% | 2.6% |
| Fair health | 9.6% | 8.3% | -1.3% | 12.7% | -4.4% |
| Bad health | 1.6% | 2.6% | 1.0% | 4.0% | -1.4% |
| Very bad health | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.2% | -0.3% |
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 | 14.7% | 15% | 0.3% | 18.2% | -3.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 13.5% | 12.3% | -1.2% | 9.6% | 2.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13.1% | 17.4% | 4.3% | 13.4% | 4.0% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 4.1% | -1.9% | 5.3% | -1.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 15.1% | 20.1% | 5.0% | 16.9% | 3.2% |
| Degree or Similar | 31% | 30.7% | -0.3% | 33.8% | -3.1% |
| Other | 6.7% | 0.3% | -6.4% | 2.8% | -2.5% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 60.7% 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 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 0.1% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Chinese | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 18.6% | 21.4% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 18.3% |
| Pakistani | 1.9% | 1.4% | -0.5% | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| Other Asian | 1.6% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Black African | 1.9% | 0.6% | -1.3% | 2.5% | -1.9% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.2% | 3.2% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 2.5% | 2.6% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 1.8% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.2% | 0% | -2.2% | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| Mixed Other | 0.9% | 0.3% | -0.6% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| White | 66.1% | 60.7% | -5.4% | 81.4% | -20.7% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Other | 0% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1.6% | 2.7% |
In this area, 78% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is similar to the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 84.5% | 78% | -6.5% | 83.2% | -5.2% |
| European Union | 3.7% | 6.3% | 2.6% | 6.1% | 0.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 2.8% | 1.7% | -1.1% | 2.7% | -1.0% |
| Middle East and Asia | 8.1% | 12% | 3.9% | 5.6% | 6.4% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.9% | 1.7% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 84.2% | 78.4% | -5.8% | 83.2% | -4.8% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 17.8% | 17.5% | 9.8% | 8.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.9% | 2.3% | 1.4% | 2.9% | -0.6% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.1% | 0% | -3.1% | 2.2% | -2.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 11.5% | 1.4% | -10.1% | 1.9% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 85.9% | 76.7% | 9.2% |
| Ireland | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| France | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Italy | 3.2% | 0.6% | 2.6% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Spain | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Lithuania | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Poland | 0.3% | 1.3% | -1.0% |
| Romania | 0.6% | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| Other EU countries | 1.4% | 1.5% | -0.1% |
| Other Europe | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 2% | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| No passport held | 4% | 13.5% | -9.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27% | 37.2% | -10.2% |
| Christian | 42.2% | 46.2% | -4.0% |
| Buddhist | 1.5% | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| Hindu | 4.1% | 1.7% | 2.4% |
| Muslim | 3.5% | 6.5% | -3.0% |
| Sikh | 11% | 0.9% | 10.1% |
| Other religion | 3.5% | 0.6% | 2.9% |
| Not answered | 7.3% | 6.0% | 1.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Belfry Close was 17.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 88.6% lower than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Belfry Close has the 3rd lowest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 57th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 6.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 10.3%.

Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 80% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Belfry Close, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £325,000 | 2024-06-12 | £348,698 |
| 2 Belfry Close, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £246,000 | 2017-05-12 | £323,587 |
| 12 Belfry Close, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £238,000 | 2016-06-03 | £336,659 |
| 28 Belfry Close, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £205,000 | 2016-04-14 | £299,659 |
| 22 Belfry Close, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2016-04-04 | £365,438 |
MK42 9RQ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 117 |
| Retired | 62 |
| Part-Time Employee | 44 |
| Self-Employed | 21 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 12 |
| Looking after home or family | 12 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 26 |
| Manufacturing | 21 |
| Construction | 20 |
| Human health and social work activities | 19 |
| Transport and storage | 15 |
| Education | 14 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 10 |
| Other | 10 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 10 |
| Information and communication | 9 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 5 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| 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 | 943 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 952 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,145 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 | 913 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 913 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Drake Lower School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 913 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbey Fields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 934 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | - not rated | 934 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 1,133 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 1,368 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,427 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 1,728 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,880 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 829 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 1,133 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,579 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,579 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,656 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 1,812 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh Education Centre Raleigh and Southway Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,145 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,185 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | - not rated | 1,241 yd | Foundation special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 3out of 4 | 1,241 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange School Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | - not rated | 1,651 yd | Foundation special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lion (Sizzling Pub Co) | The Red Lion, High Street | 239 yd | |
| St Helena | St Helena, High Street | 239 yd | |
| Ground Floor Coffee Shop (Kings Arms Trust) | Kings House, 245 Ampthill Road | 385 yd | |
| The Cottage | 206 High Street | 408 yd | |
| DVCC Recovery Bar | Millfield House, Miller Road | 660 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 763 yd | |
| Gardeners Arms | The Gardeners Arms, 12 Sandhurst Road | 867 yd | |
| T Bar | The Keep, Bedford Road | 1,059 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desi Grill | Unit 1, 124 Ampthill Road | 527 yd | |
| Joyes Chicken | 33 Elstow Road | 623 yd | |
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 660 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 694 yd | |
| Village Peri-Peri | 20 Gostwick Road | 727 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 617 yd | |
| Tesco | 13 Beauvais Square | 668 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 704 yd | |
| Morrisons Service Station Shop | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 933 yd | |
| Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited | Morrisons, Ampthill Road | 933 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 340 yd |
| Abbey Middle School (Closed) Mowbray Road | grass pitches, swimming pool | 844 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 867 yd |
| Elstow Playing Field WILSTEAD ROAD | grass pitches | 989 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 | 96.4% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 96.4% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 96.4% |
| 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 | 39.8 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 58.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 8.5 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 9 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.