High Street is in Elstow, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9XU is located in the Wixams & Wilstead electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Mid Bedfordshire. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about High Street, Elstow, Bedford, MK42 9XU and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9XY, MK42 9XZ, MK42 9XT, MK42 9TZ, MK42 9XX, MK42 9TY, MK42 9BQ, MK42 9PZ, MK42 9XP.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 9XU 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 | 52.3% | 50.1% | -2.2% | 51.0% | -0.9% |
| Male | 47.7% | 49.9% | 2.2% | 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 | 28.3% | 36.3% | 8.0% | 37.9% | -1.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 39.9% | 32.9% | -7.0% | 44.2% | -11.3% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Separated | 3.6% | 4.8% | 1.2% | 2.2% | 2.6% |
| Divorced | 13.9% | 17.5% | 3.6% | 9.1% | 8.4% |
| Widowed | 13.5% | 8.6% | -4.9% | 6.1% | 2.5% |
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 | 38.9% | 41.8% | 2.9% | 48.4% | -6.6% |
| Good health | 34.7% | 33% | -1.7% | 33.6% | -0.6% |
| Fair health | 18.7% | 19.5% | 0.8% | 12.7% | 6.8% |
| Bad health | 6.5% | 5.2% | -1.3% | 4.0% | 1.2% |
| Very bad health | 1.1% | 0.6% | -0.5% | 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 | 35.9% | 18.8% | -17.1% | 18.2% | 0.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.2% | 14.4% | -0.8% | 9.6% | 4.8% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 10.8% | 11% | 0.2% | 13.4% | -2.4% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.1% | 6.8% | 3.7% | 5.3% | 1.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 7.6% | 16.8% | 9.2% | 16.9% | -0.1% |
| Degree or Similar | 22.4% | 29.1% | 6.7% | 33.8% | -4.7% |
| Other | 4.9% | 3.1% | -1.8% | 2.8% | 0.3% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 80.6% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.1% | 1.8% |
| Indian | 5% | 5.4% | 0.4% | 3.1% | 2.3% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 2.7% | -2.4% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.6% | -0.7% |
| Black African | 0.4% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.5% | -0.8% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.1% | 1.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 1.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.7% | 2% | -0.7% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| White | 90.5% | 80.6% | -9.9% | 81.4% | -0.8% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.2% | 0.7% |
In this area, 83.5% 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 | 88.9% | 83.5% | -5.4% | 83.2% | 0.3% |
| European Union | 3.1% | 9.8% | 6.7% | 6.1% | 3.7% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Africa | 4.2% | 2% | -2.2% | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 3.1% | 3.8% | 0.7% | 5.6% | -1.8% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 86.6% | 82.8% | -3.8% | 83.2% | -0.4% |
| 10+ Years | 0.4% | 11.7% | 11.3% | 9.8% | 1.9% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.1% | 2.9% | 1.8% | 2.9% | 0.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.4% | 1.4% | -2.0% | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 8.4% | 1.1% | -7.3% | 1.9% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 76.7% | 76.7% | 0.0% |
| Ireland | 2.3% | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| Italy | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Portugal | 0.9% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Lithuania | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Poland | 3.2% | 1.3% | 1.9% |
| Romania | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| Other EU countries | 1.1% | 1.5% | -0.4% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Southern Asia | 0.3% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
| No passport held | 12.9% | 13.5% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 41.4% | 37.2% | 4.2% |
| Christian | 44.3% | 46.2% | -1.9% |
| Hindu | 1.1% | 1.7% | -0.6% |
| Muslim | 3.7% | 6.5% | -2.8% |
| Sikh | 2.9% | 0.9% | 2.0% |
| Other religion | 1.4% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Not answered | 5.1% | 6.0% | -0.9% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around High Street was 101.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 34.4% lower than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
High Street has the 41st highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 138th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 34.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -58.4%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swan House High Street, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £785,000 | 2023-11-17 | £807,742 |
| Church End House High Street, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £536,000 | 2020-11-06 | £641,208 |
| Swan Cottage High Street, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £299,000 | 2017-01-30 | £384,482 |
| Swan Cottage High Street, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £275,000 | 2016-01-22 | £393,950 |
| Swan House High Street, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £650,000 | 2015-11-27 | £955,064 |
MK42 9XU area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% 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 | 125 |
| Retired | 60 |
| Self-Employed | 25 |
| Part-Time Employee | 22 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 20 |
| Other | 14 |
| Looking after home or family | 9 |
| Unemployed | 9 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 27 |
| Transport and storage | 14 |
| Education | 14 |
| Human health and social work activities | 11 |
| Manufacturing | 9 |
| Construction | 9 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 6 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 1 |
| 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 | 1,083 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,321 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,430 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elstow School Abbey Fields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 507 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | - not rated | 507 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 1,108 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | - not rated | 1,108 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,280 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 1,135 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,193 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 1,283 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 2,008 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 3,129 yd | Academy sponsor led | 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 | 451 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 1,283 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,465 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,465 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,634 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 | 2,108 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 | 1,430 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,479 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | - not rated | 1,668 yd | Foundation special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 3out of 4 | 1,668 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange School Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | - not rated | 2,023 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cottage | 206 High Street | 19 yd | |
| Red Lion (Sizzling Pub Co) | The Red Lion, High Street | 243 yd | |
| St Helena | St Helena, High Street | 243 yd | |
| Sensations | 24 Gostwick Road | 470 yd | |
| Mile Road Cafe | 91b Mile Road | 628 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meltis Sports and Social Club | Meltis Sports And Social Club, Miller Road | 985 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village Peri-Peri | 20 Gostwick Road | 470 yd | |
| Joyes Chicken | 33 Elstow Road | 806 yd | |
| Desi Grill | Unit 1, 124 Ampthill Road | 903 yd | |
| Pizzeria Chirico | 26-28 Mabel Road | 961 yd | |
| London Sweet Centre | London Sweet Centre, 86 Ampthill Road | 1,048 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 13 Beauvais Square | 247 yd | |
| Aldi | Aldi, Westville Road | 1,002 yd | |
| SAS Supermarket | Unit 2, 82 Ampthill Road | 1,055 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey Middle School (Closed) Mowbray Road | grass pitches, swimming pool | 456 yd |
| Elstow Playing Field WILSTEAD ROAD | grass pitches | 590 yd |
| Meltis Sports And Social Club MILLER COURT | grass pitches | 643 yd |
| Moor Lane Recreation Ground Moor Lane | grass pitches | 839 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 996 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 | 211.8 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 18 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.