Wilstead Road is in Elstow, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 9YD 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 Wilstead Road, Elstow, Bedford, MK42 9YD and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 9YD, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 54.7% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 53.6% | 54.7% | 1.1% | 51.0% | 3.7% |
| Male | 46.4% | 45.3% | -1.1% | 49.0% | -3.7% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around MK42 9YD, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 49.2% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 44.8% | 49.2% | 4.4% | 37.9% | 11.3% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 39.9% | 35.2% | -4.7% | 44.2% | -9.0% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Separated | 4.4% | 3.5% | -0.9% | 2.2% | 1.3% |
| Divorced | 9.4% | 10.2% | 0.8% | 9.1% | 1.1% |
| Widowed | 1.5% | 1.3% | -0.2% | 6.1% | -4.8% |
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 | 51.1% | 47.4% | -3.7% | 48.4% | -1.0% |
| Good health | 36.9% | 34.9% | -2.0% | 33.6% | 1.3% |
| Fair health | 9.8% | 11.2% | 1.4% | 12.7% | -1.5% |
| Bad health | 1.6% | 5.3% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 1.3% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 1.2% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 0.0% |
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 | 19.7% | 18.2% | -1.5% | 18.2% | 0.0% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 18.7% | 11.8% | -6.9% | 9.6% | 2.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 25.1% | 19.7% | -5.4% | 13.4% | 6.3% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 4.8% | 2.8% | 5.3% | -0.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 7.9% | 16.2% | 8.3% | 16.9% | -0.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 21.7% | 25.8% | 4.1% | 33.8% | -8.0% |
| Other | 4.9% | 3.5% | -1.4% | 2.8% | 0.7% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 67.4% 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 | 6.3% | 7.3% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 6.2% |
| Chinese | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 3.2% | 6.1% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 3.0% |
| Pakistani | 0.6% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 2.7% | -0.8% |
| Other Asian | 3.5% | 0.5% | -3.0% | 1.6% | -1.1% |
| Black African | 5% | 4% | -1.0% | 2.5% | 1.5% |
| Black Caribbean | 3.8% | 1.7% | -2.1% | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Other Black | 1.3% | 0.2% | -1.1% | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 2.2% | 2.1% | -0.1% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 3.5% | 4.3% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 3.4% |
| Mixed Other | 2.2% | 1.4% | -0.8% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| White | 67.5% | 67.4% | -0.1% | 81.4% | -14.0% |
| Roma | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 0% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.3% |
In this area, 84.7% 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% | 84.7% | 0.2% | 83.2% | 1.5% |
| European Union | 2.8% | 5.7% | 2.9% | 6.1% | -0.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| Africa | 5% | 2.4% | -2.6% | 2.7% | -0.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 5% | 5.5% | 0.5% | 5.6% | -0.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.2% | 1% | -1.2% | 1.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 84.5% | 84.7% | 0.2% | 83.2% | 1.5% |
| 10+ Years | 0.9% | 12.2% | 11.3% | 9.8% | 2.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.3% | 1.9% | 0.6% | 2.9% | -1.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 5.4% | 1% | -4.4% | 2.2% | -1.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.9% | 0.2% | -7.7% | 1.9% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 72.1% | 76.7% | -4.6% |
| Ireland | 0.2% | 0.6% | -0.4% |
| Italy | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Portugal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Spain | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Lithuania | 1.9% | 0.3% | 1.6% |
| Poland | 2.9% | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| Other EU countries | 0.5% | 1.5% | -1.0% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Middle East | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 1% | 1.2% | -0.2% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| No passport held | 18.8% | 13.5% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 38.8% | 37.2% | 1.6% |
| Christian | 42.1% | 46.2% | -4.1% |
| Buddhist | 0.2% | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| Muslim | 9.1% | 6.5% | 2.6% |
| Sikh | 3.1% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| Other religion | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Not answered | 6% | 6.0% | 0.0% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Wilstead Road was 75.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 54.1% lower than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Wilstead Road has the 33rd lowest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 194th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 45.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -56.1%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 195 Wilstead Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £510,000 | 2025-02-21 | £531,166 |
| 197 Wilstead Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £385,000 | 2024-02-02 | £411,970 |
| 196 Wilstead Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £329,000 | 2010-03-29 | £669,432 |
| 196 Wilstead Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £275,000 | 2004-02-19 | £620,664 |
| 193 Wilstead Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £260,000 | 2002-09-17 | £676,642 |
The percentage of student residents living in MK42 9YD area is much higher than the country's average. Usually places with high percentage of students are near Universities and near entertainment places.
| Full-Time Employee | 113 |
| Part-Time Employee | 48 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 37 |
| Looking after home or family | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 20 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 20 |
| Unemployed | 14 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 13 |
| Retired | 13 |
| Other | 12 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 23 |
| Human health and social work activities | 17 |
| Construction | 10 |
| Education | 10 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 9 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Other | 6 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Real estate 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 | 1,490 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,744 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 281 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 1,364 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 1,449 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 1,504 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,717 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 1,297 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,355 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,438 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Wixams Academy Green Lane , Wixams MK42 6BA | - not rated | 3,031 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 3,084 yd | Academy sponsor led | 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 | 2,540 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 | 1,912 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 2,032 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 2,245 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 2,502 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 2,527 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | 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 | 522 yd | |
| Sensations | 24 Gostwick Road | 728 yd | |
| Red Lion (Sizzling Pub Co) | The Red Lion, High Street | 748 yd | |
| St Helena | St Helena, High Street | 748 yd | |
| Mile Road Cafe | 91b Mile Road | 929 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village Peri-Peri | 20 Gostwick Road | 728 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 13 Beauvais Square | 359 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Elstow Playing Field WILSTEAD ROAD | grass pitches | 90 yd |
| Abbey Middle School (Closed) Mowbray Road | grass pitches, swimming pool | 476 yd |
| Moor Lane Recreation Ground Moor Lane | grass pitches | 866 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 | 88.2 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 124.1 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 13 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.