Bedford Road is in Wilstead, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK45 3HS 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 Bedford Road, Wilstead, Bedford, MK45 3HS and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 6DW, MK42 6AW, MK42 6DX, MK42 6AS, MK42 6EF, MK42 6AU, MK42 6AR, MK42 6AD, MK42 6DY.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK45 3HS, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.5% 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 | 53.3% | 52.5% | -0.8% | 51.0% | 1.5% |
| Male | 46.7% | 47.5% | 0.8% | 49.0% | -1.5% |
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 MK45 3HS there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 51.3% 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 | 31.3% | 38.2% | 6.9% | 37.9% | 0.3% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 46.2% | 51.3% | 5.1% | 44.2% | 7.1% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% |
| Separated | 3.6% | 1.3% | -2.3% | 2.2% | -0.9% |
| Divorced | 7.6% | 5.3% | -2.3% | 9.1% | -3.8% |
| Widowed | 11.3% | 2.6% | -8.7% | 6.1% | -3.5% |
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.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (87.9%) 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 | 45.5% | 56.2% | 10.7% | 48.4% | 7.8% |
| Good health | 39.7% | 31.7% | -8.0% | 33.6% | -1.9% |
| Fair health | 10.7% | 8.9% | -1.8% | 12.7% | -3.8% |
| Bad health | 3.2% | 2.5% | -0.7% | 4.0% | -1.5% |
| Very bad health | 0.9% | 0.7% | -0.2% | 1.2% | -0.5% |
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 | 20% | 13.3% | -6.7% | 18.2% | -4.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 12% | 10.7% | -1.3% | 9.6% | 1.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 17.1% | 9.3% | -7.8% | 13.4% | -4.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.7% | 6.7% | 2.0% | 5.3% | 1.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.9% | 17.3% | 6.4% | 16.9% | 0.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 30.5% | 38.7% | 8.2% | 33.8% | 4.9% |
| Other | 4.7% | 4% | -0.7% | 2.8% | 1.2% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 66.9% 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 | 0% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1.1% | 2.4% |
| Chinese | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 1.7% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 3.1% | 0.8% |
| Pakistani | 1.2% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 2.7% | -0.2% |
| Other Asian | 0.3% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 1.6% | 1.9% |
| Black African | 0% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.5% | 1.0% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| Other Black | 0% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 0.5% | 3.4% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.9% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 2.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.2% | 0.4% | -0.8% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2% | 6.3% | 4.3% | 0.9% | 5.4% |
| Mixed Other | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| White | 91% | 66.9% | -24.1% | 81.4% | -14.5% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
In this area, 85.1% 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 | 93.9% | 85.1% | -8.8% | 83.2% | 1.9% |
| European Union | 2.9% | 6% | 3.1% | 6.1% | -0.1% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| Africa | 1.2% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 2.7% | -0.2% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.4% | 3.9% | 2.5% | 5.6% | -1.7% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.3% | -0.6% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 92.8% | 84.8% | -8.0% | 83.2% | 1.6% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 7.8% | 7.5% | 9.8% | -2.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.3% | 4.6% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 1.7% |
| 2-5 Years | 1.7% | 0.7% | -1.0% | 2.2% | -1.5% |
| Less than 2 years | 4.9% | 2.1% | -2.8% | 1.9% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 67.8% | 76.7% | -8.9% |
| Ireland | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Spain | 1.4% | 0.4% | 1.0% |
| Poland | 3.5% | 1.3% | 2.2% |
| Romania | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Other EU countries | 3.1% | 1.5% | 1.6% |
| Other Europe | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1.4% | 0.3% | 1.1% |
| Southern Asia | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.2% |
| South-East Asia | 1.4% | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 17.8% | 13.5% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 52.5% | 37.2% | 15.3% |
| Christian | 32.9% | 46.2% | -13.3% |
| Hindu | 1.1% | 1.7% | -0.6% |
| Muslim | 8.6% | 6.5% | 2.1% |
| Sikh | 0.4% | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| Other religion | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Not answered | 4.3% | 6.0% | -1.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Bedford Road was 204.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 24.8% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Bedford Road has the 12th highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 47th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 127.7 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 50.0%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 129 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £495,000 | 2024-06-06 | £543,068 |
| 147 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £1,600,000 | 2022-06-14 | £1,667,282 |
| 149 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £1,600,000 | 2022-06-14 | £1,667,282 |
| 127 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £265,000 | 2016-04-08 | £391,419 |
| 147 Bedford Road, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £1,750,000 | 2014-08-01 | £2,665,667 |
MK45 3HS 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 | 74 |
| Part-Time Employee | 19 |
| Looking after home or family | 16 |
| Retired | 15 |
| Self-Employed | 9 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 7 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 6 |
| Other | 3 |
| Unemployed | 3 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 33 |
| Human health and social work activities | 25 |
| Manufacturing | 19 |
| Education | 16 |
| Construction | 16 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 16 |
| Transport and storage | 12 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 10 |
| Information and communication | 8 |
| Real estate activities | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Other | 5 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 4,490 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 4,807 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wixams Tree Primary School Green Lane , Wixams MK42 6BA | - not rated | 393 yd | Free schools | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Lakeview School School Lane , Off Brooklands Avenue MK42 6BH | 3out of 4 | 571 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Wilstead Primary School Cotton End Road , Wilstead MK45 3BX | 3out of 4 | 1,411 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 3,071 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Houghton Conquest Lower School High Street , Houghton Conquest MK45 3LL | 3out of 4 | 3,159 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wixams Academy Green Lane , Wixams MK42 6BA | - not rated | 492 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 3,651 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,863 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 4,452 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marston Vale Middle School The Crescent , Stewartby MK43 9NH | 2out of 4 | 4,352 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Green Lane , Stewartby MK43 9LY | - not rated | 5,015 yd | Free schools 16 to 19 | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 4,461 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 4,659 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 4,838 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 4,973 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 4,989 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Fish & Chip Shop | Unit 2, 147 Brooklands Avenue | 459 yd | |
| Seasons Restaurant | Seasons Garden Centre, Bedford Road | 460 yd | |
| Wilstead Bowls Club | Bowling Green Club House, Bedford Road | 971 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portu Gallo's Ltd | Unit 1, 147 Brooklands Avenue | 459 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Op (Southern Co-Op Ltd). | 151 Brooklands Avenue | 459 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Wixams Tree Primary School WIXAMS TREE PRIMARY WIXAMS TREE PRIMARY GREEN LANE | grass pitches | 520 yd |
| Wixams 3G Green Lane | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 537 yd |
| Wixams Academy WIXAMS ACADEMY WIXAMS ACADEMY GREEN LANE | grass pitches | 614 yd |
| Jubilee Playing Field THE SQUARE | grass pitches | 836 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 | 50.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| 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 | 50.0% |
| Median download speed | 22.8 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 22.5 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 29.52 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 29.52 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 3.8 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 3.5 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 6.42 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.