Shaftesbury Drive is in Stotfold, Hitchin and in Mid Bedfordshire district. SG5 4FS is located in the Arlesey & Fairfield electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of North East Bedfordshire. This postcode has been in use since 2005-05-01.
StreetScan combines information about Shaftesbury Drive, Stotfold, Hitchin, SG5 4FS and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: SG5 4BU, SG5 4JJ, SG5 4FX, SG5 4FY, SG5 4FZ, SG5 4EX.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding SG5 4FS has a slightly higher male population, with 50.5% of residents being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 47.9% | 49.5% | 1.6% | 51.0% | -1.5% |
| Male | 52.1% | 50.5% | -1.6% | 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 SG5 4FS there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 59.6% 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 | 25.6% | 21.3% | -4.3% | 37.9% | -16.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 57% | 59.6% | 2.6% | 44.2% | 15.4% |
| Separated | 4.1% | 2.5% | -1.6% | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Divorced | 8.3% | 12.1% | 3.8% | 9.1% | 3.0% |
| Widowed | 5% | 4.6% | -0.4% | 6.1% | -1.5% |
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 (89.2%) 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 | 60.8% | 55.2% | -5.6% | 48.4% | 6.8% |
| Good health | 30.1% | 34% | 3.9% | 33.6% | 0.4% |
| Fair health | 6.5% | 7.5% | 1.0% | 12.7% | -5.2% |
| Bad health | 2.6% | 2% | -0.6% | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| Very bad health | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 0.1% |
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.
In the area around SG5 4FS this area, 9.1% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%. This area stands out for its high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 51.5%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 6.2% | 9.1% | 2.9% | 18.2% | -9.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 14.5% | 7.1% | -7.4% | 9.6% | -2.5% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13.2% | 13.7% | 0.5% | 13.4% | 0.3% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.5% | 3.7% | 1.2% | 5.3% | -1.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 12.4% | 14.9% | 2.5% | 16.9% | -2.0% |
| Degree or Similar | 47.1% | 51.5% | 4.4% | 33.8% | 17.7% |
| Other | 4.1% | 0% | -4.1% | 2.8% | -2.8% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 77% 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% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.1% | -0.4% |
| Chinese | 1% | 1% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Indian | 6.1% | 8.6% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 5.5% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 2.7% | -2.4% |
| Other Asian | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 0.0% |
| Black African | 1.6% | 0.7% | -0.9% | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.6% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.3% | 2.3% | 2.0% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Mixed Other | 0.6% | 0.3% | -0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| White | 87.4% | 77% | -10.4% | 81.4% | -4.4% |
| Other | 0.6% | 6.3% | 5.7% | 1.6% | 4.7% |
In this area, 87.9% 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 | 88.3% | 87.9% | -0.4% | 83.2% | 4.7% |
| European Union | 3.6% | 2.3% | -1.3% | 6.1% | -3.8% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 2.9% | 1% | -1.9% | 2.7% | -1.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 3.9% | 8.5% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 2.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 87.7% | 87.9% | 0.2% | 83.2% | 4.7% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 10.2% | 9.9% | 9.8% | 0.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.0% | 2.9% | -1.3% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.3% | 0.3% | -2.0% | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 8.1% | 0% | -8.1% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 93.1% | 76.7% | 16.4% |
| Portugal | 1% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Other EU countries | 1% | 1.5% | -0.5% |
| Southern Asia | 0.7% | 1.2% | -0.5% |
| Central and South America | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 3.9% | 13.5% | -9.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 36.2% | 37.2% | -1.0% |
| Christian | 45.7% | 46.2% | -0.5% |
| Muslim | 0.7% | 6.5% | -5.8% |
| Sikh | 11.5% | 0.9% | 10.6% |
| Other religion | 1% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Not answered | 4.9% | 6.0% | -1.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Shaftesbury Drive was 95.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 75.5% higher than the Arlesey & Fairfield average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Shaftesbury Drive has the 4th highest crime rate of 70 local areas in Arlesey & Fairfield and the 149th highest crime rate of 874 local areas in Central Bedfordshire .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 52.8 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -13.0%.

Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 82% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 Shaftesbury Drive, Hitchin, Central Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £1,075,000 | 2025-05-27 | £1,102,866 |
| 26 Shaftesbury Drive, Hitchin, Central Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £915,000 | 2024-03-22 | £981,788 |
| 3 Shaftesbury Drive, Hitchin, Central Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £1,250,000 | 2023-10-25 | £1,324,665 |
| 15 Shaftesbury Drive, Hitchin, Central Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £1,125,000 | 2022-07-15 | £1,189,748 |
| 6 Shaftesbury Drive, Hitchin, Central Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £1,065,000 | 2022-04-23 | £1,178,371 |
SG5 4FS area has a very high level of entrepreneurship. Only 12% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 14% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 93 |
| Retired | 57 |
| Self-Employed | 34 |
| Part-Time Employee | 23 |
| Looking after home or family | 11 |
| Unemployed | 9 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 7 |
| Other | 4 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 2 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 30 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 28 |
| Manufacturing | 18 |
| Construction | 18 |
| Education | 14 |
| Information and communication | 14 |
| Human health and social work activities | 13 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 11 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 10 |
| Transport and storage | 9 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Other | 6 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlesey Nursery School and Childcare Centre High Street , SG15 6SL | - not rated | 1,329 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Nevells Road Nursery School Nevells Road , SG6 4TS | - not rated | 3,133 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Weston Way Nursery School Weston Way , SG7 6HD | 4out of 4 | 5,134 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Park Lower School Dickens Boulevard , SG5 4FD | 3out of 4 | 647 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Gothic Mede Lower School High Street , SG15 6SL | - not rated | 1,418 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Gothic Mede Academy High Street , SG15 6SL | 3out of 4 | 1,418 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Stonehill School Western Close , SG6 4SZ | 3out of 4 | 1,469 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Roecroft Lower School Buttercup Road , Stotfold SG5 4PF | - not rated | 1,671 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norton School Norton Road , SG6 1AF | - not rated | 2,787 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Fearnhill School Icknield Way West , SG6 4BA | 3out of 4 | 3,385 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Da Vinci Studio School of Creative Enterprise The Old Grammar School , Broadway SG6 3PA | - not rated | 3,591 yd | Studio schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Henlow Church of England Academy Church Road , SG16 6AN | - not rated | 4,293 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Highfield School Highfield , SG6 3QA | - not rated | 4,313 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etonbury Academy Stotfold Road , SG15 6XS | 3out of 4 | 1,860 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Etonbury Middle School Stotfold Road , SG15 6XS | - not rated | 1,860 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Pix Brook Academy Arlesey Road , SG5 4HB | 3out of 4 | 2,013 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Henlow VC Middle School Church Road , SG16 6AN | - not rated | 4,293 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden City Montessori School 269 Icknield Way , SG6 4UE | - not rated | 3,075 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Francis College Broadway , SG6 3PJ | - not rated | 3,975 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| St Francis College Broadway , SG6 3PJ | - not rated | 3,975 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| North Herts Education Support Centre Briar Patch Lane , SG6 3LY | - not rated | 4,444 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Christopher School Barrington Road , SG6 3JZ | - not rated | 4,655 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bannatyne Fitness Ltd | Bannatyne's Health Club & Spa, Fairfield Hall | 257 yd | |
| Thornes Garden Nursery | Thornes Poultry Centre And Garden Nursery Stotfold Road | 903 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Bowls Club | Kingsley Avenue, Stotfold | 256 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bannatyne Health Club (Fairfield) FAIRFIELD HALL FAIRFIELD HALL HITCHIN ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 187 yd |
| Fairfield Park PALMERSTON WAY | grass pitches | 440 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 | 160 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 323.6 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 30 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 45.7 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 115 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.