Postcode district · Bedford

MK40 area guide

Who lives in MK40, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Bedford
Region: East of England
Population: 48,362 (2024)

MK40Postcode district · Bedford

At a glance

What MK40 is like

The MK40 postcode district in Bedford covers 923 live postcodes and is home to about 48,362 people in 18,781 households. 48.4% of households own their home, 32.2% rent privately and 17.3% are in social housing. The largest age group is 30–34, and 58.8% of adults are in work. On deprivation, it sits near the middle of the scale for England. Higher-harm crime is well above the England and Wales average. Homes in MK40 sold for a median of £335,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How MK40 compares

Headline figures for MK40, set against England as a whole.

AffluenceMore

4.6/ 10

Around the middle. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).

CrimeMore

8/ 10

Higher than most: 47.3 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£335,000

Median over 401 sales in MK40, −6.9% on the year before.

TransportMore

7.0/ 10

Very good: 2 stations within a mile, 87 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

Rated good or better across 10 inspected schools in MK40.

Household incomeMore

£54,866

Average annual income before tax, higher than 55% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Where MK40 differs most from the national average.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
32.2% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
Higher crime than mostLook closer
47.3 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
03
A young populationPositive
23.6% of residents are aged 20 to 34 (the peak renting age), against 19.6% across England.
04
Prices fallingLook closer
The median sale price in MK40 is down 6.9% on the year before.
05
Well connectedPositive
2 stations within a mile and 87 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.

Questions

MK40 FAQs

Is MK40 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

It scores 4.6 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 10 is the least deprived in England. Higher-harm crime runs at 47.3 per 1,000 people a year, band 8 of 10 nationally. 100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 7.0 out of 10 (very good).

How much does a house cost in MK40?

The median sale price over the last year was £335,000.

Homes in MK40 sold for a median of £335,000 across 401 sales in the year to August 2026, −6.9% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry’s record of every residential sale.

Is MK40 safe?

How recorded crime here compares with the national average.

Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 47.3 offences per 1,000 people a year around MK40, well above the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 8 of 10.

Who lives in MK40?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The largest age group is 30–34, at 8.7% of residents. 48.4% of households own their home. The most common property type is purpose-built flat (28.4%).

Which council covers MK40?

The local authority for MK40 is Bedford.

MK40 comes under Bedford in the East of England. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is MK40?

Connectivity scores 7.0 out of 10.

There are 87 bus stops within 800m and 2 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 7.0 out of 10 (very good). The nearest station is Bedford Rail Station, 0.1 miles away.

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS); ONS mid-year population estimates; police recorded crime; the English, Welsh and Scottish indices of deprivation; ONS small area income estimates; ONS private rents; DfE, Welsh and Scottish school registers and Ofsted; DfT NaPTAN; ORR estimates of station usage; HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.

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