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Postcode sector · Bedford

Affluence in MK42 8

How MK42 8 ranks on deprivation and income, and the work and qualifications behind it.

Council
Bedford
Region
East of England
Population
19,357 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off MK42 8 is

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, MK42 8 scores 4.2 out of 10, placing it close to the middle of the range for England. Its lowest-scoring category is education and skills (3.2 out of 10). Scores are ranked within England only, so they can’t be compared across UK nations.

Overall score
4.2/ 10
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Its 12 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
By category, lowest first
  • Education and skills3.2
  • Children in low-income families3.9
  • Income4.2
  • Health and disability4.2
  • Employment4.3
  • Crime4.5
  • Living environment5.2
  • Older people in low-income households5.4
  • Barriers to housing and services6.5
Income

Household income

Average yearly household income before tax (2022/23), estimated for local neighbourhoods.

Annual income
£53,667
Before tax, all sources
England
£55,856
Below the national average
Higher than
52%
Of neighbourhoods in England and Wales
Work

Who is in work

60% of adults in MK42 8 are in work, broadly in line with the England average of 55.7%. 17.1% are retired and 6.6% are full-time students.

MK42 8England
Employee, full-time38.7%34.3%
Employee, part-time12.9%11.9%
Self-employed8.4%9.5%
Unemployed3.6%2.9%
Full-time student6.6%7.9%
Retired17.1%21.5%
Looking after home or family4.8%4.8%
Long-term sick or disabled4%4.1%
Other3.9%3.1%
Occupations

Social grade

25.4% of adults in MK42 8 work in managerial or professional jobs, below the England average of 33.2%.

MK42 8England
Higher managerial & professional8%13.2%
Lower managerial & professional17.4%19.9%
Intermediate11.5%11.4%
Small employers & self-employed9.8%10.6%
Lower supervisory & technical6%5.3%
Semi-routine13.1%11.3%
Routine19.4%12%
Never worked & long-term unemployed8.4%8.5%
Full-time students6.4%7.7%
Education

Highest qualification

27.7% of adults in MK42 8 hold a degree or equivalent, below the England average of 33.9%. 21.3% have no qualifications.

MK42 8England
Degree level or above27.7%33.9%
A level or equivalent15.2%16.9%
GCSE grade 4/C or above13.4%13.3%
Below GCSE grade 4/C12.5%9.7%
Apprenticeship6.1%5.3%
Other qualifications3.8%2.8%
No qualifications21.3%18.1%

Sources: English Indices of Deprivation 2025; ONS small area income estimates; Census 2021 (ONS). Open Government Licence v3.0.

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