Postcode · Bedford

MK42 8DR area guide

Who lives in MK42 8DR, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Neighbourhood: Kempston Central & East
Council: Bedford
Region: East of England
Neighbourhood population: 1,795 (2024)

MK42 8DRBedford

At a glance

What MK42 8DR is like

MK42 8DR is a postcode in the Kempston Central & East area of Bedford. Because census and crime data isn’t published for single postcodes, the figures here cover the surrounding neighbourhood of about 1,795 people. 69.1% of households own their home, 25% rent privately and 5.1% are in social housing. The largest age group is 40–44, and 63.8% of adults are in work. On deprivation, it sits near the middle of the scale for England. Higher-harm crime is broadly in line with the England and Wales average. Homes in MK42 8 sold for a median of £315,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How MK42 8DR compares

Headline figures for MK42 8DR, set against England as a whole.

AffluenceMore

6.0/ 10

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

CrimeMore

7/ 10

Around the middle: 32.8 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£315,000

Median over 92 sales in MK42 8, +6.8% on the year before.

TransportMore

3.0/ 10

Limited: 0 stations within a mile, 33 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

Rated good or better across 10 inspected schools within 1 mile.

Household incomeMore

£52,761

Average annual income before tax, higher than 50% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Where MK42 8DR differs most from the national average.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
25% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
Prices risingPositive
The median sale price in MK42 8 is up 6.8% on the year before.
03
Well-rated schoolsPositive
100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better.
04
Mostly owner-occupied
69.1% of households own their home, against 61.3% across England.

Questions

MK42 8DR FAQs

Is MK42 8DR a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

It scores 6.0 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 10 is the least deprived in England. Higher-harm crime runs at 32.8 per 1,000 people a year, band 7 of 10 nationally. 100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 3.0 out of 10 (limited).

How much does a house cost in MK42 8DR?

The median sale price over the last year was £315,000.

Homes in MK42 8 sold for a median of £315,000 across 92 sales in the year to August 2026, +6.8% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry’s record of every residential sale.

Is MK42 8DR safe?

How recorded crime here compares with the national average.

Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 32.8 offences per 1,000 people a year around MK42 8DR, broadly in line with the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 7 of 10.

Who lives in MK42 8DR?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The largest age group is 40–44, at 9.2% of residents. 69.1% of households own their home. The most common property type is semi-detached (52.8%).

Which council covers MK42 8DR?

The local authority for MK42 8DR is Bedford.

MK42 8DR comes under Bedford in the East of England. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is MK42 8DR?

Connectivity scores 3.0 out of 10.

There are 33 bus stops within 800m and 0 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 3.0 out of 10 (limited). The nearest station is Bedford St Johns Rail Station, 1.2 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.

Explore