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Postcode district · Bedford

Affluence in MK42

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

Council
Bedford
Region
East of England
Population
67,918 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off MK42 is

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, MK42 scores 4.6 out of 10, placing it close to the middle of the range for England. Its lowest-scoring category is education and skills (3.7 out of 10). Scores are ranked within England only, so they can’t be compared across UK nations.

Overall score
4.6/ 10
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Its 38 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
By category, lowest first
  • Education and skills3.7
  • Children in low-income families4.1
  • Income4.2
  • Health and disability4.3
  • Older people in low-income households4.9
  • Employment4.9
  • Crime5.0
  • Barriers to housing and services5.1
  • Living environment6.5
Income

Household income

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

Annual income
£56,212
Before tax, all sources
England
£55,856
Above the national average
Higher than
58%
Of neighbourhoods in England and Wales
Work

Who is in work

62.7% of adults in MK42 are in work, above the England average of 55.7%. 14.5% are retired and 6.6% are full-time students.

MK42England
Employee, full-time41.4%34.3%
Employee, part-time12.3%11.9%
Self-employed8.9%9.5%
Unemployed3.3%2.9%
Full-time student6.6%7.9%
Retired14.5%21.5%
Looking after home or family5.3%4.8%
Long-term sick or disabled3.9%4.1%
Other3.8%3.1%
Occupations

Social grade

28.9% of adults in MK42 work in managerial or professional jobs, below the England average of 33.2%.

MK42England
Higher managerial & professional10.1%13.2%
Lower managerial & professional18.8%19.9%
Intermediate11.5%11.4%
Small employers & self-employed9.8%10.6%
Lower supervisory & technical6.1%5.3%
Semi-routine12.1%11.3%
Routine17.1%12%
Never worked & long-term unemployed8.2%8.5%
Full-time students6.4%7.7%
Education

Highest qualification

30% of adults in MK42 hold a degree or equivalent, below the England average of 33.9%. 19.5% have no qualifications.

MK42England
Degree level or above30%33.9%
A level or equivalent15.9%16.9%
GCSE grade 4/C or above13.7%13.3%
Below GCSE grade 4/C11.9%9.7%
Apprenticeship5.7%5.3%
Other qualifications3.3%2.8%
No qualifications19.5%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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