MK42 area guide
Who lives in MK42, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.
- Council
- Bedford
- Region
- East of England
- Population
- 67,918 (2024)
MK42Postcode district · Bedford
What MK42 is like
The MK42 postcode district in Bedford covers 1,285 live postcodes and is home to about 67,918 people in 24,127 households. 55.2% of households own their home, 21.1% rent privately and 21.2% are in social housing. The largest age group is 30–34, and 62.7% of adults are in work. On deprivation, it sits near the middle of the scale for England. Higher-harm crime is above the England and Wales average. Homes in MK42 sold for a median of £317,000 over the year to August 2026.
How MK42 compares
Headline figures for MK42, set against England as a whole.
Around the middle. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).
Around the middle: 36.2 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.
Average annual income before tax, higher than 58% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.
Worth knowing before you invest
Where MK42 differs most from the national average.
- 01A young populationPositive
22% of residents are aged 20 to 34 (the peak renting age), against 19.6% across England.
- 02Well-rated schoolsPositive
100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better.
MK42 FAQs
01Is MK42 a good place to live?Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.
Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.
02How much does a house cost in MK42?The median sale price over the last year was £317,000.
The median sale price over the last year was £317,000.
03Is MK42 safe?How recorded crime here compares with the national average.
How recorded crime here compares with the national average.
04Who lives in MK42?Age, home ownership and housing from the census.
Age, home ownership and housing from the census.
05Which council covers MK42?The local authority for MK42 is Bedford.
The local authority for MK42 is Bedford.
06How well connected is MK42?Connectivity scores 5.0 out of 10.
Connectivity scores 5.0 out of 10.
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.