Living in MK42, Bedford
What the open data says about house prices, schools, crime and flood risk around MK42 in Bedford. Built from the same sources as every property report on this site, not opinion or marketing copy.
House prices
Average price in Bedford: £329,830, up 4.4% on a year ago (2026-06). The wider East of England average is £338,707.
What actually sold around MK42
80 recorded home sales on the streets around central MK42 in the last 2 years, with a median of £295,000 and a range from £108,000 to £1,035,000. Mostly semi-detached houses.
| Address | Type | Sold for | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLASSROOM 4, 168D HIGH STREET, MK42 9XP | flat-maisonette | £260,000 | 2026-05-29 |
| 8 GOODMAN ROAD, MK42 9FJ | terraced | £250,000 | 2026-05-22 |
| 16 MARYVILLE ROAD, MK42 9PX | terraced | £250,000 | 2026-05-21 |
| FLAT 10 ABBEY CHASE ABBEY FIELDS, MK42 9EW | flat-maisonette | £185,000 | 2026-05-08 |
| 77 EASTDALE CLOSE, MK42 8LY | terraced | £250,000 | 2026-05-07 |
| 28 BRACKLEY ROAD, MK42 9SD | semi-detached | £418,750 | 2026-04-09 |
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Every sale of a registered property in England and Wales appears here once it completes, so the most recent weeks are always still filling in.
Schools nearby
50 schools within 3 miles , of which 91% are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
| Nearest well-rated schools | Stage | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School | Secondary | Outstanding | 1.1 mi |
| Great Denham Primary School | Primary | Outstanding | 1.9 mi |
| Shackleton Primary School | Primary | Good | 0.7 mi |
| Springfield Primary School | Primary | Good | 0.7 mi |
| Bedford Academy | Secondary | Good | 0.8 mi |
| King's Oak Primary School | Primary | Good | 0.9 mi |
29 state primary and 8 state secondary schools within range, plus 7 fee-paying schools.
Private schools
7 fee-paying schools within 3 miles: Bedford Girls' School, Bedford Greenacre Independent School, Bedford Modern School, Bedford School, KWS School, Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School and others.
All 7 fee-paying schools near MK42, with ages and admissions →
Fee-paying schools are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, not Ofsted, and the ISI publishes no open data feed. That is why they carry no rating here. A missing grade means we cannot see one, not that the school was judged poorly.
What people here do for work
The most common occupations among working residents, from the 2021 Census. This is occupation rather than industry: it says what people do, not which industries employ them.
| Occupation group | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Professional occupations | 23.0% |
| Associate professional and technical | 14.4% |
| Managers, directors and senior officials | 13.9% |
| Elementary occupations | 10.3% |
| Caring, leisure and other service | 9.5% |
Source: ONS Census 2021, table TS063, for this district's small area.
Crime
329 crimes recorded within roughly a mile of central MK42 in 2026-06, most commonly violent crime.
Flood risk
Zone 1 (low probability). This is the Environment Agency's flood zone for the area's centre point, an individual property's own risk can differ, especially near a specific watercourse.
Deprivation
This area falls in decile 6 of 10 on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (moderately deprived ), based on Bedford's figures.
Common questions about MK42
What is the average house price in MK42?
The average sold price in Bedford is £329,830 as of 2026-06, according to the UK House Price Index.
Are house prices rising in MK42?
Prices in Bedford are up 4.4% on a year ago (UK House Price Index).
What do houses actually sell for in MK42?
The median of 80 recorded sales around central MK42 in the last 2 years is £295,000, ranging from £108,000 to £1,035,000 (HM Land Registry Price Paid Data).
Are the schools good in MK42?
50 schools sit within 3 miles of central MK42, and 91% are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
How much crime is there in MK42?
329 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of central MK42 in 2026-06, most commonly violent crime (Police.uk).
Is MK42 at risk of flooding?
Central MK42 sits in Zone 1 (low probability) for river and sea flooding (Environment Agency). Individual addresses vary, so check the full report for a specific property.
Is MK42 a good place to live?
That depends on what you need, so here is what the official data says rather than an opinion: 91% of nearby schools are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted; the median home sells for £295,000; the area sits in decile 6 of 10 on the Index of Multiple Deprivation; 329 crimes were recorded within about a mile. Every one of those figures names its source on this page.
Is MK42 safe?
329 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of central MK42 in 2026-06, according to Police.uk. The most common category was violent crime. Crime counts follow how many people are around, so a busy district records more than a quiet one of the same size.
Neighbouring districts
Weighing two up? MK42 or MK40, MK42 or MK41, MK42 or MK43.
Want the full picture for a specific property?
This page covers MK42 as a whole. For sold price history, EPC rating, exact-address crime and flood risk, school catchment areas and 30+ other checks on one specific property, search its full postcode.