Living in MK43, Bedford
What the open data says about house prices, schools, crime and flood risk around MK43 in Bedford. Built from the same sources as every property report on this site, not opinion or marketing copy.
- Homes on the streets around central MK43 sold at a median of £335,000 across 6 recorded sales, above the England average of £290,000 (HM Land Registry).
- Prices across Bedford are up 3.9% on a year ago (UK House Price Index).
- Of the 4 schools within about 3 miles, 100% are rated Good or Outstanding, against 90% of state schools in England (Ofsted).
- The centre of MK43 is in flood zone 1 (low probability), on the Environment Agency flood map for planning.
- A Band D household in Bedford pays £2,472 in council tax for 2026-27, every precept included (MHCLG).
- Police recorded 3 crimes within roughly a mile of the centre in May 2026, most commonly violent crime (Police.uk).
Figures gathered 11 October 2026, each from the source named in its section.
House prices
Average price in Bedford: £333,824, up 3.9% on a year ago (July 2026). The wider East of England average is £337,518.
Check sold prices for a specific address in MK43 →
See where MK43 ranks across East of England →
Council tax at Band D in Bedford: £2,472 a year (2026-27). Running costs by postcode: council tax, energy, tenure, and the estate charge no listing shows →
Compare MK43 with another district
Sold prices, the price trend, schools, flood zone, Band D council tax and crime for MK43 against any other district, each from the source the section below names.
What actually sold around MK43
6 recorded home sales on the streets around central MK43, with a median of £335,000 and a range from £70,000 to £760,000. Mostly detached houses.
| Address | Type | Sold for | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chancel Cottage West End Road, MK43 8SA | Detached | £532,500 | 8 Dec 2022 |
| Kesford House, 60 West End Road, MK43 8SA | Detached | £760,000 | 30 Jan 2014 |
| 1 West End Farm Cottages West End Road, MK43 8RZ | Terraced | £335,000 | 18 Dec 2012 |
| 1 West End Farm Cottages, MK43 8RZ | Semi-detached | £225,000 | 18 Jun 2004 |
| 1 West End Farm Cottages, MK43 8RZ | Semi-detached | £165,000 | 16 Oct 2001 |
| Allington West End Road, MK43 8SA | Detached | £70,000 | 20 Mar 1998 |
How to read this
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.
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data
Schools nearby
4 schools within 3 miles , of which 100% are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
| Nearest well-rated schools | Stage | Ofsted | Distance | Admitted from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wootton Primary School | Primary | Good | 1.7 mi away | no figure |
| Kempston Rural Primary School | Primary | Good | 1.7 mi away | 1.46 mi 2026/27 |
| Bromham CofE Primary School | Primary | Good | 2.7 mi away | no figure |
| Wootton Academy | Secondary | Not rated | 1.5 mi away | no figure |
Schools in MK43 with a published admission distance
How far away the last child offered a place lived, as the council published it. Tightest first; each name opens the school's page and its postcode checker.
| School | Stage | Admitted from | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Johnson Lower School | Primary | 2.46 mi | 2026/27 |
Will an address here get a place? How far Bedford schools admitted from, school by school →
3 state primary and 1 state secondary schools within range, and no fee-paying schools.
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 | 21.9% |
| Managers, directors and senior officials | 20.7% |
| Associate professional and technical | 13.0% |
| Skilled trades | 12.7% |
| Administrative and secretarial | 8.6% |
Source: ONS Census 2021, table TS063, for this district's small area.
How MK43 has changed since 2011
The biggest move: white residents, down 3.6 points since 2011, with England's change beside each line.
How to read this
The census neighbourhood at the centre of MK43 (E01017547, 1,602 residents in 2021, up 3.6% on 2011) on the 2011 and 2021 censuses, with England's own change over the same decade for scale. Each line is a share of the neighbourhood's households or residents, so a growing area and a shrinking one compare fairly. The biggest move here: white residents, down 3.6 points.
| Measure | 2011 | 2021 | Change | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 83.3% | 86.8% | +3.5 pts | -2.0 pts |
| Households renting privately | 7.9% | 7.5% | -0.4 pts | +3.7 pts |
| Households renting socially | 6.2% | 5.3% | -0.9 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Residents under 15 | 14.5% | 14.7% | +0.2 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Residents 65 and over | 20.1% | 23.4% | +3.3 pts | +2.1 pts |
| Adults with a degree or equivalent | 31.9% | 34.7% | +2.8 pts | +6.5 pts |
| Residents born outside the UK | 6.5% | 8.6% | +2.1 pts | +3.6 pts |
| Residents in good or very good health | 82.3% | 84.6% | +2.3 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Residents in a white ethnic group | 93.2% | 89.6% | -3.6 pts | -4.4 pts |
Office for National Statistics, Census 2011 and Census 2021, Open Government Licence. A district holds many neighbourhoods; the full report for an address shows the one it sits in.
Crime
3 crimes recorded within roughly a mile of central MK43 in May 2026, 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 8 of 10 on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (least deprived nationally), based on Bedford's figures.
GP practices and A&E
1 GP practice within 3.0 km of the centre of MK43. The nearest, The Vale Medical Practice, has 19,074 registered patients and 3,980 patients per fully qualified GP, against an England median of 2,186.
| Practice | From the centre | Patients | Per qualified GP |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Vale Medical Practice | 1.9 mi | 19,074 | 3,980 |
Nearest A&E: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where 63.5% of type 1 attendances were seen within four hours in July 2026; then North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust at 60.7%.
How to read this
NHS England: patients registered at a GP practice (1 Aug 2026), the general practice workforce (July 2026), and A&E attendances by provider, monthly. Fully qualified GPs exclude trainees. Practices are matched by postcode.
Source: NHS England, monthly releases
Council tax and the council's finances
A Band D household in Bedford pays £2,472 for 2026-27, all precepts included, a rise of 5.1% on the year before against an England median rise of 4.8%. Every band for Bedford, and how it compares.
| Year | Band D bill | Rise |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | £1,985 | +4.0% |
| 2022-23 | £2,063 | +3.9% |
| 2023-24 | £2,132 | +3.3% |
| 2024-25 | £2,237 | +4.9% |
| 2025-26 | £2,351 | +5.1% |
| 2026-27 | £2,472 | +5.1% |
No exceptional financial support from government since 2020-21 and no section 114 notice on record for Bedford, as at 7 Sep 2026.
How to read this
A home's own band is on its council tax bill, free to look up at gov.uk/council-tax-bands; the report shows every band's bill at the council beside the home's other checks.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, live council tax tables (Band D, area averages) and the Exceptional Financial Support lists published each year; section 114 notices as published by the councils.
Source: MHCLG live council tax tables and Exceptional Financial Support lists
Common questions about MK43
What is the average house price in MK43?
The average sold price in Bedford is £333,824 as of July 2026, according to the UK House Price Index.
Are house prices rising in MK43?
Prices in Bedford are up 3.9% on a year ago (UK House Price Index).
What do houses actually sell for in MK43?
The median of 6 recorded sales around central MK43 is £335,000, ranging from £70,000 to £760,000 (HM Land Registry Price Paid Data).
Are the schools good in MK43?
4 schools sit within 3 miles of central MK43, and 100% are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
How much crime is there in MK43?
3 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of central MK43 in May 2026, most commonly violent crime (Police.uk).
Is MK43 at risk of flooding?
Central MK43 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 MK43 a good place to live?
That depends on what you need, so here is what the official data says rather than an opinion: 100% of nearby schools are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted; the median home sells for £335,000; the area sits in decile 8 of 10 on the Index of Multiple Deprivation; 3 crimes were recorded within about a mile. Every one of those figures names its source on this page.
Is MK43 safe?
3 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of central MK43 in May 2026, 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
Want the full picture for a specific property?
This page covers MK43 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.