MK42 postcode
Broadband in MK42 9GP
Elstow, Bedford
Gigabit broadband is available at this postcode.
Free, independent comparison · Ofcom verified data · Updated 4 March 2026
Flood Risk
Medium
Fibre (FTTP)
No
Best speed
Gigabit (1Gbps+)
Speed Calculator
Adjust the options below to see how much broadband speed your household needs.
HD uses ~5 Mbps per person. 4K uses ~25 Mbps.
Each person on calls needs around 10 Mbps.
Competitive gaming needs low latency as much as raw speed.
Cameras, thermostats, speakers and similar devices each use a few Mbps.
Gigabit broadband (Gigabit (1Gbps+)) is available at MK42 9GP. That covers your 14 Mbps needs with room to spare.
Speed Test
Check your current download speed and see how it compares to what is available at MK42 9GP.
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Broadband availability
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations 2025 (Jul 2025)
Living near MK42 9GP
MK42 9GP is in Elstow, Bedford. This guide pulls together data from Ofcom, Land Registry, Police.uk, and more. Every figure is specific to this postcode or its local area. We cover broadband, real-world speeds, house prices, and crime. Plus schools, flood risk, air quality, transport, and GP access. Use it to compare against other postcodes you're considering.
Broadband at MK42 9GP is mixed. Superfast reaches 93% of premises. Below the UK average of 93%. Ultrafast sits at 93%. Some homes will get slower connections. Ask your provider about specific speeds at your address. Don't rely on postcode-level data alone. Gigabit connections: 93% coverage. Most homes here can get future-proof speeds.
Ofcom data covers availability. Ookla measures real performance. Average download at MK42 9GP: 320 Mbps. Upload: 245 Mbps. Latency: 11ms. Well above the UK average of around 70 Mbps. 4K streaming on multiple devices at once. No problem. Large file downloads finish in minutes, not hours. Upload speed is strong for cloud backups. Data from 43 speed tests in this area.
Every premises at MK42 9GP meets the broadband USO. 100% can get 300 Mbps or faster. That's a strong position for the area. Next-gen fibre infrastructure covers 100% of premises. Most of the area has modern fibre connections.
Homes here average £270,500. That's below the UK average of £290,000. About 7% lower than the national figure. Based on two Land Registry transactions. Most recent sale: £276,000. A terraced in November 2025. Few sales on record. Prices may not reflect current market values. Check Rightmove for current asking prices nearby. A 10% deposit would be around £27,050. Monthly mortgage payments depend on your rate and term.
238 crimes recorded in the latest month. That's higher than most areas. Urban centres tend to record more incidents. Most common type: violent crime (71). Second: anti social behaviour (30). Third: vehicle crime (27). Crime data is at LSOA level, not postcode. Nearby postcodes share these figures. The area covers roughly 1,500 residents. One month is a snapshot. Look at trends over time.
Five schools near MK42 9GP. Nearest: Bedford Academy. Distance: 0.32 miles. Type: Secondary. Second nearest: King's Oak Primary School (0.54 mi). Also: Elstow School (0.69 mi). Reasonable school options. Check individual school catchment areas for your address.
Flood risk: Medium. Zone: Zone 2/3. Moderate flood risk. Get a flood risk assessment before buying. Insurance premiums may be higher. Air quality: Fair. PM2.5: 1.7 µg/m³. Well within WHO guidelines.
Local population: 1,736. Median age: 34. Suburban area. 4401 people per km². Mix of residential and local shops. Quieter than city centres. Busier than countryside. Deprivation index: decile 3 out of 10. That's more deprived than average. Income deprivation is high in this area. Education deprivation is a concern.
Nearest train station: Stockport. Distance: 114.8 miles. You'll need a car to get there. Also: Ashton-under-Lyne (117.8 mi). And Manchester Piccadilly (120.5 mi). Five public EV chargers nearby. Closest: 1.08 miles away. Good EV charging options in the area.
Council tax: mostly Band C. Check your exact band at gov.uk/council-tax-bands. Band affects your annual bill by hundreds of pounds.
Nearest GP: ACHE SHORTSTOWN BEDS. Distance: 0.8 miles. Five practices in the wider area. Check directly about new patient availability. GP lists fill up. Register early if you're moving. Close enough for a quick trip. Register with a GP before you need one. Waiting lists vary between practices.
4G outdoor coverage: 100%. 5G outdoor: 98.9%. Strong mobile signal across the area. 5G is widely available here. Data is at local authority level from Ofcom. Street-level signal can vary. Buildings and terrain affect actual reception. Try your handset on-site before switching provider.
Remote working score: 80/100. Good setup for working from home. Family score: 55/100. Mixed for families. Depends on priorities. Scores factor in broadband, schools, crime, and GPs. They weight each category by its relevance. A low score doesn't mean the area is bad. It means specific factors may not suit that use case. Compare scores with nearby postcodes to spot patterns.
A note on broadband providers. Ofcom data shows what's available. Not which provider to pick. Actual speeds depend on your line, your router, and your provider. Check BT, Sky, Virgin Media, and local FTTP operators. Compare deals at broadbandcompareuk.com or uSwitch. Contract lengths vary. 18 months is standard. Some offer 12. Ask about setup fees. They range from free to £50+. The area gets good real-world speeds. Most providers should deliver on their promises here.
Elstow has a suburban feel. Residential streets with local shops nearby. Garden space is common. Traffic is moderate. Good balance between access and quiet.
Where does this data come from? Broadband figures from Ofcom Connected Nations 2025. Crime from Police.uk. House prices from HM Land Registry. Demographics from the ONS Census. Flood data from the Environment Agency. Speed tests from Ookla. All public, all verifiable.
Before committing to MK42 9GP, visit at different times. Morning rush hour tells you about traffic and parking. Evening shows you noise levels. Weekends reveal how busy local shops and parks get. Check the walk to the nearest school or station yourself.
That's the full picture for MK42 9GP based on the latest data. Every area has trade-offs. These numbers help you spot them before you commit. Drill into each section above for the details. Compare several postcodes side by side. The right choice depends on what matters most to you. We refresh this data regularly.
| Technology | Available | Coverage | Typical Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (ADSL) | 93% | 93% | 10-20 Mbps |
| Superfast (30+ Mbps) | 93% | 93% | 30-80 Mbps |
| Ultrafast (100+ Mbps) | 93% | 93% | 100-300 Mbps |
| Full Fibre (FTTP) | N/A | N/A | 300-900 Mbps |
| Gigabit | 93% | 93% | 900-1,000 Mbps |
Speed Distribution at MK42 9GP
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations 2025
Real-World Speeds at MK42 9GP
Based on 43 Ookla Speedtest results (Q4 2025)
Download
320
Mbps
Upload
245
Mbps
Latency
11
ms
Tests
43
results
Source: Ookla Speedtest Open Data (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Digital Divide at MK42 9GP
Fibre-to-cabinet or better
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations 2025
Mobile coverage
4G & 5G coverage · Ofcom Connected Nations 2025
4G Outdoor
4G Indoor
5G Outdoor
Networks with 4G
Cell Tower Coverage near MK42 9GP
Source: OpenStreetMap Contributors
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Area suitability scores
MK42 9GPRemote Worker
80Based on superfast broadband coverage, FTTP %, and 4G mobile outdoor coverage.
Family
55Based on Ofsted school ratings, crime rate, flood risk, and GP surgery proximity.
Value for Money
70Based on broadband quality relative to average house price in the area.
Map
House prices
Average price
£270,500
Sales (5 yrs)
Trend
unknown
Most recent sale
£276,000 on
| Date | Price | Street |
|---|---|---|
| £276,000 | ABBEY FIELDS | |
| £265,000 | ABBEY FIELDS |
Crime summary
Based on Police.uk data for 2025-12Total crimes last month: 238
Schools nearby
Nearest schools within 5 miles · Ofsted ratings as at Jan 2026
| School | Type | Ofsted | Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Academy | Secondary | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.3 mi |
| King's Oak Primary School | Primary | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.5 mi |
| Elstow School | Primary | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.7 mi |
| Shortstown Primary School | Primary | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.8 mi |
| Shackleton Primary School | Primary | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.9 mi |
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Check Deals →Flood risk
Zone 2/3
🟠
Flood risk: Medium
This postcode is in Zone 2/3 — medium risk of flooding from rivers and sea.
Flood Zone
Zone 2/3
Risk Level
Medium
EPC energy ratings
Energy Performance Certificate distribution for this area
Most common: Band B
EPC score 81–91
Council tax bands
Band distribution for Bedford
Most common: Band C
~£1,841/yr · Bedford
Annual council tax estimates for Bedford, 2024/25
Transport links
Nearest train stations and towns
Nearest train stations
Stockport
114.8 mi
by road
Ashton-under-Lyne
117.8 mi
by road
Manchester Piccadilly
120.5 mi
by road
GP surgeries nearby
Nearest NHS GP practices
ACHE SHORTSTOWN BEDS
new patients
LONDON ROAD HEALTH CENTRE
new patients
EAST BEDFORD PCN
new patients
HUC B&L IUC SERVICE
new patients
CAULDWELL MEDICAL CENTRE
new patients
Air quality
Particulate matter & nitrogen dioxide levels
Fair air quality
Air quality data not available.
WHO guideline: 15 μg/m³
WHO guideline: 45 μg/m³
WHO guideline: 25 μg/m³
EV charging nearby
Public EV charging points within 5 miles
EV Charger
1.1 mi
away
EV Charger
1.5 mi
away
BP Pulse
1.5 mi
away
EV Charger
1.6 mi
away
EV Charger
1.6 mi
away
Deprivation index (IMD)
English Indices of Deprivation 2019 · LSOA: E01017518
Overall IMD Decile
3 / 10
Below average
Ranked
8,837
of 32,844 areas
Decile 10 = least deprived 10% of England. Decile 1 = most deprived 10%. Based on Bedford 014A (2019 boundaries).
| Domain | Decile | Rank | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | 2 | 6,398 | Most deprived |
| Employment | 3 | 8,703 | Below average |
| Education | 3 | 33 | Below average |
| Health | 4 | N/A | Below average |
| Crime | 4 | N/A | Below average |
Area demographics
Data for LSOA: Bedford 014A
Population
1,736
Census 2021
Density
4401
per km² · Dense urban
Median Age
34
years (est.)
Estimated from area type (density-based); exact value requires Census TS007 age breakdown
Area info
Parish
Elstow
District
Bedford
Region
Constituency
LSOA
E01017518
Frequently asked questions about MK42 9GP
What are the broadband speeds available at MK42 9GP?
Superfast broadband (30Mbps+) is available to 93% of premises at MK42 9GP. Maximum download speeds reach Gigabit (1Gbps+). Ultrafast coverage is at 93%.
What is the average house price near MK42 9GP?
Average property price near MK42 9GP: £270,500. Based on 2 Land Registry sales. The most recent sale was a terraced for £276,000 in 2025.
What is the flood risk for properties at MK42 9GP?
MK42 9GP has a Medium flood risk rating, classified as Zone 2/3 by the Environment Agency. Check the Environment Agency flood map for detailed risk information.
What schools are nearby in the MK42 9GP area?
The nearest school to MK42 9GP is Bedford Academy (Secondary), 0.32 miles away. There are 5 schools within a few miles of this postcode.
How does crime rate in MK42 9GP compare to other areas?
In the latest month of data, 238 crimes were reported in this area (LSOA level). This is higher than average. The most common category was violent crime.
How suitable is MK42 9GP for remote working?
MK42 9GP scores 80/100 for remote working suitability, making it well suited for home workers. This score factors in superfast broadband coverage, full fibre availability, and mobile signal strength.
What is the mobile signal like at MK42 9GP?
4G outdoor coverage at MK42 9GP is 100%, with 5G outdoor at 98.9%. Networks available include EE, O2, Three, Vodafone. Data is at local authority level from Ofcom Connected Nations.
What is the most common energy efficiency rating for homes near MK42 9GP?
EPC data is not yet available for MK42 9GP. Energy Performance Certificates are recorded when properties are sold or rented. Check the EPC register at epc.opendatacommunities.org for individual property ratings.
What is the council tax band distribution at MK42 9GP?
The most common council tax band in Bedford is Band C. Band D council tax is approximately £1988 per year. Check your exact band at gov.uk.
How accessible are GP surgeries near MK42 9GP?
The nearest GP surgery to MK42 9GP is ACHE SHORTSTOWN BEDS, 0.8 miles away. There are 5 GP practices within reach.
What transport links are available near MK42 9GP?
The nearest train station to MK42 9GP is Stockport, 114.8 miles away. Other nearby stations include Ashton-under-Lyne (117.8 mi) and Manchester Piccadilly (120.5 mi).
Is MK42 9GP a suitable area for families?
MK42 9GP scores 55/100 for family suitability, rated reasonably suitable. This score considers Ofsted school ratings, crime rates, flood risk, and proximity to GP surgeries.
What is the air quality like at MK42 9GP?
Air quality at MK42 9GP is rated Fair with PM2.5 levels at 1.7 µg/m³. This is close to WHO guideline levels.
How far is the nearest EV charging point from MK42 9GP?
The nearest public EV charging point to MK42 9GP is 1.08 miles away (EV Charger, Type 2). There are 5 charging points within 5 miles.
Can I get full fibre broadband at MK42 9GP?
Ultrafast broadband (100Mbps+) is available to 93% of premises at MK42 9GP. Gigabit coverage reaches 93%. Providers like BT, Virgin Media, or local full fibre operators may serve this area.
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