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MK42 postcode

Broadband in MK42 8QA

Kempston, Bedford

Superfast broadband covers 50% of premises here.

Best speed50% Ultrafast
StandardSuperfastGigabit
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Free, independent comparison · Ofcom verified data · Updated 18 March 2026

Flood Risk

Medium

Fibre (FTTP)

No

Best speed

50% Ultrafast

Reviewed by Arthur TuringData last verified: 18 March 2026

Speed Calculator

Adjust the options below to see how much broadband speed your household needs.

2
18

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.

Estimated speed needed14 Mbps

The best available speed at MK42 8QA is 50% Ultrafast. That covers your 14 Mbps estimate.

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Speed Test

Check your current download speed and see how it compares to what is available at MK42 8QA.

The test downloads a 2 MB file from our server and measures how long it takes.

This test measures download speed only. Results vary depending on network conditions.

Broadband availability

Source: Ofcom Connected Nations 2025 (Jul 2025)

Living near MK42 8QA

MK42 8QA is in Kempston, 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 8QA is mixed. Superfast reaches 50% of premises. Below the UK average of 93%. Ultrafast sits at 50%. Some homes will get slower connections. Ask your provider about specific speeds at your address. Don't rely on postcode-level data alone. No gigabit connections available yet. Top speeds listed as 50% Ultrafast.

Advertised speeds and actual speeds are different things. Average download at MK42 8QA: 167 Mbps. Upload: 32 Mbps. Latency: 13ms. Around the UK average. Fine for most households. HD streaming and video calls should work well. Multiple devices can share this comfortably. Data from 50 speed tests in this area.

Limited house price data for MK42 8QA. Few residential sales on record here. Could be a commercial area, new development, or rental-heavy. Land Registry only records completed sales. Rentals and new-builds under shared ownership may not appear. Check Rightmove or Zoopla for current asking prices. Talk to local estate agents for a ground-level view.

183 crimes recorded in the latest month. Around average for a populated area. Most common type: violent crime (68). Second: public order (21). Third: anti social behaviour (20). Crime data is at LSOA level, not postcode. Nearby postcodes share these figures. The area covers roughly 1,500 residents. Monthly figures move around. The pattern matters more.

Five schools near MK42 8QA. Nearest: Bedford Road Primary Academy. Distance: 0.11 miles. Type: Primary. Second nearest: Greys Education Centre (0.23 mi). Also: Rivertree Free School (0.26 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: 1,549. Median age: 32. Urban area. 5969 people per km². Busy area. More noise and traffic. More shops and services within walking distance. Deprivation index: decile 4 out of 10. That's mid-range. Education deprivation is a concern.

Nearest train station: Stockport. Distance: 113.4 miles. You'll need a car to get there. Also: Ashton-under-Lyne (116.4 mi). And Manchester Piccadilly (119.2 mi). Five public EV chargers nearby. Closest: 0.23 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: KING STREET SURGERY. Distance: 0.1 miles. Five practices in the wider area. Check directly about new patient availability. GP lists fill up. Register early if you're moving. Walking distance to your GP. Handy. 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: 40/100. Workable, but check speeds with your employer. 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.

Kempston is a busy, built-up area. Expect shops, takeaways, and services on your doorstep. Parking can be tight. Noise levels higher than average. Public transport links tend to be better in denser areas.

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.

A data profile is a starting point. Visit MK42 8QA before making decisions. Drive the commute at peak time. Walk to the local shops. Check mobile signal inside a property, not just outside. Look at the street on Google Maps and in person. They often tell different stories.

That's the full picture for MK42 8QA 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.

TechnologyAvailableCoverageTypical Speed
Standard (ADSL)50%
50%
10-20 Mbps
Superfast (30+ Mbps)50%
50%
30-80 Mbps
Ultrafast (100+ Mbps)50%
50%
100-300 Mbps
Full Fibre (FTTP)N/A
N/A
300-900 Mbps
Gigabit0%
0%
900-1,000 Mbps

Real-World Speeds at MK42 8QA

Based on 50 Ookla Speedtest results (Q4 2025)

Download

167

Mbps

Upload

32

Mbps

Latency

13

ms

Tests

50

results

Source: Ookla Speedtest Open Data (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Mobile coverage

4G & 5G coverage · Ofcom Connected Nations 2025

4G Outdoor

100%

4G Indoor

99.7%

5G Outdoor

98.9%

Networks with 4G

EEO2ThreeVodafone
Ofcom Connected Nations 2025 (Jul 2025) · Data at local authority area level

Cell Tower Coverage near MK42 8QA

No cell towers found within 2 km. Mobile signal may be weak in this area.

Source: OpenStreetMap Contributors

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Area suitability scores

MK42 8QA

Remote Worker

40

Based on superfast broadband coverage, FTTP %, and 4G mobile outdoor coverage.

Family

55

Based on Ofsted school ratings, crime rate, flood risk, and GP surgery proximity.

Value for Money

50

Based on broadband quality relative to average house price in the area.

Map

Crime summary

Based on Police.uk data for 2025-12

Total crimes last month: 183

violent crime37%68
public order11%21
anti social behaviour11%20
shoplifting9%17
criminal damage arson8%15
other theft7%12
drugs5%9
vehicle crime5%9
burglary3%5
other crime2%3
robbery1%1
bicycle theft1%1
possession of weapons1%1
theft from the person1%1

Schools nearby

Nearest schools within 5 miles · Ofsted ratings as at Jan 2026

SchoolTypeOfstedRatingDistance
Bedford Road Primary AcademyPrimaryNot available★★★☆☆0.1 mi
Greys Education CentreOtherNot available★★★☆☆0.2 mi
Rivertree Free SchoolSpecialNot available★★★☆☆0.3 mi
Grange AcademySpecialNot available★★★☆☆0.3 mi
Camestone SchoolPrimaryNot available★★★☆☆0.4 mi

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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

Environment Agency flood risk data

EPC energy ratings

Energy Performance Certificate distribution for this area

A

Most common: Band A

EPC score 92–100

A
0%
B
0%
C
0%
D
0%
E
0%
F
0%
G
0%
EPC Open Data Communities API

Council tax bands

Band distribution for Bedford

C

Most common: Band C

1,841/yr · Bedford

A
7%£1,381
B
18%£1,611
C
28%£1,841
D
24%£2,071
E
13%£2,531
F
6%£2,991
G
3%£3,452
H
1%£4,142

Annual council tax estimates for Bedford, 2024/25

Valuation Office Agency (VOA) · Check exact band at gov.uk

Transport links

Nearest train stations and towns

Nearest train stations

🚂

Stockport

113.4 mi

by road

🚂

Ashton-under-Lyne

116.4 mi

by road

🚂

Manchester Piccadilly

119.2 mi

by road

NaPTAN · Straight-line distances

GP surgeries nearby

Nearest NHS GP practices

1

KING STREET SURGERY

MK42 8QD·0.1 miles away
Not accepting

new patients

2

CCSB HEALTH VISITORS

MK42 7PN·0.8 miles away
Not accepting

new patients

3

CCSB PAED COMM NURSING

MK42 7PN·0.8 miles away
Not accepting

new patients

4

CCSB SAFEGUARDING

MK42 7PN·0.8 miles away
Not accepting

new patients

5

CCSB SCHOOL NURSING

MK42 7PN·0.8 miles away
Not accepting

new patients

NHS website (NHS.uk find a GP) · Nearest 3 GP practicesFind a GP →

Air quality

Particulate matter & nitrogen dioxide levels

Fair air quality

Air quality data not available.

PM2.5 (fine particles)1.7 μg/m³

WHO guideline: 15 μg/m³

PM10 (coarse particles) μg/m³

WHO guideline: 45 μg/m³

NO₂ (nitrogen dioxide) μg/m³

WHO guideline: 25 μg/m³

Open-Meteo Air Quality API · Guidelines: WHO 2021

EV charging nearby

Public EV charging points within 5 miles

🔋

EV Charger

Type 2

0.2 mi

away

🔋

EV Charger

Type 2

0.2 mi

away

🔋

BP Pulse

Type 22 points

1.4 mi

away

🔋

EV Charger

Type 22 points

1.6 mi

away

🔋

EV Charger

Type 22 points

1.6 mi

away

OpenStreetMap Overpass API (replaces decommissioned DFT National Chargepoint Registry, which closed Nov 2024) · Within 5 miles

Deprivation index (IMD)

English Indices of Deprivation 2019 · LSOA: E01017505

Overall IMD Decile

4 / 10

Below average

Ranked

12,713

of 32,844 areas

Decile 10 = least deprived 10% of England. Decile 1 = most deprived 10%. Based on Bedford 017A (2019 boundaries).

DomainDecileRankAssessment
Income515,609Average
Employment410,258Below average
Education329Below average
Health5N/AAverage
Crime3N/ABelow average
English Indices of Deprivation 2019 (MHCLG)

Area demographics

Data for LSOA: Bedford 017A

Population

1,549

Census 2021

Density

5969

per km² · Dense urban

Median Age

32

years (est.)

Estimated from area type (density-based); exact value requires Census TS007 age breakdown

Census 2021 (ONS via Nomis NM_2028_1, NM_2026_1)

Area info

Parish

Kempston

District

Bedford

Region

Constituency

LSOA

E01017505

Frequently asked questions about MK42 8QA

What are the broadband speeds available at MK42 8QA?

Superfast broadband (30Mbps+) is available to 50% of premises at MK42 8QA. Maximum download speeds reach 50% Ultrafast. Ultrafast coverage is at 50%.

What is the average house price near MK42 8QA?

No recent house price data for MK42 8QA. Few residential sales on record, or mainly commercial properties.

What is the flood risk for properties at MK42 8QA?

MK42 8QA 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 8QA area?

The nearest school to MK42 8QA is Bedford Road Primary Academy (Primary), 0.11 miles away. There are 5 schools within a few miles of this postcode.

How does crime rate in MK42 8QA compare to other areas?

In the latest month of data, 183 crimes were reported in this area (LSOA level). This is around average. The most common category was violent crime.

How suitable is MK42 8QA for remote working?

MK42 8QA scores 40/100 for remote working suitability, making it somewhat limited 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 8QA?

4G outdoor coverage at MK42 8QA 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 8QA?

EPC data is not yet available for MK42 8QA. 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 8QA?

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 8QA?

The nearest GP surgery to MK42 8QA is KING STREET SURGERY, 0.1 miles away. There are 5 GP practices within reach.

What transport links are available near MK42 8QA?

The nearest train station to MK42 8QA is Stockport, 113.4 miles away. Other nearby stations include Ashton-under-Lyne (116.4 mi) and Manchester Piccadilly (119.2 mi).

Is MK42 8QA a suitable area for families?

MK42 8QA 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 8QA?

Air quality at MK42 8QA 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 8QA?

The nearest public EV charging point to MK42 8QA is 0.23 miles away (EV Charger, Type 2). There are 5 charging points within 5 miles.

Can I get full fibre broadband at MK42 8QA?

Ultrafast broadband (100Mbps+) is available to 50% of premises at MK42 8QA. Providers like BT, Virgin Media, or local full fibre operators may serve this area.

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