MK42 postcode
Broadband in MK42 8QZ
Kempston, Bedford
Superfast broadband covers 100% of premises here.
Free, independent comparison · Ofcom verified data · Updated 6 March 2026
Flood Risk
Medium
Fibre (FTTP)
No
Best speed
300Mbps+
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.
The best available speed at MK42 8QZ is 300Mbps+. That covers your 14 Mbps estimate.
Speed Test
Check your current download speed and see how it compares to what is available at MK42 8QZ.
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 8QZ
MK42 8QZ 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 8QZ is solid. Superfast (30Mbps+) reaches 100% of premises. The UK average is around 93%. Kempston beats that. Ultrafast (100Mbps+) covers 96%. That puts Kempston ahead of most UK postcodes. Enough for streaming, video calls, and smart home devices. No gigabit connections available yet. Top speeds listed as 300Mbps+.
Coverage tells you what's available. Speed tests show what people get. Average download at MK42 8QZ: 109 Mbps. Upload: 64 Mbps. Latency: 11ms. Around the UK average. Fine for most households. HD streaming and video calls should work well. Multiple devices can share this comfortably. Upload speed is strong for cloud backups.
Every premises at MK42 8QZ meets the broadband USO. 87.5% 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.
Limited house price data for MK42 8QZ. 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.
207 crimes recorded in the latest month. That's higher than most areas. Urban centres tend to record more incidents. Most common type: violent crime (87). Second: anti social behaviour (24). Third: public order (22). 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 8QZ. Nearest: Rivertree Free School. Distance: 0.24 miles. Type: Special. Second nearest: Grange Academy (0.29 mi). Also: Bedford Road Primary Academy (0.33 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: 1,230. Median age: 32. Urban area. 6373 people per km². Busy area. More noise and traffic. More shops and services within walking distance. Deprivation index: decile 2 out of 10. That's more deprived than average. Income deprivation is high in this area. Education deprivation is a concern. Health outcomes trail the national average.
Nearest train station: Stockport. Distance: 113 miles. You'll need a car to get there. Also: Ashton-under-Lyne (116 mi). And Manchester Piccadilly (118.7 mi). Five public EV chargers nearby. Closest: 0.41 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: 0.4 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: 64/100. Workable, but check speeds with your employer. Family score: 65/100. 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.
All data on this page comes from official public sources. Ofcom publishes broadband stats yearly. Police.uk updates monthly. The Land Registry records every sale. We pull it together so you can see the full picture in one place.
Before committing to MK42 8QZ, 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.
Those are the facts for MK42 8QZ. Compare with other postcodes you're considering. Each section above links to its official source. The data is objective. Your priorities decide which trade-offs matter. What works for a young professional differs from a family with children. Check back for updated figures as new data comes in.
| Technology | Available | Coverage | Typical Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (ADSL) | 100% | 100% | 10-20 Mbps |
| Superfast (30+ Mbps) | 100% | 100% | 30-80 Mbps |
| Ultrafast (100+ Mbps) | 96% | 96% | 100-300 Mbps |
| Full Fibre (FTTP) | N/A | N/A | 300-900 Mbps |
| Gigabit | 0% | 0% | 900-1,000 Mbps |
Speed Distribution at MK42 8QZ
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations 2025
Real-World Speeds at MK42 8QZ
Based on 3 Ookla Speedtest results (Q4 2025)
Download
109
Mbps
Upload
64
Mbps
Latency
11
ms
Tests
3
results
Source: Ookla Speedtest Open Data (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Digital Divide at MK42 8QZ
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 8QZ
Source: OpenStreetMap Contributors
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Area suitability scores
MK42 8QZRemote Worker
64Based on superfast broadband coverage, FTTP %, and 4G mobile outdoor coverage.
Family
65Based on Ofsted school ratings, crime rate, flood risk, and GP surgery proximity.
Value for Money
50Based on broadband quality relative to average house price in the area.
Map
Crime summary
Based on Police.uk data for 2025-12Total crimes last month: 207
Schools nearby
Nearest schools within 5 miles · Ofsted ratings as at Jan 2026
| School | Type | Ofsted | Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivertree Free School | Special | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.2 mi |
| Grange Academy | Special | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.3 mi |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy | Primary | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.3 mi |
| Greys Education Centre | Other | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.4 mi |
| Great Denham Primary School | Primary | Not available | ★★★☆☆ | 0.6 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 E
EPC score 39–54
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
113.0 mi
by road
Ashton-under-Lyne
116.0 mi
by road
Manchester Piccadilly
118.7 mi
by road
GP surgeries nearby
Nearest NHS GP practices
KING STREET SURGERY
new patients
THE VILLAGE PHARMACY
new patients
QUEENS PARK HEALTH CENTRE
new patients
CARITAS MEDICAL PCN
new patients
HUC B&L IUC SERVICE
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
0.4 mi
away
EV Charger
0.5 mi
away
BP Pulse
1.4 mi
away
EV Charger
1.5 mi
away
EV Charger
1.5 mi
away
Deprivation index (IMD)
English Indices of Deprivation 2019 · LSOA: E01017509
Overall IMD Decile
2 / 10
Most deprived
Ranked
3,953
of 32,844 areas
Decile 10 = least deprived 10% of England. Decile 1 = most deprived 10%. Based on Bedford 016A (2019 boundaries).
| Domain | Decile | Rank | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | 2 | 5,022 | Most deprived |
| Employment | 2 | 3,459 | Most deprived |
| Education | 1 | 52 | Most deprived |
| Health | 2 | N/A | Most deprived |
| Crime | 7 | N/A | Above average |
Area demographics
Data for LSOA: Bedford 016A
Population
1,230
Census 2021
Density
6373
per km² · Dense urban
Median Age
32
years (est.)
Estimated from area type (density-based); exact value requires Census TS007 age breakdown
Area info
Parish
Kempston
District
Bedford
Region
Constituency
LSOA
E01017509
Frequently asked questions about MK42 8QZ
What are the broadband speeds available at MK42 8QZ?
Superfast broadband (30Mbps+) is available to 100% of premises at MK42 8QZ. Maximum download speeds reach 300Mbps+. Ultrafast coverage is at 96%.
What is the average house price near MK42 8QZ?
No recent house price data for MK42 8QZ. Few residential sales on record, or mainly commercial properties.
What is the flood risk for properties at MK42 8QZ?
MK42 8QZ 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 8QZ area?
The nearest school to MK42 8QZ is Rivertree Free School (Special), 0.24 miles away. There are 5 schools within a few miles of this postcode.
How does crime rate in MK42 8QZ compare to other areas?
In the latest month of data, 207 crimes were reported in this area (LSOA level). This is higher than average. The most common category was violent crime.
How suitable is MK42 8QZ for remote working?
MK42 8QZ scores 64/100 for remote working suitability, making it reasonably 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 8QZ?
4G outdoor coverage at MK42 8QZ 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 8QZ?
EPC data is not yet available for MK42 8QZ. 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 8QZ?
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 8QZ?
The nearest GP surgery to MK42 8QZ is KING STREET SURGERY, 0.4 miles away. There are 5 GP practices within reach.
What transport links are available near MK42 8QZ?
The nearest train station to MK42 8QZ is Stockport, 113 miles away. Other nearby stations include Ashton-under-Lyne (116 mi) and Manchester Piccadilly (118.7 mi).
Is MK42 8QZ a suitable area for families?
MK42 8QZ scores 65/100 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 8QZ?
Air quality at MK42 8QZ 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 8QZ?
The nearest public EV charging point to MK42 8QZ is 0.41 miles away (EV Charger, Type 2). There are 5 charging points within 5 miles.
Can I get full fibre broadband at MK42 8QZ?
Ultrafast broadband (100Mbps+) is available to 96% of premises at MK42 8QZ. Providers like BT, Virgin Media, or local full fibre operators may serve this area.
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