MK42 postcode
Broadband in MK42 8RD
Kempston, Bedford
Gigabit broadband is available at this postcode.
Free, independent comparison · Ofcom verified data · Updated 9 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 8RD. 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 8RD.
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 8RD
MK42 8RD 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 8RD is solid. Superfast (30Mbps+) reaches 100% of premises. The UK average is around 93%. Kempston beats that. Ultrafast (100Mbps+) covers 100%. That puts Kempston ahead of most UK postcodes. Enough for streaming, video calls, and smart home devices. Gigabit connections: 100% coverage. Most homes here can get future-proof speeds.
Advertised speeds and actual speeds are different things. Average download at MK42 8RD: 309 Mbps. Upload: 99 Mbps. Latency: 13ms. 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 70 speed tests in this area.
Every premises at MK42 8RD 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.
Average property price near MK42 8RD: £315,000. That's above the UK average of £290,000. About 9% higher than the national figure. Based on one Land Registry transaction. Most recent sale: £315,000. A terraced in July 2023. Few sales on record. Prices may not reflect current market values. Check Rightmove for current asking prices nearby. A 10% deposit would be around £31,500. Monthly mortgage payments depend on your rate and term.
Police.uk data: 207 incidents last 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. One month is a snapshot. Look at trends over time.
Five schools near MK42 8RD. Nearest: Rivertree Free School. Distance: 0.2 miles. Type: Special. Second nearest: Grange Academy (0.26 mi). Also: Bedford Road Primary Academy (0.27 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: 113.1 miles. You'll need a car to get there. Also: Ashton-under-Lyne (116.1 mi). And Manchester Piccadilly (118.8 mi). Five public EV chargers nearby. Closest: 0.36 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: 0.3 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: 85/100. 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.
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.
Research is one thing. Being there is another. Walk around MK42 8RD at different times of day. Check if the streets feel safe after dark. Look at how well homes are maintained. Visit the nearest park or green space. These things don't show up in statistics.
That covers the key data for MK42 8RD. Visit in person before deciding. Walk the streets at different times of day. Talk to neighbours if you can. Check parking, noise levels, and local shops. The numbers give you the framework. The visit fills in the rest. Data changes over time. Bookmark this page and check back for updates.
| Technology | Available | Coverage | Typical Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (ADSL) | 100% | 100% | 10-20 Mbps |
| Superfast (30+ Mbps) | 100% | 100% | 30-80 Mbps |
| Ultrafast (100+ Mbps) | 100% | 100% | 100-300 Mbps |
| Full Fibre (FTTP) | N/A | N/A | 300-900 Mbps |
| Gigabit | 100% | 100% | 900-1,000 Mbps |
Speed Distribution at MK42 8RD
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations 2025
Real-World Speeds at MK42 8RD
Based on 70 Ookla Speedtest results (Q4 2025)
Download
309
Mbps
Upload
99
Mbps
Latency
13
ms
Tests
70
results
Source: Ookla Speedtest Open Data (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Digital Divide at MK42 8RD
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 8RD
Source: OpenStreetMap Contributors
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Area suitability scores
MK42 8RDRemote Worker
85Based 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
60Based on broadband quality relative to average house price in the area.
Map
House prices
Average price
£315,000
Sales (5 yrs)
Trend
unknown
Most recent sale
£315,000 on
| Date | Price | Street |
|---|---|---|
| £315,000 | HILLGROUNDS ROAD |
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 | ★★★☆☆ | 0.7 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 C
EPC score 69–80
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
113.1 mi
by road
Ashton-under-Lyne
116.1 mi
by road
Manchester Piccadilly
118.8 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 8RD
What are the broadband speeds available at MK42 8RD?
Superfast broadband (30Mbps+) is available to 100% of premises at MK42 8RD. Maximum download speeds reach Gigabit (1Gbps+). Ultrafast coverage is at 100%.
What is the average house price near MK42 8RD?
Average property price near MK42 8RD: £315,000. Based on 1 Land Registry sale. The most recent sale was a terraced for £315,000 in 2023.
What is the flood risk for properties at MK42 8RD?
MK42 8RD 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 8RD area?
The nearest school to MK42 8RD is Rivertree Free School (Special), 0.2 miles away. There are 5 schools within a few miles of this postcode.
How does crime rate in MK42 8RD 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 8RD for remote working?
MK42 8RD scores 85/100 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 8RD?
4G outdoor coverage at MK42 8RD 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 8RD?
EPC data is not yet available for MK42 8RD. 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 8RD?
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 8RD?
The nearest GP surgery to MK42 8RD is KING STREET SURGERY, 0.3 miles away. There are 5 GP practices within reach.
What transport links are available near MK42 8RD?
The nearest train station to MK42 8RD is Stockport, 113.1 miles away. Other nearby stations include Ashton-under-Lyne (116.1 mi) and Manchester Piccadilly (118.8 mi).
Is MK42 8RD a suitable area for families?
MK42 8RD 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 8RD?
Air quality at MK42 8RD 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 8RD?
The nearest public EV charging point to MK42 8RD is 0.36 miles away (EV Charger, Type 2). There are 5 charging points within 5 miles.
Can I get full fibre broadband at MK42 8RD?
Ultrafast broadband (100Mbps+) is available to 100% of premises at MK42 8RD. Gigabit coverage reaches 100%. Providers like BT, Virgin Media, or local full fibre operators may serve this area.
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