Town Pop. 18,830

Living in Kempston: Liveability Score 56/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Kempston scores 56/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is schools: 71/100 against a national town median of 23/100. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 28/100 against a town median of 88/100.

That makes it the 2nd highest-scoring of the 4 places in the MK42 postcode district. Broadband (94) sits at 80/100 or above. On the national picture that lands Kempston in the top quarter of all the places we score. Wider context for the surrounding area: MK42 postcode district.

56
OUT OF 100
Average
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Kempston scores 56 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Kempston.
Or compare:
MK42 0AA MK42 5AQ MK42 6AA MK42 7AA MK42 8AA MK42 9AA MK42 MK43 MK45

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
28
120.6 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 788 crimes
↑ 26% above national average
Shoplifting 376 crimes
↑ 156% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 271 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Public order 179 crimes
↑ 46% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 178 crimes
↑ 40% above national average
other 478 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Abbott Crescent 292 crimes
  2. 2 The Old Yard 222 crimes
  3. 3 Supermarket 150 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
58
Air Quality NO₂ 8.8 · PM2.5 7.2 · PM10 12.2 µg/m³
69
Green Space 34
Parks Ample 47
Sports Pitches Adequate 3
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Adequate 3
Bowling Greens Adequate 2
Playgrounds Ample 14

Services

Schools
71
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 20 in area · 35 within 4km
3Outstanding14Good1Requires Improvement2Ungraded
  • Bedford Free SchoolSecondary · inspected 2025
    Outstanding
  • Great Denham Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Outstanding
  • Peter Pan Nursery SchoolNursery · inspected 2023
    Outstanding
  • Balliol Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Camestone SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Cauldwell SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Cherry Trees Nursery SchoolNursery · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Grange AcademySpecial · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Greys Education CentreAlternative provision · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Kempston AcademySecondary · inspected 2024
    Good

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
64
A&E departmentsBedford Hospital South Wing0.3 mi
Milton Keynes University Hospital10.8 mi
Luton and Dunstable Hospital13.9 mi
Hospital waitsCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1.4 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs71.1%
1 GP surgery in area 9 within 4km best 'Good'
GP capacity2,014 patients per GP
3dentists3pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
94
Full fibre (FTTP)70.4%
available across Bedford
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
97.3%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
97.6%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.9%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 465 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
41
Employment rate61.9%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed61.9%Unemployed3.7%Retired18.7%Student3.9%Other inactive11.9%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial30.6%Skilled & technical32.4%Routine & elementary37%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications20.9%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)13%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.8%Level 3 (A levels)15.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)26.7%Apprenticeship6.3%Other (incl. vocational)3.7%
Home ownership61.1%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
45
Council tax Bedford · 2026-27
A £1,648
B £1,923
C £2,197
D £2,472
E £3,021
F £3,571
G £4,120
H £4,944
Energy Eastern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Anglian Water
Average bill regional £498/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
52
Kempston Hardwick 1.6 mi
Bedford St Johns 1.6 mi
Bedford 1.7 mi
J13 M1 7.6 mi
J13 M1 7.7 mi
J14 M1 9.2 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
64
Pubs & Bars Ample 12
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 14
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 13
Retail Shopping Ample 62
Takeaways Ample 23
Fitness Adequate 3

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £312,500 121
Detached £420,000 29
Semi-detached £320,000 41
Terraced £273,700 37
Flat / Maisonette £221,250 14
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£158k £245k £334k £421k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Great Denham 59 1.1 mi away ⇄
Box End 43 1.8 mi away ⇄
Wootton (Bedford) 54 2.0 mi away ⇄
Kempston Hardwick 41 2.0 mi away ⇄
Wixams 44 2.1 mi away ⇄
Bedford 59 2.5 mi away ⇄
Bromham (Bedford) 57 2.8 mi away ⇄
Shortstown 43 2.9 mi away ⇄
Stewartby 43 3.0 mi away ⇄
Stagsden 38 3.2 mi away ⇄
Wilstead 43 3.3 mi away ⇄
Clapham (Bedford) 52 3.5 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Kempston a nice place to live?

Kempston is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Kempston is 56/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Kempston?

Crime levels in Kempston are high relative to the national average. Our safety score is 28/100. There were 2,270 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Kempston?

Among the top-rated schools in Kempston are Bedford Free School, Great Denham Primary School and Peter Pan Nursery School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 20 rated schools in Kempston in total.

What are house prices like in Kempston?

The current median house price in Kempston is £312,500, around 10% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £420,000, semi-detached £320,000, terraced £273,700, flat £221,250. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 18%. There were 121 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Kempston in context

See where Kempston ranks among the best places to live in Bedfordshire

Postcode districts in Kempston

MK42 55 ⇄
MK43 42 ⇄
MK45 48 ⇄

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