Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 46 min4:40 am – 9:26 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 44 min8:07 am – 3:51 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,533 residentsin the Wilstead & Shortstown census areaMedian age 38.23,463 households71% of homes owner-occupied30% owned outright15% social rented, 11% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.9% unemployment rate69% of adults are economically active, 4,452 in work, 19% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 17%, health and social work 14%, education 10%Getting to work: 32% work from home, 60% go by car, 3% take public transport, 4% walk or cycle54% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages34% of adults hold a degree or higher14% have no qualifications, 6% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 93%1% cannot speak English wellSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 23°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 2°C559 mm of rain a year, 11 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October47 days of air frost, 21 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Parks and green spacesPriory Country Parkpark · under a mile · 115 haDog Fieldpark · under a mile · 36 haThe Greenpark · within reachClock Parkplaying field · under a mileThe Eyrieplaying field · under a mile · 5 haBunyan Allotmentsallotments · 1.7 mi · 9 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes33 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19707 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 22 Sep 202018 mi away, Leighton Buzzard, BedsMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 18 Aug 202524 mi away, Thornborough, BucksSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at High risk within 500 m of the centrea 1 in 30 chance of flooding in any year, or greaterAlso medium, low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 7.2 · PM2.5 7.0 · PM10 13 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband84% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband100% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)4,168 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation27 m89 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 22 to 41 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalCuh At Bedford Hospital2.6 miGP surgeryBedoc Healthcare4 surgeries within 2 milesunder a milePharmacySmarta Healthcare5 pharmacies within 2 milesunder a mileDentistDental Clinic1.7 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi7 schools5 primary, 1 secondary, 1 independentPrimaryShortstown Primary Schoolages 2-11, 479 pupilsunder a milePrimarySheerhatch Primary Schoolages 4-11, 129 pupils1.1 miSecondaryBedford Academyages 11-18, 1,480 pupils1.7 miCollegeBedford College2.6 miUniversityCranfield University9.6 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Luton Airport LTN17 miRailway stationBedford St Johns2.5 miBus stationBus StationBedford2.8 miBus stops29 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the MK44 postcode district.
