Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 45 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°C558 mm of rain a year, 11 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October49 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)
Nearby landmarksVillage Lakelake · 1.9 miCauseway Lakelake · 2.0 miHammer Hillhill · 1.3 miVolunteers' Woodwoodland · under a mileLongholme Islandisland · 3.0 miShocott Springwoodland · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesShocott Springpark · under a mile · 52 haPriory Country Parkpark · 2.3 mi · 115 haDog Fieldpark · 2.3 mi · 36 haClock Parkplaying field · 1.4 miBedford Road Allotmentsallotments · 1.7 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes32 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19707 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 22 Sep 202016 mi away, Leighton Buzzard, BedsMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 18 Aug 202523 mi away, Thornborough, BucksSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 6.5 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 12 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
Elevation32 m105 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 28 to 51 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalCuh At Bedford Hospital3.4 miGP surgeryAche Shortstown Beds1.4 miPharmacyPyramid Pharmacy2 pharmacies within 2 miles1.4 miDentistLondon Road Health Centre3.0 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi4 schools4 primaryPrimaryCotton End Forest Schoolages 2-11, 435 pupilsunder a milePrimaryShortstown Primary Schoolages 2-11, 479 pupils1.4 miSecondaryWixams Academyages 11-19, 903 pupils2.3 miCollegeBedford College3.5 miUniversityCranfield University9.1 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Luton Airport LTN15 miRailway stationBedford St Johns3.3 miBus stationBus StationBedford3.8 miBus stops11 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the MK45 postcode district.
