Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 44 min4:41 am – 9:25 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 45 min8:07 am – 3:51 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People11,846 residentsin the Shefford & Shillington census areaMedian age 39.64,667 households67% of homes owner-occupied32% owned outright16% social rented, 15% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.3% unemployment rate70% of adults are economically active, 6,322 in work, 19% retiredMain industries: public administration and defence 14%, retail and wholesale 14%, health and social work 12%Getting to work: 35% work from home, 54% go by car, 2% take public transport, 8% walk or cycle39% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages35% of adults hold a degree or higher13% have no qualifications, 6% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 23°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 7°C, lows 2°C583 mm of rain a year, 12 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October46 days of air frost, 18 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 spacesSilsoe Millennium Greenpark · 2.0 mi · 5 haBellcote Meadowpark · 3.0 mi · 4 haHenlow Parkpark · 4.5 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes26 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 22 Sep 202014 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 6.3 · 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
Broadband70% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband95% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.2% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)5,237 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation69 m226 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 41 to 86 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalSteppingley Hospital5.7 miGP surgeryChicksands Medical Centre2.4 miPharmacyJardines Pharmacy2.6 miDentistChicksands Dental Centre2.4 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi6 schools5 primary, 1 specialPrimaryGravenhurst Academyages 5-9, 72 pupilsunder a milePrimaryShillington Lower Schoolages 2-9, 94 pupils1.1 miSecondaryRobert Bloomfield Academyages 9-13, 962 pupils2.3 miCollegeLuton Sixth Form College7.7 miUniversityUniversity of Bedfordshire9.3 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Luton Airport LTN9.5 miRailway stationArlesey4.9 miBus stationTransport InterchangeFlitwick5.0 miBus stops12 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the MK45 postcode district.
