Central Bedfordshire covers an area of some 716 square kilometres, and is home to approximately 254,400 people (2011 Census figure). 

Central Bedfordshire Key Facts and Figures (PDF 862KB) provides a wide range of useful information about the area.

The evidence base for the Sustainable Community Strategy contains detailed information about Central Bedfordshire covering a range of topics and issues.

Ward profiles are available for each of Central Bedfordshire's current wards. There are 31 wards in total.

These present the most up to date information and analysis on a range of topics, to help us understand who lives in each ward, and what their needs might be.

Two-page Census summaries, presenting only data from the 2011 Census, are also available for each ward, town and parish.

Ampthill ward profile (PDF 1MB)

Arlesey ward profile (PDF 894KB) 

Aspley and Woburn ward profile (PDF 875KB) 

Barton-le-Clay ward profile (PDF 953KB) 

Biggleswade North ward profile (PDF 1012KB)

Biggleswade South ward profile (PDF 932KB)

Caddington ward profile (PDF 926KB)

Cranfield and Marston Moretaine ward profile (PDF 830KB)

Dunstable Central ward profile (PDF 665KB)

Dunstable Icknield ward profile (PDF 501KB)

Dunstable Manshead ward profile (PDF 639KB)

Dunstable Northfields ward profile (PDF 565KB)

Dunstable Watling ward profile (PDF 631KB)

Eaton Bray ward profile (PDF 852KB)

Flitwick ward profile (PDF 632KB)

Heath and Reach ward profile (PDF 1.6MB)

Houghton Conquest and Haynes ward profile (PDF 600KB)

Houghton Hall ward profile (PDF 1.7MB)

Leighton Buzzard North ward profile (PDF 681KB)

Leighton Buzzard South ward profile (PDF 621KB)

Linslade ward profile (PDF 1.2MB)

Northill ward profile (PDF 1MB)

Parkside ward profile (PDF 438KB)

Potton ward profile (PDF 910KB)

Sandy ward profile (PDF 614KB)

Shefford ward profile (PDF 860KB)

Silsoe and Shillington ward profile (PDF 689KB)

Stotfold and Langford ward profile (PDF 719KB)

Tithe Farm ward profile (PDF 442KB)

Toddington ward profile (PDF 929KB)

Westoning, Flitton and Greenfield ward profile (PDF 737KB)

Town profiles have been created for the four Central Bedfordshire towns that are split into multiple wards. These are: Biggleswade, Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton Linslade.

These present the most up to date information and analysis on a range of topics, to help us understand who lives in each town, and what their needs might be.

Two-page Census summaries, presenting only data from the 2011 Census, are also available for each ward, town and parish.

• Biggleswade (PDF 1016KB)
• Dunstable (PDF 774KB)
• Houghton Regis (PDF 1.5MB)
• Leighton Linslade (PDF 1.4MB)

LSOA profiles have been created for each of the most deprived areas in Central Bedfordshire, based on the 2010 Indices of Deprivation. The profiles were created in 2011 using the most recent data available at that time. The nine areas profiled here were in the 30% most deprived of areas in England, according to the 2010 Indices of Deprivation.

LSOAs (Lower Super Output Areas) are small areas of geography that are used nationally. In 2010, there were 154 LSOAs in Central Bedfordshire, each of which contained an average of 1,500 people. 

• Dunstable Manshead 594 (PDF 588KB)
• Parkside 602 (PDF 736KB)
• Houghton Hall/Tithe Farm 618 (PDF 419KB)
• Parkside 601 (PDF 490KB)
• Leighton Buzzard North 609 (PDF 3.4MB)
• Tithe Farm 619 (PDF 423KB)
• Dunstable Northfields 596 (PDF 764KB)
• Sandy 433 (PDF 569KB)
• Flitwick 400 (PDF 543KB)

Data from the 2001 Census covers a wide range of topics. The information was produced by the former Bedfordshire councils, and covers the Central Bedfordshire area.

Analyses were completed prior to the local government reorganisation of 2009. Therefore all wards referred to are those of the former Mid and South Bedfordshire District Councils.

The 2011 Census took place on 27 March 2011. Every household in England and Wales was issued with a questionnaire to complete.

The first results from the Census were released on 16 July 2012. On census day Central Bedfordshire had a population of 254,400 people living in 104,400 households. Further information can be found in the 'Population' section, below, and on the 2011 Census information page. Summary information for wards, towns and parishes was released on 30 January 2013.  

Full data down to small area level will be released in stages, with most information being released by October 2013. Full details of the release schedule can be found below: 

• 2011 Census release schedule
• 2011 Census prospectus

After the Census results had been collected, ONS carried out a programme of quality assurance work to ensure that the figures produced are as accurate as possible. Details of this are in the QA pack:

• QA Pack - 2011 Census (PDF 171KB)

The following links from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provide further useful information about the 2011 Census:

• ONS 2011 Census statistical bulletin July 2012
• ONS 2011 Census frequently asked questions
• 2011 Census visualisations 

Current population

Detailed 2011 Census population data for smaller geographies was released by the Office for National Statistics on the 23rd November 2012. Please click on the pdf below for details of population by age, town, parish and ward. The CSV files provide further details of overall population and population at ward level. Other demographic information from the 2011 Census is available for the whole of Central Bedfordshire, and for the wards, towns and parishes of Central Bedfordshire.

• Central Bedfordshire population 2011 (PDF 87KB)
• 2011 Census population age breakdown CSV (PDF 1KB)
• 2011 Census population and household numbers by ward CSV (PDF 3KB)
• 2011 Census population breakdown for wards CSV (PDF 6KB)

For any further detail please contact insight@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Forecast population

New population forecasts will be produced for Central Bedfordshire in 2013 as further information becomes available from the 2011 Census. Previous forecasts had been posted on this part of the website, but we no longer believe these accurately reflect future growth.

Please contact insight@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk for further information regarding population forecasting.

In terms of overall deprivation three small areas in Central Bedfordshire were in the top 20% most deprived nationally, in 2010. A further six small areas were in the top 20-30% most deprived in England. These are shown below.

The Index of Multiple Deprivation combines a number of indicators and produces a single overall deprivation score for small areas known as Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs). Each of these small areas covers around 1,500 people and there are 154 small areas in Central Bedfordshire.

Top 9 most deprived areas in Central Bedfordshire in the overall 2010 Index of Multiple Deprivation (identified using ward name and three digit code)

1.  Dunstable Manshead 594
2.  Parkside 602
3.  Houghton Hall/Tithe Farm 618
4.  Parkside 601
5.  Leighton Buzzard North 609 
6.  Tithe Farm 619
7.  Dunstable Northfields 596
8.  Sandy 433 
9.  Flitwick 400 

Source: DCLG, Indices of Deprivation – Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2010

Profiles for each of these nine small areas are available on the LSOA profiles section, above.

For a more detailed account of this deprivation in Central Bedfordshire, please see the report on the Indices of Deprivation 2010 (PDF 391KB).

Unemployment data is available for Central Bedfordshire, including figures for wards and towns. This shows the number and rate of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in each area, known as claimant count unemployment.

Please click on the documents below for monthly unemployment figures for January 2012 to date. The file showing 2013 unemployment is a CSV, and the 2012 document is a pdf. A chart showing the Central Bedfordshire and England unemployment rates since 2008 is also available.

• 2013 unemployment data CSV (PDF 4KB)
• 2012 unemployment data (PDF 49KB)
• Unemployment chart (PDF 9KB) 

These figures can be accessed directly through the Nomis website.

The latest version of the Central Bedfordshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is available at this link.