SQL Query

SQL Query

Hi Guys

Firstly I apologise if im completely barking up the wrong tree regards this question.

We have a page on our website that involves allowing the user to select an area in the UK. When they type 3 characters the query begins and matching areas are displayed. However it appears quite sluggish and takes about 1.5 seconds for the query to react, probably due to the 40 thousand areas in the database. 

I was wondering if there was a more efficient snippet of code that would produce faster results, by either starting the reference from the first character or any other solution?

I think this is the current Code (i think)
<div class="col-sm-6 col-heading">
                                            <div class="form-group">
                                              <label for="tokenfield-prop-area">Property Area</label>
                                                <select id="tokenfield-prop-area" name="tokenfield-prop-area[]" multiple="multiple" class="tokenize-sample form-control" required>
                                                </select>


Any help would greatly be appreciated 

Thanks in advance

Paul