Town comparison
Arlesey vs Harpenden
Which is better to live in? 14.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Arlesey offers lower property prices by roughly 51%. Arlesey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Arlesey edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Arlesey
£476,109
Harpenden
£979,884
Crime Rate
Arlesey
48.6
Harpenden
64.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Arlesey
100.0%
Harpenden
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Arlesey
454.9
Harpenden
449.6
EPC Rating
Arlesey
73.9
Harpenden
72.1
Median Income
Arlesey
£35,716
Harpenden
£38,821
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Arlesey is £476,109, which is 51% less than Harpenden at £979,884. The most affordable entry point in Arlesey is a flat at £194,333, while in Harpenden it is a flat at £401,751.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 62% pricier in Harpenden (£1,475,929 vs £566,733).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Arlesey prices grew faster — 81% vs 31%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 48.6 offences per 1,000 people, Arlesey is the safer of the two – 32% lower than Harpenden's 64.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Arlesey is violent-crime, while in Harpenden it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in East of EnglandArlesey has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Harpenden. Arlesey has 1 schools in total, while Harpenden has 17.
Arlesey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harpenden School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 17 schools (13 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Arlesey | Harpenden |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 17 |
| Primary | 1 | 13 |
| Secondary | 0 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Arlesey offers faster average downloads at 454.9 Mbps, compared to 449.6 Mbps in Harpenden. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Arlesey and 97.3% in Harpenden. Gigabit availability stands at 89.6% in Arlesey and 86.1% in Harpenden.
Arlesey is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (455 vs 450 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Arlesey are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.9 (band C) versus 72.1 (band C) in Harpenden. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,083 in Arlesey and £1,209 in Harpenden. 71.3% of homes in Arlesey have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.1% in Harpenden.
Arlesey has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 67.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,821 in Harpenden and £35,716 in Arlesey. The median age is 42.5 in Arlesey and 42.5 in Harpenden. Employment rates stand at 63.8% in Arlesey and 63.3% in Harpenden. Owner-occupancy is 71.2% in Arlesey versus 71.1% in Harpenden.
| Indicator | Arlesey | Harpenden |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,027 | 30,964 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £35,716 | £38,821 |
| Employment Rate | 63.8% | 63.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.2% | 71.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 43.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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