Town comparison
Arlesey vs Hitchin
Which is better to live in? 4.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Arlesey offers lower property prices by roughly 12%. Arlesey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Arlesey edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Arlesey
£476,109
Hitchin
£539,220
Crime Rate
Arlesey
48.6
Hitchin
50.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Arlesey
100.0%
Hitchin
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Arlesey
454.9
Hitchin
386.2
EPC Rating
Arlesey
73.9
Hitchin
73.1
Median Income
Arlesey
£35,716
Hitchin
£35,426
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Arlesey is £476,109, which is 12% less than Hitchin at £539,220. The most affordable entry point in Arlesey is a flat at £194,333, while in Hitchin it is a flat at £249,133.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 37% pricier in Hitchin (£584,921 vs £366,909).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Arlesey prices grew faster — 81% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Arlesey (48.6 per 1,000) compared to Hitchin (50.1 per 1,000), a 3% difference. The most common crime category in Arlesey is violent-crime, while in Hitchin 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 Hitchin. Arlesey has 1 schools in total, while Hitchin has 15.
Arlesey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hitchin School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 15 schools (12 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Arlesey | Hitchin |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 15 |
| Primary | 1 | 12 |
| Secondary | 0 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Arlesey offers faster average downloads at 454.9 Mbps, compared to 386.2 Mbps in Hitchin. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Arlesey and 95.4% in Hitchin. Gigabit availability stands at 89.6% in Arlesey and 73.3% in Hitchin.
Arlesey is the faster of the two by 18% on average download speed (455 vs 386 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Arlesey are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.9 (band C) versus 73.1 (band C) in Hitchin. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,083 in Arlesey and £1,044 in Hitchin. 71.3% of homes in Arlesey have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 72.8% in Hitchin.
Hitchin has more energy-efficient housing — 72.8% reach band C or above, vs 71.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,716 in Arlesey and £35,426.3 in Hitchin. The median age is 42.5 in Arlesey and 42.5 in Hitchin. Employment rates stand at 63.8% in Arlesey and 63.3% in Hitchin. Owner-occupancy is 71.2% in Arlesey versus 64.3% in Hitchin.
| Indicator | Arlesey | Hitchin |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,027 | 35,220 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £35,716 | £35,426.3 |
| Employment Rate | 63.8% | 63.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.2% | 64.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 34.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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