Barnet vs Hertford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Hertford is about 33% cheaper on average. Hertford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Hertford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnet
£696,626
Hertford
£525,406
Crime Rate
Barnet
66.8
Hertford
51.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnet
98.0%
Hertford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnet
300.2
Hertford
369.8
EPC Rating
Barnet
71.4
Hertford
72.4
Median Income
Barnet
£36,651
Hertford
£36,596
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonThe average house price in Hertford is £525,406, which is 33% less than Barnet at £696,626. The most affordable entry point in Barnet is a flat at £371,853, while in Hertford it is a flat at £303,355.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 36% pricier in Barnet (£681,753 vs £503,047).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Hertford prices grew faster — 24% vs 16%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonWith 51.8 offences per 1,000 people, Hertford is the safer of the two – 29% lower than Barnet's 66.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnet is violent-crime, while in Hertford 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 LondonHertford has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 98% in Barnet. Barnet has 117 schools in total, while Hertford has 11.
Barnet School Inspection Breakdown
98% of 117 schools (90 primary, 27 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hertford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 11 schools (8 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnet | Hertford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 117 | 11 |
| Primary | 90 | 8 |
| Secondary | 27 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 98% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Hertford offers faster average downloads at 369.8 Mbps, compared to 300.2 Mbps in Barnet. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Barnet and 90.6% in Hertford. Gigabit availability stands at 48.5% in Barnet and 68.4% in Hertford.
Hertford is the faster of the two by 23% on average download speed (370 vs 300 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Hertford are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.4 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Barnet. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Barnet and £1,112 in Hertford. 67.7% of homes in Barnet have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.8% in Hertford.
Hertford has more energy-efficient housing — 71.8% reach band C or above, vs 67.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,651 in Barnet and £36,596 in Hertford. The median age is 41.5 in Barnet and 42.2 in Hertford. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Barnet and 61.2% in Hertford. Owner-occupancy is 58.5% in Barnet versus 64.8% in Hertford.
| Indicator | Barnet | Hertford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 388,143 | 28,807 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 42.2 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £36,596 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 61.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 64.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 34.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barnet and Hertford?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Barnet or Hertford?
Is Barnet or Hertford safer?
Which has better schools, Barnet or Hertford?
Which has faster broadband, Barnet or Hertford?
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