Barnet vs Potters Bar
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Potters Bar wins on house prices with a 3% gap. Barnet has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnet edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnet
£696,626
Potters Bar
£677,724
Crime Rate
Barnet
66.8
Potters Bar
75.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnet
98.0%
Potters Bar
85.7%
Avg Download Speed
Barnet
300.2
Potters Bar
386.8
EPC Rating
Barnet
71.4
Potters Bar
70.7
Median Income
Barnet
£36,651
Potters Bar
£35,666
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonProperty in Barnet commands an average of £696,626, compared with £677,724 in Potters Bar – a difference of 3%. The most affordable entry point in Barnet is a flat at £371,853, while in Potters Bar it is a flat at £281,319.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 45% pricier in Barnet (£681,753 vs £469,154).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnet prices grew faster — 16% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonResidents of Barnet experience less crime overall, with a rate of 66.8 per 1,000 versus 75.4 per 1,000 in Potters Bar. The most common crime category in Barnet is violent-crime, while in Potters Bar 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 LondonFamilies may prefer Barnet, where 98% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 85.7% in Potters Bar. There are 117 schools in Barnet and 8 in Potters Bar.
Barnet School Inspection Breakdown
98% of 117 schools (90 primary, 27 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Potters Bar School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnet | Potters Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 117 | 8 |
| Primary | 90 | 6 |
| Secondary | 27 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 98% | 85.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 386.8 Mbps in Potters Bar and 300.2 Mbps in Barnet. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Barnet and 94.9% in Potters Bar. Gigabit availability stands at 48.5% in Barnet and 73.8% in Potters Bar.
Potters Bar is the faster of the two by 29% on average download speed (387 vs 300 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Barnet, scoring 71.4 on average (band C) compared to 70.7 (band C) in Potters Bar. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Barnet and £1,116 in Potters Bar. 67.7% of homes in Barnet have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Potters Bar.
Barnet has more energy-efficient housing — 67.7% reach band C or above, vs 66.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,651 in Barnet and £35,665.8 in Potters Bar. The median age is 41.5 in Barnet and 41.3 in Potters Bar. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Barnet and 59.4% in Potters Bar. Owner-occupancy is 58.5% in Barnet versus 60.5% in Potters Bar. Barnet has a population of 388,143 and Potters Bar has 23,394.
| Indicator | Barnet | Potters Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 388,143 | 23,394 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 41.3 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £35,665.8 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 59.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 60.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 35.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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