Barnet vs Tower Hamlets
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Tower Hamlets is about 24% cheaper on average. Barnet has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnet edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnet
£696,626
Tower Hamlets
£560,520
Crime Rate
Barnet
66.8
Tower Hamlets
106.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnet
98.0%
Tower Hamlets
97.2%
Avg Download Speed
Barnet
300.2
Tower Hamlets
404.6
EPC Rating
Barnet
71.4
Tower Hamlets
76.2
Median Income
Barnet
£36,651
Tower Hamlets
£40,204
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonThe average house price in Tower Hamlets is £560,520, which is 24% less than Barnet at £696,626. The most affordable entry point in Barnet is a flat at £371,853, while in Tower Hamlets it is a flat at £528,183.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 30% pricier in Tower Hamlets (£528,183 vs £371,853).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnet prices grew faster — 16% vs 12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonWith 66.8 offences per 1,000 people, Barnet is the safer of the two – 59% lower than Tower Hamlets's 106.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnet is violent-crime, while in Tower Hamlets 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 LondonBarnet has 98% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 97.2% in Tower Hamlets. Barnet has 117 schools in total, while Tower Hamlets has 83.
Barnet School Inspection Breakdown
98% of 117 schools (90 primary, 27 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Tower Hamlets School Inspection Breakdown
97.2% of 83 schools (65 primary, 18 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnet | Tower Hamlets |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 117 | 83 |
| Primary | 90 | 65 |
| Secondary | 27 | 18 |
| % Top two bands | 98% | 97.2% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Tower Hamlets offers faster average downloads at 404.6 Mbps, compared to 300.2 Mbps in Barnet. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Barnet and 94.4% in Tower Hamlets. Gigabit availability stands at 48.5% in Barnet and 78% in Tower Hamlets.
Tower Hamlets is the faster of the two by 35% on average download speed (405 vs 300 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Tower Hamlets are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 76.2 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Barnet. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Barnet and £699 in Tower Hamlets. 67.7% of homes in Barnet have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 86.2% in Tower Hamlets.
Tower Hamlets has more energy-efficient housing — 86.2% reach band C or above, vs 67.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £40,204 in Tower Hamlets and £36,651 in Barnet. The median age is 41.5 in Barnet and 32.6 in Tower Hamlets. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Barnet and 61.4% in Tower Hamlets. Owner-occupancy is 58.5% in Barnet versus 23.1% in Tower Hamlets.
| Indicator | Barnet | Tower Hamlets |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 388,143 | 310,303 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 32.6 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £40,204 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 61.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 23.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 50.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barnet and Tower Hamlets?
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Is Barnet or Tower Hamlets safer?
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