Barnet vs Waltham Abbey
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Waltham Abbey offers lower property prices by roughly 65%. Waltham Abbey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Waltham Abbey edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnet
£696,626
Waltham Abbey
£422,201
Crime Rate
Barnet
66.8
Waltham Abbey
64.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnet
98.0%
Waltham Abbey
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnet
300.2
Waltham Abbey
432.9
EPC Rating
Barnet
71.4
Waltham Abbey
70.2
Median Income
Barnet
£36,651
Waltham Abbey
£35,195
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonBuyers will find Waltham Abbey more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £422,201 versus £696,626 in Barnet. The most affordable entry point in Barnet is a flat at £371,853, while in Waltham Abbey it is a flat at £234,685.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 85% pricier in Barnet (£1,274,133 vs £688,282).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnet prices grew faster — 16% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonCrime is lower in Waltham Abbey (64.1 per 1,000) compared to Barnet (66.8 per 1,000), a 4% difference. The most common crime category in Barnet is violent-crime, while in Waltham Abbey 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 LondonSchool quality favours Waltham Abbey: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 98% in Barnet.
Barnet School Inspection Breakdown
98% of 117 schools (90 primary, 27 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Waltham Abbey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnet | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 117 | 5 |
| Primary | 90 | 4 |
| Secondary | 27 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 98% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Waltham Abbey enjoy 432.9 Mbps on average, while Barnet lags behind at 300.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Barnet and 97.6% in Waltham Abbey. Gigabit availability stands at 48.5% in Barnet and 81.9% in Waltham Abbey.
Waltham Abbey is the faster of the two by 44% on average download speed (433 vs 300 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Barnet is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Waltham Abbey's band C (score 70.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Barnet and £1,139 in Waltham Abbey. 67.7% of homes in Barnet have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.5% in Waltham Abbey.
Barnet has more energy-efficient housing — 67.7% reach band C or above, vs 63.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Barnet has a population of 388,143 while Waltham Abbey has 18,645. Median household income is £36,651 in Barnet and £35,194.7 in Waltham Abbey. The median age is 41.5 in Barnet and 41.9 in Waltham Abbey. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Barnet and 58.9% in Waltham Abbey.
| Indicator | Barnet | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 388,143 | 18,645 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £35,194.7 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 58.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 63.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 32% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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