Barnet vs Welwyn Garden City
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Welwyn Garden City is about 38% 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
Welwyn Garden City
£503,769
Crime Rate
Barnet
66.8
Welwyn Garden City
79.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnet
98.0%
Welwyn Garden City
86.7%
Avg Download Speed
Barnet
300.2
Welwyn Garden City
458.5
EPC Rating
Barnet
71.4
Welwyn Garden City
71.9
Median Income
Barnet
£36,651
Welwyn Garden City
£36,249
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonBuyers will find Welwyn Garden City more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £503,769 versus £696,626 in Barnet. The most affordable entry point in Barnet is a flat at £371,853, while in Welwyn Garden City it is a flat at £234,537.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 71% pricier in Barnet (£1,274,133 vs £743,041).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnet prices grew faster — 16% vs 13%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonWith 66.8 offences per 1,000 people, Barnet is the safer of the two – 19% lower than Welwyn Garden City's 79.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnet is violent-crime, while in Welwyn Garden City 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 Barnet: 98% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 86.7% in Welwyn Garden City.
Barnet School Inspection Breakdown
98% of 117 schools (90 primary, 27 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Welwyn Garden City School Inspection Breakdown
86.7% of 20 schools (17 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnet | Welwyn Garden City |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 117 | 20 |
| Primary | 90 | 17 |
| Secondary | 27 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 98% | 86.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Welwyn Garden City enjoy 458.5 Mbps on average, while Barnet lags behind at 300.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Barnet and 97.5% in Welwyn Garden City. Gigabit availability stands at 48.5% in Barnet and 90% in Welwyn Garden City.
Welwyn Garden City is the faster of the two by 53% on average download speed (459 vs 300 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Welwyn Garden City is band C (score 71.9), ahead of Barnet's band C (score 71.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Barnet and £1,110 in Welwyn Garden City. 67.7% of homes in Barnet have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 73.6% in Welwyn Garden City.
Welwyn Garden City has more energy-efficient housing — 73.6% reach band C or above, vs 67.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Barnet has a population of 388,143 while Welwyn Garden City has 51,504. Median household income is £36,651 in Barnet and £36,249 in Welwyn Garden City. The median age is 41.5 in Barnet and 40.9 in Welwyn Garden City. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Barnet and 59.6% in Welwyn Garden City.
| Indicator | Barnet | Welwyn Garden City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 388,143 | 51,504 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 40.9 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £36,249 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 59.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 56.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 37.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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