Berkhamsted vs Luton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Luton offers lower property prices by roughly 132%. Berkhamsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Luton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Berkhamsted
£761,843
Luton
£328,504
Crime Rate
Berkhamsted
69.0
Luton
82.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Berkhamsted
62.5%
Luton
94.3%
Avg Download Speed
Berkhamsted
302.7
Luton
455.5
EPC Rating
Berkhamsted
71.9
Luton
71.5
Median Income
Berkhamsted
£34,575
Luton
£32,453
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Luton is £328,504, which is 132% less than Berkhamsted at £761,843. The most affordable entry point in Berkhamsted is a flat at £369,950, while in Luton it is a flat at £181,124.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 154% pricier in Berkhamsted (£1,208,732 vs £475,672).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Luton prices grew faster — 30% vs 23%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Berkhamsted (69 per 1,000) compared to Luton (82.8 per 1,000), a 20% difference. The most common crime category in Berkhamsted is violent-crime, while in Luton 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 East of EnglandLuton has 94.3% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 62.5% in Berkhamsted. Berkhamsted has 8 schools in total, while Luton has 62.
Berkhamsted School Inspection Breakdown
62.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Luton School Inspection Breakdown
94.3% of 62 schools (49 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Berkhamsted | Luton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 8 | 62 |
| Primary | 7 | 49 |
| Secondary | 1 | 13 |
| % Top two bands | 62.5% | 94.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Luton offers faster average downloads at 455.5 Mbps, compared to 302.7 Mbps in Berkhamsted. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Berkhamsted and 97% in Luton. Gigabit availability stands at 53.7% in Berkhamsted and 88.5% in Luton.
Luton is the faster of the two by 50% on average download speed (456 vs 303 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Berkhamsted are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.9 (band C) versus 71.5 (band C) in Luton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,145 in Berkhamsted and £1,097 in Luton. 69.3% of homes in Berkhamsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68% in Luton.
Berkhamsted has more energy-efficient housing — 69.3% reach band C or above, vs 68% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,574.7 in Berkhamsted and £32,453.3 in Luton. The median age is 42.8 in Berkhamsted and 40.6 in Luton. Employment rates stand at 62.6% in Berkhamsted and 61.1% in Luton. Owner-occupancy is 68.4% in Berkhamsted versus 63% in Luton.
| Indicator | Berkhamsted | Luton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,236 | 233,524 |
| Median Age | 42.8 | 40.6 |
| Median Household Income | £34,574.7 | £32,453.3 |
| Employment Rate | 62.6% | 61.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.4% | 63% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 37.3% | 33.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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