Borehamwood vs Harpenden
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Borehamwood is about 42% cheaper on average. Harpenden has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Harpenden edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Borehamwood
£565,322
Harpenden
£979,884
Crime Rate
Borehamwood
75.6
Harpenden
64.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Borehamwood
88.9%
Harpenden
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Borehamwood
403.4
Harpenden
449.6
EPC Rating
Borehamwood
71.4
Harpenden
72.1
Median Income
Borehamwood
£36,651
Harpenden
£38,821
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Borehamwood is £565,322, which is 42% less than Harpenden at £979,884. The most affordable entry point in Borehamwood is a flat at £303,945, while in Harpenden it is a flat at £401,751.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 32% pricier in Harpenden (£901,854 vs £614,275).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harpenden prices grew faster — 31% vs -3%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 64.2 offences per 1,000 people, Harpenden is the safer of the two – 18% lower than Borehamwood's 75.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Borehamwood is violent-crime, while in Harpenden 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 EnglandHarpenden has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 88.9% in Borehamwood. Borehamwood has 14 schools in total, while Harpenden has 17.
Borehamwood School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harpenden School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 17 schools (13 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Borehamwood | Harpenden |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 17 |
| Primary | 11 | 13 |
| Secondary | 3 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 88.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Harpenden offers faster average downloads at 449.6 Mbps, compared to 403.4 Mbps in Borehamwood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Borehamwood and 97.3% in Harpenden. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Borehamwood and 86.1% in Harpenden.
Harpenden is the faster of the two by 11% on average download speed (450 vs 403 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Harpenden are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.1 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Borehamwood. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Borehamwood and £1,209 in Harpenden. 67.7% of homes in Borehamwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.1% in Harpenden.
Borehamwood has more energy-efficient housing — 67.7% reach band C or above, vs 67.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,821 in Harpenden and £36,651 in Borehamwood. The median age is 41.5 in Borehamwood and 42.5 in Harpenden. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Borehamwood and 63.3% in Harpenden. Owner-occupancy is 58.5% in Borehamwood versus 71.1% in Harpenden.
| Indicator | Borehamwood | Harpenden |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,760 | 30,964 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £38,821 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 63.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 71.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 43.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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