Borehamwood vs Islington
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Borehamwood is about 39% cheaper on average. Borehamwood has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Islington edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Borehamwood
£565,322
Islington
£924,225
Crime Rate
Borehamwood
75.6
Islington
133.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Borehamwood
88.9%
Islington
97.6%
Avg Download Speed
Borehamwood
403.4
Islington
465.6
EPC Rating
Borehamwood
71.4
Islington
71.4
Median Income
Borehamwood
£36,651
Islington
£41,317
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Borehamwood more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £565,322 versus £924,225 in Islington. The most affordable entry point in Borehamwood is a flat at £303,945, while in Islington it is a flat at £678,251.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 73% pricier in Islington (£1,771,959 vs £476,783).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Islington prices grew faster — 1% vs -3%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Borehamwood (75.6 per 1,000) compared to Islington (133.7 per 1,000), a 77% difference. The most common crime category in Borehamwood is violent-crime, while in Islington 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 EnglandSchool quality favours Islington: 97.6% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 88.9% in Borehamwood.
Borehamwood School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Islington School Inspection Breakdown
97.6% of 49 schools (39 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Borehamwood | Islington |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 49 |
| Primary | 11 | 39 |
| Secondary | 3 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 88.9% | 97.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Islington enjoy 465.6 Mbps on average, while Borehamwood lags behind at 403.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Borehamwood and 98.5% in Islington. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Borehamwood and 91.6% in Islington.
Islington is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (466 vs 403 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Borehamwood is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Islington's band C (score 71.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Borehamwood and £886 in Islington. 67.7% of homes in Borehamwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Islington.
Islington has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 67.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Borehamwood has a population of 39,760 while Islington has 216,751. Median household income is £41,317.3 in Islington and £36,651 in Borehamwood. The median age is 41.5 in Borehamwood and 36.7 in Islington. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Borehamwood and 61.4% in Islington.
| Indicator | Borehamwood | Islington |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,760 | 216,751 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 36.7 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £41,317.3 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 61.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 27% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 55.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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