Borehamwood vs Potters Bar
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Borehamwood offers lower property prices by roughly 17%. Potters Bar has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Borehamwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Borehamwood
£565,322
Potters Bar
£677,724
Crime Rate
Borehamwood
75.6
Potters Bar
75.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Borehamwood
88.9%
Potters Bar
85.7%
Avg Download Speed
Borehamwood
403.4
Potters Bar
386.8
EPC Rating
Borehamwood
71.4
Potters Bar
70.7
Median Income
Borehamwood
£36,651
Potters Bar
£35,666
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Borehamwood is £565,322, which is 17% less than Potters Bar at £677,724. The most affordable entry point in Borehamwood is a flat at £303,945, while in Potters Bar it is a flat at £281,319.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 10% pricier in Borehamwood (£1,169,236 vs £1,067,624).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Potters Bar prices grew faster — 9% vs -3%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Potters Bar (75.4 per 1,000) compared to Borehamwood (75.6 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Borehamwood is violent-crime, while in Potters Bar 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 EnglandBorehamwood has 88.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 85.7% in Potters Bar. Borehamwood has 14 schools in total, while Potters Bar has 8.
Borehamwood School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Potters Bar School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Borehamwood | Potters Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 8 |
| Primary | 11 | 6 |
| Secondary | 3 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 88.9% | 85.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Borehamwood offers faster average downloads at 403.4 Mbps, compared to 386.8 Mbps in Potters Bar. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Borehamwood and 94.9% in Potters Bar. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Borehamwood and 73.8% in Potters Bar.
Borehamwood is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (403 vs 387 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Borehamwood are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 70.7 (band C) in Potters Bar. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Borehamwood and £1,116 in Potters Bar. 67.7% of homes in Borehamwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Potters Bar.
Borehamwood has more energy-efficient housing — 67.7% reach band C or above, vs 66.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,651 in Borehamwood and £35,665.8 in Potters Bar. The median age is 41.5 in Borehamwood and 41.3 in Potters Bar. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Borehamwood and 59.4% in Potters Bar. Owner-occupancy is 58.5% in Borehamwood versus 60.5% in Potters Bar.
| Indicator | Borehamwood | Potters Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,760 | 23,394 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 41.3 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £35,665.8 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 59.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 60.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 35.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Borehamwood and Potters Bar?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Borehamwood or Potters Bar?
Is Borehamwood or Potters Bar safer?
Which has better schools, Borehamwood or Potters Bar?
Which has faster broadband, Borehamwood or Potters Bar?
Keep exploring