Borehamwood vs Tower Hamlets
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Tower Hamlets is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 1% lower. Borehamwood has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Tower Hamlets edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Borehamwood
£565,322
Tower Hamlets
£560,520
Crime Rate
Borehamwood
75.6
Tower Hamlets
106.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Borehamwood
88.9%
Tower Hamlets
97.2%
Avg Download Speed
Borehamwood
403.4
Tower Hamlets
404.6
EPC Rating
Borehamwood
71.4
Tower Hamlets
76.2
Median Income
Borehamwood
£36,651
Tower Hamlets
£40,204
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £560,520, Tower Hamlets undercuts Borehamwood (£565,322) by around 1% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Borehamwood is a flat at £303,945, while in Tower Hamlets it is a flat at £528,183.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 42% pricier in Tower Hamlets (£528,183 vs £303,945).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Tower Hamlets prices grew faster — 12% vs -3%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandBorehamwood has a crime rate of 75.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 41% lower than Tower Hamlets at 106.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Borehamwood is violent-crime, while in Tower Hamlets 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 EnglandOf the 14 schools in Borehamwood, 88.9% are in the top two inspection bands. In Tower Hamlets, which has 83 schools, the figure is 97.2%.
Borehamwood School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Tower Hamlets School Inspection Breakdown
97.2% of 83 schools (65 primary, 18 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Borehamwood | Tower Hamlets |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 83 |
| Primary | 11 | 65 |
| Secondary | 3 | 18 |
| % Top two bands | 88.9% | 97.2% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Tower Hamlets averages 404.6 Mbps – ahead of Borehamwood's 403.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Borehamwood and 94.4% in Tower Hamlets. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Borehamwood and 78% in Tower Hamlets.
Tower Hamlets is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (405 vs 403 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Tower Hamlets, scoring 76.2 on average (band C) compared to 71.4 (band C) in Borehamwood. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Borehamwood and £699 in Tower Hamlets. 67.7% of homes in Borehamwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 86.2% in Tower Hamlets.
Tower Hamlets has more energy-efficient housing — 86.2% reach band C or above, vs 67.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £40,204 in Tower Hamlets and £36,651 in Borehamwood. The median age is 41.5 in Borehamwood and 32.6 in Tower Hamlets. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Borehamwood and 61.4% in Tower Hamlets. Owner-occupancy is 58.5% in Borehamwood versus 23.1% in Tower Hamlets. Borehamwood has a population of 39,760 and Tower Hamlets has 310,303.
| Indicator | Borehamwood | Tower Hamlets |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,760 | 310,303 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 32.6 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £40,204 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 61.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 23.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 50.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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