Borehamwood vs Waltham Abbey
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.3 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Waltham Abbey wins on house prices with a 34% gap. Waltham Abbey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Waltham Abbey edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Borehamwood
£565,322
Waltham Abbey
£422,201
Crime Rate
Borehamwood
75.6
Waltham Abbey
64.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Borehamwood
88.9%
Waltham Abbey
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Borehamwood
403.4
Waltham Abbey
432.9
EPC Rating
Borehamwood
71.4
Waltham Abbey
70.2
Median Income
Borehamwood
£36,651
Waltham Abbey
£35,195
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £422,201, Waltham Abbey undercuts Borehamwood (£565,322) by around 34% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Borehamwood is a flat at £303,945, while in Waltham Abbey it is a flat at £234,685.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 70% pricier in Borehamwood (£1,169,236 vs £688,282).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Waltham Abbey prices grew faster — 14% vs -3%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Waltham Abbey experience less crime overall, with a rate of 64.1 per 1,000 versus 75.6 per 1,000 in Borehamwood. The most common crime category in Borehamwood is violent-crime, while in Waltham Abbey 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 Waltham Abbey, which has 5 schools, the figure is 100%.
Borehamwood School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Waltham Abbey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Borehamwood | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 5 |
| Primary | 11 | 4 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 88.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Waltham Abbey averages 432.9 Mbps – ahead of Borehamwood's 403.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Borehamwood and 97.6% in Waltham Abbey. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Borehamwood and 81.9% in Waltham Abbey.
Waltham Abbey is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (433 vs 403 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Borehamwood, scoring 71.4 on average (band C) compared to 70.2 (band C) in Waltham Abbey. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Borehamwood and £1,139 in Waltham Abbey. 67.7% of homes in Borehamwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.5% in Waltham Abbey.
Borehamwood has more energy-efficient housing — 67.7% reach band C or above, vs 63.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,651 in Borehamwood and £35,194.7 in Waltham Abbey. The median age is 41.5 in Borehamwood and 41.9 in Waltham Abbey. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Borehamwood and 58.9% in Waltham Abbey. Owner-occupancy is 58.5% in Borehamwood versus 63.5% in Waltham Abbey. Borehamwood has a population of 39,760 and Waltham Abbey has 18,645.
| Indicator | Borehamwood | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,760 | 18,645 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £35,194.7 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 58.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 63.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 32% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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