Bovingdon vs Hemel Hempstead
Which is better to live in? Distance: 3.8 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Hemel Hempstead wins on house prices with a 28% gap. Bovingdon has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bovingdon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bovingdon
£600,951
Hemel Hempstead
£471,237
Crime Rate
Bovingdon
68.7
Hemel Hempstead
68.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bovingdon
100.0%
Hemel Hempstead
96.4%
Avg Download Speed
Bovingdon
425.5
Hemel Hempstead
443
EPC Rating
Bovingdon
70.5
Hemel Hempstead
70.7
Median Income
Bovingdon
£37,945
Hemel Hempstead
£37,232
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £471,237, Hemel Hempstead undercuts Bovingdon (£600,951) by around 28% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bovingdon is a flat at £240,150, while in Hemel Hempstead it is a flat at £241,157.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 25% pricier in Bovingdon (£958,084 vs £766,856).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Hemel Hempstead prices grew faster — 29% vs 23%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Bovingdon experience less crime overall, with a rate of 68.7 per 1,000 versus 68.9 per 1,000 in Hemel Hempstead. The most common crime category in Bovingdon is violent-crime, while in Hemel Hempstead 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 1 schools in Bovingdon, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Hemel Hempstead, which has 37 schools, the figure is 96.4%.
Bovingdon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hemel Hempstead School Inspection Breakdown
96.4% of 37 schools (31 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bovingdon | Hemel Hempstead |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 37 |
| Primary | 1 | 31 |
| Secondary | 0 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 96.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Hemel Hempstead averages 443.0 Mbps – ahead of Bovingdon's 425.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.5% of premises in Bovingdon and 96.6% in Hemel Hempstead. Gigabit availability stands at 81.8% in Bovingdon and 85.7% in Hemel Hempstead.
Hemel Hempstead is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (443 vs 426 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Hemel Hempstead, scoring 70.7 on average (band C) compared to 70.5 (band C) in Bovingdon. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,253 in Bovingdon and £1,223 in Hemel Hempstead. 64.7% of homes in Bovingdon have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Hemel Hempstead.
Hemel Hempstead has more energy-efficient housing — 66.9% reach band C or above, vs 64.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,944.7 in Bovingdon and £37,231.5 in Hemel Hempstead. The median age is 42.7 in Bovingdon and 42.5 in Hemel Hempstead. Employment rates stand at 62.6% in Bovingdon and 62.6% in Hemel Hempstead. Owner-occupancy is 68.6% in Bovingdon versus 67.4% in Hemel Hempstead. Bovingdon has a population of 5,313 and Hemel Hempstead has 95,995.
| Indicator | Bovingdon | Hemel Hempstead |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,313 | 95,995 |
| Median Age | 42.7 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £37,944.7 | £37,231.5 |
| Employment Rate | 62.6% | 62.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.6% | 67.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.5% | 45.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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