Brent vs Waltham Abbey
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Waltham Abbey is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 61% lower. Waltham Abbey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Waltham Abbey edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brent
£681,000
Waltham Abbey
£422,201
Crime Rate
Brent
90.0
Waltham Abbey
64.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brent
97.1%
Waltham Abbey
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brent
402
Waltham Abbey
432.9
EPC Rating
Brent
72.8
Waltham Abbey
70.2
Median Income
Brent
£37,842
Waltham Abbey
£35,195
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonProperty in Brent commands an average of £681,000, compared with £422,201 in Waltham Abbey – a difference of 61%. The most affordable entry point in Brent is a flat at £419,959, while in Waltham Abbey it is a flat at £234,685.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 122% pricier in Brent (£883,016 vs £397,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brent prices grew faster — 19% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonWaltham Abbey has a crime rate of 64.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 40% lower than Brent at 90 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Brent 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 LondonFamilies may prefer Waltham Abbey, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 97.1% in Brent. There are 79 schools in Brent and 5 in Waltham Abbey.
Brent School Inspection Breakdown
97.1% of 79 schools (61 primary, 18 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 | Brent | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 79 | 5 |
| Primary | 61 | 4 |
| Secondary | 18 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 97.1% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 432.9 Mbps in Waltham Abbey and 402.0 Mbps in Brent. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.6% of premises in Brent and 97.6% in Waltham Abbey. Gigabit availability stands at 73.1% in Brent and 81.9% in Waltham Abbey.
Waltham Abbey is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (433 vs 402 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Brent leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 72.8 (C), while Waltham Abbey averages 70.2 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £873 in Brent and £1,139 in Waltham Abbey. 71.9% of homes in Brent have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.5% in Waltham Abbey.
Brent has more energy-efficient housing — 71.9% reach band C or above, vs 63.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,842.3 in Brent and £35,194.7 in Waltham Abbey. The median age is 38.1 in Brent and 41.9 in Waltham Abbey. Owner-occupancy is 38.9% in Brent versus 63.5% in Waltham Abbey. Employment rates stand at 60.4% in Brent and 58.9% in Waltham Abbey.
| Indicator | Brent | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 340,866 | 18,645 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £37,842.3 | £35,194.7 |
| Employment Rate | 60.4% | 58.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 38.9% | 63.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 47.3% | 32% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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