Town comparison
Brookmans Park vs Harpenden
Which is better to live in? 9.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Harpenden offers lower property prices by roughly 9%. Harpenden has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brookmans Park edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brookmans Park
£1,065,170
Harpenden
£979,884
Crime Rate
Brookmans Park
78.8
Harpenden
64.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brookmans Park
100.0%
Harpenden
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brookmans Park
329.2
Harpenden
449.6
EPC Rating
Brookmans Park
72.7
Harpenden
72.1
Median Income
Brookmans Park
£37,852
Harpenden
£38,821
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Harpenden more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £979,884 versus £1,065,170 in Brookmans Park. The most affordable entry point in Brookmans Park is a flat at £525,000, while in Harpenden it is a flat at £401,751.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 31% pricier in Brookmans Park (£525,000 vs £401,751).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harpenden prices grew faster — 31% vs 3%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 64.2 offences per 1,000 people, Harpenden is the safer of the two – 23% lower than Brookmans Park's 78.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Brookmans Park is violent-crime, while in Harpenden 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 EnglandSchool quality favours Brookmans Park: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Harpenden.
Brookmans Park School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harpenden School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 17 schools (13 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brookmans Park | Harpenden |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 17 |
| Primary | 1 | 13 |
| Secondary | 1 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Harpenden enjoy 449.6 Mbps on average, while Brookmans Park lags behind at 329.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.5% of premises in Brookmans Park and 97.3% in Harpenden. Gigabit availability stands at 59.6% in Brookmans Park and 86.1% in Harpenden.
Harpenden is the faster of the two by 37% on average download speed (450 vs 329 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Brookmans Park is band C (score 72.7), ahead of Harpenden's band C (score 72.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,136 in Brookmans Park and £1,209 in Harpenden. 72.5% of homes in Brookmans Park have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.1% in Harpenden.
Brookmans Park has more energy-efficient housing — 72.5% reach band C or above, vs 67.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Brookmans Park has a population of 4,033 while Harpenden has 30,964. Median household income is £38,821 in Harpenden and £37,852 in Brookmans Park. The median age is 42.1 in Brookmans Park and 42.5 in Harpenden. Employment rates stand at 61.4% in Brookmans Park and 63.3% in Harpenden.
| Indicator | Brookmans Park | Harpenden |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,033 | 30,964 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £37,852 | £38,821 |
| Employment Rate | 61.4% | 63.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 63% | 71.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38% | 43.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Brookmans Park and Harpenden?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Brookmans Park or Harpenden?
Is Brookmans Park or Harpenden safer?
Which has better schools, Brookmans Park or Harpenden?
Which has faster broadband, Brookmans Park or Harpenden?
Keep exploring