Town comparison
Harpenden vs St Albans
Which is better to live in? 4.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, St Albans offers lower property prices by roughly 48%. Harpenden has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Harpenden edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Harpenden
£979,884
St Albans
£663,763
Crime Rate
Harpenden
64.2
St Albans
64.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Harpenden
100.0%
St Albans
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Harpenden
449.6
St Albans
465.7
EPC Rating
Harpenden
72.1
St Albans
70.2
Median Income
Harpenden
£38,821
St Albans
£41,926
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find St Albans more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £663,763 versus £979,884 in Harpenden. The most affordable entry point in Harpenden is a flat at £401,751, while in St Albans it is a flat at £351,507.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 38% pricier in Harpenden (£1,475,929 vs £1,068,232).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harpenden prices grew faster — 31% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Harpenden (64.2 per 1,000) compared to St Albans (64.2 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Harpenden is violent-crime, while in St Albans 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 Harpenden: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in St Albans.
Harpenden School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 17 schools (13 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
St Albans School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 34 schools (25 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Harpenden | St Albans |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 17 | 34 |
| Primary | 13 | 25 |
| Secondary | 4 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in St Albans enjoy 465.7 Mbps on average, while Harpenden lags behind at 449.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.3% of premises in Harpenden and 99.4% in St Albans. Gigabit availability stands at 86.1% in Harpenden and 88.5% in St Albans.
St Albans is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (466 vs 450 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Harpenden is band C (score 72.1), ahead of St Albans's band C (score 70.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,209 in Harpenden and £1,335 in St Albans. 67.1% of homes in Harpenden have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.9% in St Albans.
Harpenden has more energy-efficient housing — 67.1% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Harpenden has a population of 30,964 while St Albans has 75,544. Median household income is £41,926 in St Albans and £38,821 in Harpenden. The median age is 42.5 in Harpenden and 42.5 in St Albans. Employment rates stand at 63.3% in Harpenden and 62.8% in St Albans.
| Indicator | Harpenden | St Albans |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,964 | 75,544 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £38,821 | £41,926 |
| Employment Rate | 63.3% | 62.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.1% | 70.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.1% | 53% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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