Neighbourhood · St Albans
Harpenden East: house prices and how the area is changing
Official figures for the Harpenden East neighbourhood of St Albans, England (ONS area St Albans 002). Headline figures assembled 4 November 2026. Postcodes AL5. Figures that read a point use the neighbourhood's centre, near AL5 4FN.
One of the most affluent neighbourhoods in England, with signals pointing away from gentrification
Harpenden East is one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in England. But area signals point away from gentrification against St Albans (2 of 21 signals falling, none rising). Houses here typically resell for £807,500 and flats for £322,500 (median resale prices, 2023-2025). Recorded crime is lower than across St Albans (0.6 times the borough's rate), schools nearby are improving in line with the council's and the nearest station, Harpenden, is about a 13-minute walk from the neighbourhood's centre.
The neighbourhood in brief, from the figures on this page. Summary updated 4 November 2026; source dates are shown below.
Typical house price
£807,500
Median resale price of houses in the neighbourhood, 2023-2025; +20% against 2017-2019.
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data
Typical flat price
£322,500
Median resale price of flats in the neighbourhood, 2023-2025; +10% against 2017-2019.
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data
Affluence today
Among the most affluent
How well off the neighbourhood is now, from household income, home prices and deprivation.
Source: ONS, HM Land Registry, MHCLG Indices of Deprivation
Signs of gentrification
Moving the other way
Weighted balance -0.12; 0 of 21 signals up, 2 down, against the borough.
Source: Official statistics on prices, incomes, benefits, businesses, schools and more (a full report shows every signal)
Deprivation
Decile 10 of 10
English Indices of Deprivation 2025: 1 is the most deprived tenth of neighbourhoods, 10 the least. At the neighbourhood's centre; its 5 small areas range from decile 5 to 10.
Source: MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025
Average household income
£91,800
ONS estimate for the neighbourhood (modelled, with a margin of error).
Source: Office for National Statistics
Recorded crime
0.6 times the borough's rate
Crimes recorded by the police over 12 months (not anti-social behaviour) per resident, against the borough. Crime per resident can overstate the risk in busy centres where many people work or visit.
Source: Police.uk
Schools getting better
In line with the council's
Nearby state schools' latest Ofsted inspections and results, against the council's schools.
Source: Ofsted, Department for Education
Where Harpenden East sits in St Albans
- Typical house price: 6th highest of 20 neighbourhoods in St Albans
- Typical flat price: 8th highest of the 18 neighbourhoods in St Albans with enough flat sales for one
- Average household income: 5th highest of 20 neighbourhoods in St Albans
Ranked among the council's neighbourhoods by the figures on each one's own page, checked 4 November 2026: typical prices are HM Land Registry resale medians over the latest three-year window, household income the ONS's modelled estimate, with a margin of error, so neighbourhoods a place or two apart may not really differ.
Prices over time in Harpenden East
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, held locally and checked 4 November 2026. Medians each year, not a valuation of any home.
How the area is changing, signal by signal
0 of 21 counted signals point towards rising affluence against St Albans, 2 the other way and 19 in line. A reading of official statistics against the borough, not a prediction; a full report shows every signal's figures and weight. Where this reading sits among every neighbourhood in England and Wales: the gentrification league table.
Falling behind the borough
- Recorded crime
- Benefit claims (DWP)
Stations and schools nearby
Nearest station
- Harpenden Railway station, about a 13-minute walk from the neighbourhood's centre (980 m in a straight line). About 13 trains an hour leave between 07:00 and 19:00 on a weekday: Thameslink to Bedford (26 to 36 min) and Luton (about 9 min).
Station locations: NaPTAN (Department for Transport). Trains: Network Rail's timetable for Tuesday 6 October 2026, with the timetabled minutes of direct trains; timetabled, not live running. Distances from the neighbourhood's centre in a straight line, walked at 4.8 km/h; the real route is longer.
Nearest state schools
- Nearest state primary school Manland Primary School 480 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Ungraded visit: School remains Good (Improving) (Jun 2024). Ofsted plans a full inspection next.
- Nearest state secondary school Sir John Lawes School 310 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Outstanding (Mar 2023).
Schools: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (20 October 2026); inspections: Ofsted's management information as at 30 September 2026, in Ofsted's own words. Straight-line distances; not a catchment or admissions assessment.
Nearest A&E
- Nearest major A&E Luton and Dunstable Hospital 12.2 km from the neighbourhood's centre, in a straight line.
Hospitals: NHS England, NHS Wales and Public Health Scotland site lists. Waiting times: NHS England's Emergency Care Data Set (experimental statistics), StatsWales and Public Health Scotland, Open Government Licence v3.0. The NHS standard is 95% within 4 hours. Ambulances go to the most suitable A&E, which is not always the nearest.
Questions about Harpenden East
What is the typical house price in Harpenden East?
£807,500. Median resale price of houses in the neighbourhood, 2023-2025; +20% against 2017-2019.
How does Harpenden East compare with the rest of St Albans?
Typical house price: 6th highest of 20 neighbourhoods in St Albans. Typical flat price: 8th highest of the 18 neighbourhoods in St Albans with enough flat sales for one. Average household income: 5th highest of 20 neighbourhoods in St Albans.
Is Harpenden East an affluent area?
Among the most affluent. How well off the neighbourhood is now, from household income, home prices and deprivation.
Is Harpenden East gentrifying?
Moving the other way. Weighted balance -0.12; 0 of 21 signals up, 2 down, against the borough.
What is the nearest station to Harpenden East?
Harpenden. Railway station, about a 13-minute walk from the neighbourhood's centre (980 m in a straight line). About 13 trains an hour leave between 07:00 and 19:00 on a weekday: Thameslink to Bedford (26 to 36 min) and Luton (about 9 min).
Which state schools are nearest to Harpenden East?
Nearest state primary school. Manland Primary School. 480 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Ungraded visit: School remains Good (Improving) (Jun 2024). Ofsted plans a full inspection next. Nearest state secondary school. Sir John Lawes School. 310 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Outstanding (Mar 2023).
Each answer repeats a figure shown above, with its source there.
Thinking of buying in Harpenden East?
A full report covers flood risk, schools, crime, your commute, energy, planning and how the area is changing, for the exact home.
Prepare a full report for a home here Read the full report for AL5 4FN, near the centre See a sample reportNearby neighbourhoods in St Albans
- Harpenden Town
- Harpenden North
- Harpenden Common
- Wheathampstead
- Redbourn
- Jersey Farm & Sandridge
- Townsend & New Greens
- Marshalswick
- All 20 neighbourhoods in St Albans
Postcode districts
Neighbourhood names: House of Commons Library, MSOA Names, Open Parliament Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains public sector information (MHCLG, Police.uk, Ofsted, Department for Education) licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Station locations from NaPTAN (Department for Transport), Open Government Licence v3.0. Trains: contains information of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures describe the area, not any home, and are not a valuation or a prediction.