House prices in Watford
The median price paid for a home in Watford was £410,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 887 sales. House prices in Watford rose 0.9% in the year to September 2026, and are 6.5% higher than five years earlier. In the 12 months to September 2026, the median price in Watford was 23% higher than the median for East of England (£332,500). The average private rent in Watford was £1,829 a month in August 2026, 2.6% up on a year earlier (ONS). Watford had 9.8 crimes per 100 people recorded by the police in the 12 months to August 2026.
Where Watford stands out
- Watford has the 26th highest average rent of 316 local authorities in England and Wales: £1,829 a month in August 2026.
- Watford has the 39th fewest home sales per person of 317 local authorities in England and Wales: 0.74 per 100 people in the 12 months to September 2026.
House prices in Watford
The median price paid in Watford was £410,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 887 sales, or £5,310 per square metre of floor area.
By type of home
| Type | Median price | Sales | Per m² | 1 year | 5 years | East of England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £892,000 | 85 | £6,009 | +8.8% | +12.5% | £457,500 |
| Semi-detached | £550,000 | 186 | £5,709 | +3.8% | +14.6% | £340,062 |
| Terraced | £420,000 | 300 | £5,422 | 0.0% | +10.5% | £300,000 |
| Flats | £263,000 | 316 | £4,711 | −4.9% | +1.1% | £200,000 |
Compared with East of England and England
Median price
Price per m² of floor area
| Area | Median price | 1 year | 5 years | Per m² | Per m², 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watford | £410,000 | +0.9% | +6.5% | £5,310 | −0.1% |
| East of England | £332,500 | −2.2% | +5.6% | £3,841 | −0.7% |
| England | £285,000 | −1.4% | +5.6% | £3,333 | −0.6% |
By floor area, homes in Watford sold for a median £5,310 per m² in the 12 months to September 2026, 38% higher than the figure for East of England (£3,841).
Watford has the 72nd highest median price of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 14th highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Its +0.9% change over the year is the 87th biggest price rise of 317 in England and Wales, and the 10th biggest rise of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Rents in Watford
The average private rent in Watford was £1,829 a month in August 2026, 2.6% up on a year earlier. Rents in Watford are 31.9% higher than five years earlier (August 2026 against August 2021).
Watford has the 26th highest average rent of 316 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 3rd highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
How many homes sell in Watford
796 homes were sold in Watford in the 12 months to September 2026, 0.74 for every 100 people living there. In the 12 months to June 2026, sales in Watford were 4.8% down on the year before and 44.2% lower than five years earlier.
That is the 39th fewest sales per person of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 3rd fewest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Home sales per 100 people: sales recorded by HM Land Registry, less those not at full market value, against ONS's population estimate.
Crime in Watford
The police recorded 10,580 crimes in Watford in the 12 months to August 2026, 9.8 for every 100 people living or working there. Recorded crime in Watford rose 3.4% in the 12 months to August 2026 compared with the 12 months before, and is 1.1% higher than three years earlier.
| Kind of crime | Per 100 people |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3.65 |
| Anti-social behaviour, damage, drugs and public order | 4.08 |
| Theft and vehicle crime | 1.62 |
| Burglary and robbery | 0.42 |
Watford has the 73rd highest crime rate of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures, and the 7th highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
The figure for England leaves out Gloucestershire and Greater Manchester, whose police have not published every month.
Street crime from police.uk. People are those living there plus those coming in to work, so town and city centres aren't overstated.
Deprivation in Watford
Watford is the 122nd least deprived of 296 local authorities in England on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is the most deprived).
| Part of the index | Rank of 296 (1 = most deprived) |
|---|---|
| Overall | 175th |
| Income | 111th |
| Employment | 194th |
| Education and skills | 201st |
| Health | 194th |
| Crime | 144th |
| Barriers to housing and services | 174th |
| Living environment | 95th |
Broadband and mobile in Watford
95.0% of premises in Watford can get gigabit broadband and 99.6% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more), by Ofcom's latest figures. 87.8% can get full fibre, and 0.0% get under 10 Mbit/s. Its gigabit coverage is the 54th highest of 318 local authorities in England and Wales.
Premises able to get gigabit broadband
99.9% of premises in Watford get good 4G indoors from all four mobile networks (England: 91.2%).
People moving in and out in Watford
In the year ending June 2025, 9,379 people moved to Watford from elsewhere in the UK and 9,571 moved away, a net loss of 192 (1.8 per 1,000 residents).
Most moved in from
- Harrow 993
- Three Rivers 878
- Brent 696
Most moved out to
- Three Rivers 1,185
- Dacorum 735
- Hertsmere 546
Moves within the UK only (ONS internal migration); people arriving from or leaving for abroad aren't counted.
Questions about Watford
How much does a house cost in Watford?
The median price paid for a home in Watford was £410,000 in the 12 months to September 2026. By type: detached £892,000; semi-detached £550,000; terraced £420,000; flats £263,000.
Are house prices in Watford going up?
In the year to September 2026, the median price in Watford rose 0.9%, and over five years it rose 6.5%. Across East of England prices fell 2.2% over the same year.
How much is rent in Watford?
The average private rent in Watford was £1,829 a month in August 2026. 1 bed £1,266; 2 bed £1,599; 3 bed £1,825; 4+ bed £2,650.
Is Watford a safe place to live?
Watford had 9.8 crimes per 100 people in the 12 months to August 2026, the 73rd highest of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures. The figure for East of England was 7.2. Crime varies a lot from street to street: look up a postcode on the map for its own figures.
Can you get full fibre broadband in Watford?
87.8% of premises in Watford can get full fibre and 95.0% can get gigabit broadband, by Ofcom's latest figures.
Nearby areas
- Three Rivers 4 km
- Harrow 9 km
- Hertsmere 10 km
- St Albans 12 km
- Hillingdon 14 km
Sources: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, ONS (private rents, population estimates, internal migration), police.uk, MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025, Ofcom Connected Nations. Figures updated November 2026. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right; Office for National Statistics and police.uk data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.