Hitchin vs St Albans: which place suits you better?
Compare Hitchin and St Albans on housing costs, London rail journeys, schools and historic town-centre character.
Hitchin place profile · St Albans place profile
Key differences between Hitchin and St Albans
- Typical sold price
- Hitchin: £433k · St Albans: £575k · £142k difference
- Secondary schools
- Hitchin: 2 · St Albans: 6
Living in Hitchin vs St Albans: at a glance
Hitchin is less expensive overall, with a typical sold price of £433k compared with £575k in St Albans. Both places have strong school performance and London rail journeys, but to different termini: Hitchin to King’s Cross and St Albans City to St Pancras. Hitchin’s centre is characterised by medieval and Georgian architecture and independent shops, while St Albans combines medieval architecture, independent shops and its distinctive Clock Tower.
Local character and setting
Hitchin
Hitchin has a strong historic town-centre identity, with medieval and Georgian architecture alongside independent shops and boutiques. Its wider open-space offer includes an outdoor pool, splash park and nearby nature reserves.
Sources: North Hertfordshire - Visit Herts · The History of Hitchin | The Churchgate ConversationSt Albans
St Albans city centre combines independent shops, boutiques and historic inns with medieval architecture. Its medieval Clock Tower is a particularly distinctive landmark.
Sources: [PDF] St Albans Visitors GuideWhich place may suit your priorities?
Hitchin
- Lower typical house prices
- Medieval and Georgian town-centre character
St Albans
- Historic city-centre setting
- More primary and secondary schools included for the local area
House prices in Hitchin and St Albans
| Measure | Hitchin | St Albans |
|---|---|---|
| Typical sold price £142k difference | £433k · 1,542 sales | £575k · 2,621 sales |
| Detached homes £455k difference | £745k · 224 sales | £1.2m · 300 sales |
| Semi-detached homes £211k difference | £549k · 414 sales | £760k · 549 sales |
| Terraced homes £176k difference | £437k · 369 sales | £613k · 846 sales |
| Flats £75k difference | £270k · 535 sales | £345k · 926 sales |
Commuting from Hitchin and St Albans
| Measure | Hitchin | St Albans |
|---|---|---|
| National Rail access | Hitchin → London King's Cross · about 29 min by train. | St Albans Abbey, St Albans City. St Albans City → London St Pancras · about 21 min by train. |
| Train times are station-to-station and do not include travel to the station or onward travel. Check current timetables and changes. | ||
Schools in Hitchin and St Albans
| Measure | Hitchin | St Albans |
|---|---|---|
| School quality | Strong school performance | Strong school performance |
| Primary schools 9 vs 16 in the local count | 9 rated schools included for this area | 16 rated schools included for this area |
| These counts cover rated schools linked to the local area used by Homestead. Nearby schools may also serve the area, and the figures do not represent catchments or admissions. | ||
| Secondary schools 2 vs 6 in the local count | 2 rated schools included for this area | 6 rated schools included for this area |
Everyday life and green space
| Measure | Hitchin | St Albans |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Hitchin Market | St Albans' Charter Market |
The trade-off between Hitchin and St Albans
Hitchin is substantially less expensive, while both places have strong school performance and timed London rail services. Because the trains run to different London termini, the headline minutes are not a like-for-like speed comparison. The remaining choice is strongly about scale and character: Hitchin’s historic market-town centre versus St Albans’ larger historic city centre.