Hertfordshire sits within 30 miles of central London yet feels nothing like the capital. Wooded commuter towns, market towns with independent high streets, and villages with good schools draw families and professionals out of London every year. This guide covers what living in Hertfordshire actually involves: what homes cost, how the commute works, what the schools are like, and how the main towns differ. Alltime Removals is a Bedfordshire family firm that has been moving people into Hertfordshire since 2002, so the practical detail here comes from doing the moves, not reading about them.
Which part of Hertfordshire suits you?
Hertfordshire is not one place. The county runs from the M25 corridor in the south to market towns like Hitchin and Baldock in the north, and the right town depends on what you are optimising for: a fast London commute, school catchments, open countryside, or more space for your money.
- South: Watford and the towns just inside the M25. The most urban part of the county, the fastest links into central London, and the highest density.
- Mid: St Albans, Harpenden and Hemel Hempstead. A mix of a premium cathedral city, a village-feel commuter town, and a more affordable new town with strong road links.
- North: Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hitchin and Letchworth. Planned towns and market towns with lower prices and a quieter pace, still within a reasonable commute.
House prices across Hertfordshire
Prices vary sharply by town. The figures below are average sold or valued prices across all property types in 2026, each linked to its source. Averages move over time and hide big differences between a flat and a detached house, so treat them as a starting point and check the live source for current numbers.
| Town | Average price (2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| St Albans | around £650,000 | ONS / HM Land Registry, June 2026 |
| Hemel Hempstead | around £490,000 | OnTheMarket sold prices, 2026 |
| Welwyn Garden City | around £460,000 | Zoopla sold prices, 2026 |
| Watford | around £395,000 | ONS / HM Land Registry, June 2026 |
| Stevenage | around £365,000 | ONS / HM Land Registry, 2026 |
The pattern is consistent across sources: St Albans commands the biggest premium in the county, the mid-county towns sit in the middle, and Stevenage remains the most affordable of the main towns. Figures checked September 2026.
Commuting into London
Rail access is the single biggest driver of where people choose to live in Hertfordshire. The county is served by three main routes into different London terminals, so the “best” commute depends on where in London you work. Journey times below are for the fastest services and vary by time of day, so check National Rail for live times.
- To St Pancras (Thameslink): St Albans City and Harpenden, with fast trains around 20 minutes. Thameslink continues through the core to Farringdon, Blackfriars and London Bridge, which suits City and cross-London commuters.
- To Euston (West Coast line): Watford Junction and Hemel Hempstead, via London Northwestern and Avanti services. Watford also has the Metropolitan line to Baker Street and the Overground.
- To King’s Cross and Moorgate (East Coast and Great Northern): Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City, with fast Stevenage services into King’s Cross in around 20 to 25 minutes.
By road, the county leans on the M1 in the south west, the M25 across the south, and the A1(M) running north through Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage. Peak congestion on the M25 between Watford and Potters Bar is worth planning around.
Schools in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire has a strong state school landscape and a mix of provision. Parts of the county, Watford in particular, have long-established partially selective grammar schools, while most towns are served by comprehensives, alongside a well-regarded independent sector around St Albans.
Admissions are the part worth understanding before you move. Places at popular schools are allocated by catchment and criteria set by Hertfordshire County Council, and any selective schools run their own entrance testing in Year 6. Families moving mid-year should speak to the council’s admissions team directly, because in-year transfers for oversubscribed schools are allocated by the council rather than applied for at the school. School-by-school Ofsted ratings and catchment history are the detail to check for your specific address.
The towns worth knowing
St Albans
St Albans is consistently one of the most sought-after locations in the county: a Roman cathedral city with a compact centre, independent shops, and fast Thameslink trains to St Pancras. That demand is why it carries the county’s biggest price premium. If you are moving here, the tight Georgian streets around Holywell Hill and the Cathedral Quarter need careful access planning, which is a core part of our St Albans removals service.
Watford
Watford is the county’s largest and most urban town, with the widest range of housing from town-centre flats to family semis, and the fastest mix of routes into London. It draws buyers who want city amenities and a short commute without central London prices. Town-centre and controlled-parking streets shape how a move runs there, which our Watford removals team plans around at the survey.
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead offers more space for the money than the southern towns, with good road links via the M1 and the Euston line for commuters. The Old Town’s hill streets and the Apsley canal-side flats sit alongside larger post-war estates, so it suits a wide range of budgets. Our Hemel Hempstead removals service covers the full town.
Stevenage
Stevenage is the most affordable of the main towns and has a distinct character: a planned post-war new town with a large employment base and fast trains to King’s Cross. Newer estates and wider roads make it practical for families who want value and a quick commute. If you are relocating here, our Stevenage removals service covers the town and its surrounding villages.
Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City is exactly what its name says: a planned garden city with generous green space, tree-lined avenues and a walkable centre, sitting between Stevenage and the M25 with Great Northern services into King’s Cross. It appeals to buyers who want space and greenery without going fully rural. Our Welwyn Garden City removals service handles moves across the town.
Harpenden, between St Albans and Luton, is worth a look too: a village-feel commuter town with fast trains and a price tag to match, covered by our Harpenden removals service.
Moving to Hertfordshire from Bedfordshire
The Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Luton corridor sits directly on the Hertfordshire border, so moves into the county are short and familiar: Houghton Regis to Hemel Hempstead is around 12 miles, and Luton to St Albans under 14. For larger moves, an adviser visits the property first, notes volumes and access, and produces a fixed written quote before you commit, with jobs planned to fit a typical 8 to 10 hour moving day.
If your sale and purchase do not complete on the same day, our individually alarmed storage units at the Houghton Regis depot cover the gap, priced by cubic foot with 24-hour access, seven days a week.
Common mistakes when moving to Hertfordshire
- Underestimating town-centre parking. Watford, St Albans and Hitchin have controlled-parking zones. A parking suspension needs arranging with the local council several working days ahead, or the crew parks further away and the job takes longer.
- Ignoring the school term. Late-August moves cluster heavily because families want to settle before term. Booking early avoids the end-of-summer peak.
- Quoting from a bedroom count. A three-bedroom house with a garage, loft and home office can carry twice the volume of one without them. A survey-based fixed quote protects you from day-of changes.
- Leaving storage as an afterthought. If completion dates slip, your belongings need somewhere to go. Sorting storage at the quote stage means a delay does not become a crisis.
- Not confirming lift access in flats. Town-centre flats in Watford and Hemel Hempstead with communal lifts need booking with the building manager the day before.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your London terminal. St Albans and Harpenden reach St Pancras on Thameslink in around 20 minutes, Watford Junction reaches Euston in a similar time, and Stevenage runs into King’s Cross in around 20 to 25 minutes. Check National Rail for live times, as they vary through the day.
Among the main towns, Stevenage is consistently the most affordable, with a 2026 average of around £365,000 according to ONS and HM Land Registry data, compared with around £650,000 in St Albans. Prices vary widely by property type and postcode, so use the source links above for current figures.
Parts of the county, notably Watford, have long-established partially selective grammar schools, while most towns are served by comprehensives. Any selective school runs its own Year 6 entrance testing, and places at all popular schools are allocated by Hertfordshire County Council admissions criteria, so check the catchment and process for your specific address.
Yes. Alltime Removals covers moves into Hertfordshire from across the Bedfordshire catchment, including Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Luton. St Albans, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City are towns we move people into regularly. An adviser surveys the property before the move and provides a fixed written quote.
Yes. Individually alarmed storage units at the Houghton Regis depot, priced by cubic foot, cover exactly this situation, with access around the clock, seven days a week, on short or long-term rental. Many customers book removals and storage together in one quote so a completion delay does not derail the move.
Planning your Hertfordshire move
Alltime Removals has been moving families from Bedfordshire into Hertfordshire since 2002. AIM member, MoveAssured approved and RHA accredited, rated 4.8 on Reallymoving. Every job starts with a free home survey and ends with a fixed written quote. To talk through your move, call the team on 01582 753 329 or get a quote for your Hertfordshire move.
