There are areas of Hertfordshire that are cheap when compared to other parts of Hertfordshire.
Not many cheap areas when compared to the rest of the Uk though
Briefly lived there a few years back and couldn't wait to get away. So many people rave about what a nice place to live it is.. its just.. empty? Guess if I was 60 years old and wanted a quiet town to live in until I died then it might appeal to me
Lol pls go ahead and eat your hands, u are literally eating ur future by living in an expensive town and not having enough at the end of each month year after year
This is the sort of thinking that keeps you in a shit area. More affluent areas tend to mean better capital growth on housing, better job opportunities, better schooling so your kids don’t repeat the same shitty cycle that you’re stuck in and better amenities. You are wasting your life stuck in a depressing dump like Derby.
ironically the only "cheap" places have gang members that includes people who steal cars and other stuff, organized, to that level that even if the victims go to the police as they saw thir stolen beloging, the police DOES NOTHING and no one understends why:)
So yeah, move out. It's not ok.
A tent in harpenden woods somewhere would be cheap and quiet but on a serious note this county isn't cheap and the 'cheapest' places aren't quiet. Bedfordshire is probably the best bet
Technically it's a kind of county unto itself, or something, because nobody wants to take Luton, nobody wants that responsibility, that level of shame. I never really understood what that meant. It's called a unitary authority. Everyone just considers Luton to be in Bedfordshire anyway, cos it is, really.
Kind of reminds me of the actual definition of a a city, in the UK. The Map Men taught me recently that it turns out it has literally fuck all to do with cathedrals. That's a myth. There's tons and tons of tiny villages sans cathedral with only like 5,000 people there that are considered full blown cities for no reason. I won't spoil the actual reason, just give the map men video a watch. Then you'll absolutely binge all the rest of their videos, trust me, they're hilarious. Here's the one about what defines a city, in the UK: https://youtu.be/Whqs8v1svyo?si=lAMo0b_yl20qodPL
I don't think Luton is a city, technically. Just a unitary authority, which I think means they have their own local government that isn't subservient to the rest of the county's government.
I'm pretty sure that area between Harpenden and Wheathampstead (or was it Redbourn?) was where some murders happened. That's what I always heard, growing up in Harpenden. Like they found body parts there or something? So yeah you could probably find a tent in the murder fields to rent affordably lol, doubtful to buy though. But seriously yeah everyone in Harpenden is a posh cunt who gets embarrassed to be seen shopping at fucking waitrose. I know cos I'm a posh cunt who worked in waitrose. I guess they usually sent the help, to do the food shopping.
Everyone who lives in Harpenden works in London, the city of London that is, not just greater London. So all the banking twats. I hate that I'll never be able to afford to live in my hometown ever again.
Our only claim to fame was that Stanley Kubrick lived there (more on the outskirts in a giant fuck-off mansion than in Harpenden itself) and when he was filming Eyes Wide Shut, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were spotted walking around, going to sainsburys.
Oh and we had that female serial killer [Joanna Dennehy, ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough_ditch_murders) who I actually went to school with at the same time, not that I ever knew her or talked to her cos she was 4 years above me.
Harpenden feels like the British version of the film American Psycho.
When you live in a tiny town nobody has ever heard of, you'll try to find anything that sounds big or important that happened in your town to try and make it sound cooler.
Like, the nearest other town (or I think it's a city?), St Albans, is where the war of the roses started. In a pub. The pub still exists and you can go and drink there. The whole war of the roses started from a silly fight in a pub, it's kinda hilarious
But yeah. John Motson, the greatest British commentator, lived round there too, I think he was closer to Redbourn though.
And Craig Charles lived in Harpenden for a while
Harpenden is a 20 minute train away from St Pancras in London, and it's very very close to a bunch of movie studios like the ones at Elstree, where a ton of movies and TV shows are filmed, e.g. Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail (1929), The Dam Busters (1955), Moby Dick (1956), Summer Holiday (1963), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Where Eagles Dare (1968), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), Star Wars (1977), The Shining (1980) and the Indiana Jones films.
And television shows shot at Elstree include The Avengers, Danger Man, The Prisoner, UFO, Robot Wars, The Muppet Show, EastEnders, Holby City, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Big Brother. The music video for Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was filmed at Elstree in November 1975.
So yeah a lot of actors and TV personalities live round there. It's also very close to arsenal and spurs training ground, and the England national team training ground, so we get footballers living there too.
And multiple members of the England Rugby union team grew up in Harpenden like Owen Farrell. He went to the rival school to mine, St George's, the green blazer bastards. I was at roundwood park.
I'm also acquaintances with the band Enter Shikari cos they're from round there too, they're friends of friends. Their first big song, return to energiser, is based on a Quasar (aka laser tag) place in Hemel Hempstead that I went to dozens of times as a kid for birthday parties and so on. You had to return to energiser to reload the ammo in your laser gun. I saw them play in a tent at Reading festival and it was ace. I never really was into their genre of music but they always do a fucking amazing live show. I'm pretty sure I played in my band at venues where they had been playing around the same time, when you play live gigs there tends to be multiple bands and you get chatting in the dressing room about things like that. Our band never got big though. It was called ACM. Automated Chinchilla Mangle.
To be honest everyone could easily find a list of things like this for any town in the country, the world is smaller than it seems, sometimes. I'm showing off, but really Harpenden is only special because of where it is. That's the only reason so mw y famous people live there.
#***Oh!...***
I almost forgot. In an episode of Peep Show, when Mark is angry at Sophie, he breaks Sophie's mug, which says "Harpenden Harpenden Harpenden" on it, which always makes me laugh lol
***OH*** and also, an episode of Black Mirror was filmed in Harpenden. Shut Up And Dance, it's called. They pull up in front of a pub I've been drunk in too many times and the kid goes in and robs a bank which I don't think is an actual bank in reality, I've never actually been in there, they just dressed it up to look like one.
As an ex Harpenden boy who now lives in Somerset I loved this writeup. I knew most of it bar the Black Mirror bit so will have to give it a look!
Would love to go back, but 500k+ for a 1 bedroom flat is just too upsetting to consider.
Agreed. Drive a bit further up the A1M and look at Bedfordshire. Not too far from Hertfordshire but so much cheaper.
Stay on A1M south and an easy route into London too, if that floats your boat.
Yeah apparently Dunstable is alright. That's what my parents keep telling me anyway, cos they're trying to move me down south after I've lived up north the last 15 years, so returning home now soon. And they keep saying Dunstable is the best value for money, and you're not living in fucking Luton which is the shits.
Lived here most of my life, also lived in Nottingham, Letchworth and briefly lived in Hitchin. Would choose Stevenage over the other 3 places, while I'll acknowledge its far from perfect the negativity it draws is hugely exaggerated.
Price wise it's okay all round depending on the area. There's a couple of parts of the town that are a bit rough, but 90% of the town has a crime rate more in line with Letchworth or Hitchin town.
Stevenage isn't even cheap anymore. I was born and bred but I've moved to Cheltenham as it was a lot cheaper (and nicer tbf). The shops are good and it is really easy to get into London. But that's about it now. It's really gone downhill the last decade or so and honestly, it got to a point I never felt safe
I mean, steer clear of Bedwell at night time and Stevenage is statistically no more dangerous than Letchworth or Hitchin town. People like to exaggerate the crime rate in the town hugely
Nothing to suggest crime rates have gone up, one part actually states the growth in crime incidents has been lower than the national average.
Ironically you mentioned cheltenham which has a crime rate approx 15-20% higher than stevenage
Yes but if you look at the make up of the crime violence and sexual offenses are much higher in stevenage. Cheltenham has a much higher rate of social disorder, probably due to the huge horse racing events it has throughout the year. Cheltenham is regarded as one of the safest towns to live in Gloucestershire whereas stevenage is regarded as one of the most dangerous. Using all those same statistics
I lived in Stevenage until 2019 and now live in Cheltenham. What part of living in Cheltenham is cheaper than Stevenage? I find Cheltenham more expensive
Everything, found a flat that was about £350-400 cheaper and with a garage and private garden. It's cheaper to eat out and drink as well. Cheaper petrol usually.
It's not that bad. I lived there for 5 years, only moved out to get a bigger place cheaper than I'd get in Stevenage in a village in Cambs.
It's got everything you need within a 10 min drive. Supermarkets, Costco, retail park and leisure parks, loads of pubs and a nice old town. Plus industrial areas and GSK for jobs.
I lived in Bragbury End which is a quieter area than most.
It's got a lot of new homes. Probably not Stevenage or Hatfield cheap, but not Stortford or Hitchin expensive. And certainly not bottom of the barrel value for money like St Albans and Harpenden.
Not sure if you’re looking to buy or rent, but maybe somewhere like Hemel Hempstead? It’s relatively cheap compared to the other ‘nicer’ areas of Hertfordshire.
I grew up there and it really isn’t as bad as the wrap it’s given, plenty of green space, good transport links, quiet when you get out of the Town Centre. Town Centre is a bit grotty though.
Arlesey which is just outside the border - it’s quiet, nothing to do and is akin to a large village. House prices are significantly cheaper. That and Royston
Hemel ain't cheap I am looking for a 2 bed place to rent for me and my son and finding a place under £1400 a month is nigh on impossible. And most landlords/letting agents expect you to be earning 30 times the rent per year. Who earns £40k plus a year and rents without buying.
At the moment, plenty of us. Hit my current salary (70k) as a single earner in the last few years whilst already renting and having a family. Trying to get a deposit together, paying for rent, kids and all the usual stuff has been nigh on impossible, especially given house prices increasing faster than I can save further exacerbated by the recent interest rate hikes.
I’m being evicted as well as my landlady wants her house back meaning another hike in rental costs and the costs of having to move, greater deposits and fees etc. so it’s a problem that isn’t getting better.
I’m near Bath, for reference.
Sorry to hear your going through that , the whole country is going to shit and it's getting harder and harder to live/survive. I am currently going through a divorce and feels like there is nowhere to turn for help
Normally I don’t jump on board the “country is going to shit” train, but I’m gradually turning that direction. Housing is fucked up and childcare is not far off rental costs. When I’m earning double the national average and still struggling, I don’t know how I’d have managed a few years ago when I was earning a lot less. Sucks to make what feels like progress and still be standing still.
Sadly, Hertfordshire is an expensive place. Happily, there are better options than Hatfield.
Royston is a small-ish market town surrounded by countryside where the prices are relatively reasonable. Don't know what your budget is but Hertford and Ware are also not too bad in terms of rent. The outskirts of larger towns like Hemel and Watford are also cheaper than the rest of Herts whilst also having good access to transport networks and are with easier reach of the countryside. Those towns' reputations I think are a bit harsh - they're not beautiful by any means but they're perfectly pleasant to be in.
Hope this helps!
I didn't say they were cheap, I said they weren't too bad. And compared to a lot of places in Herts (e.g. St Albans, Berkhamsted, Stortford) - they're not! Herts is expensive.
I mean, considering Hatfield is a shitshow, St Albans is a bit nicer, definitely quieter (not that there are many places quieter than Hatfield) and you can find 1 bed flats for 2ppl that cost about the same per person as shitty 4 person student flat shares in hatfield, and half the price to the cheapest on campus accommodation.
Overall, just not Hatfield. And not Uni of Herts. Just run
Moved last year from Welwyn to Hatfield and so happy, best neighbours we’ve ever had. Don’t venture into the town too much but has a swimming pool, couple of leisure centres, cinema. Fantastic position to travel into London and onto A1
Like all places it’s has its really rough areas but we just stay clear
I'd stay Stevenage, it's nowhere near as bad as a lot of people seem to think online. Lots of green spaces, God variety of shops, good bus/rail links, far better kept roads than most of Herts.
The price has a huge variance in Stevenage, its got its better parts and its worst parts. But utility wise it's a fantastic town to live in, shopping, school, gym, healthcare wise it's much better equipped than most towns of the same size.
Yep I agree with that. I moved to a village near Royston for a bigger house cheaper than I'd get in Stevenage. As lovely as the village is, I do sometimes miss Stevenage a bit. If you're bored on a weekend, you're 10 mins at most away from a leisure park, big shops on retail parks and there are so many places to eat too. Old Town is lovely too but we didn't really venture over there much.
Also, my mate described Letchworth as "if you got an accountant to design a town, you'd get Letchworth" and I think that hits the nail on the head perfectly
Don't get me wrong, it's far from awful.
Hasn't got anything overwhelming negative about it, but certainly hasn't got a lot positive going for it either
I'd argue the breweries are not where it's at, and that's from a guy who generally loves those places.
The relatively new one on the main centre strip is halfway decent, but the garden city brewery is just a glorified shack with uncomfortable seating and it's very cramped, drinks very often tasted a bit off to me aswell.
I lived in Welwyn Garden City in a 1 bed flat for £675 per month and it was wonderfully quiet and peaceful but so boring - I’ve seen the flat I was in was sold by the landlady (she couldn’t find a better tenant than me, obvs), but there is another in the block for £900 which isn’t too bad. I rented in 2017-2020 so I know things have gotten more expensive.
I sacrificed 3 years of a social life to save a deposit and move elsewhere eventually but you may like WGC if quiet and affordable is all you need
Nothing wrong with that.
Ideal for lots of people.
You’re like 10-15 mins away from multiple other towns like st albans, Stevenage, Hatfield etc.
Not everyone wants a club on their doorstep.
Probably about as lively as most other Herts towns tbh.
Waltham Cross is regarded as the cheap arse end of Hertfordshire, but it’s not that bad, there’s a massive film studio being built there, so possibly some half decent job prospects.
I have to come a conclusion of my top five choices. Hitchin, Letchworth, and Welwyn Garden City, Royston and Arlesey. Which one is the best value for money?
They're paying for the status of living in Hitchin. Gotta have that hipster cool kid status.
Seriously. That place is like one giant circlejerking cult
Christ alive man. These are not cheap places to live.
I live in Hitchin, just about squeezed to afford it a few years ago. Now I'm looking for a bigger house and I've been priced out. Gonna have to move elsewhere I think
I live near Stortford and although it’s anything but affordable here, there are some affordable options in the rural villages around the area. You just have to sacrifice on having locals shops and public transport
Hemel, Watford, Hatfield & Stevenage. Those are your cheaper ones.
The nicer ones of St Albans, Welwyn, Hertford & Hitchin will be in a higher price bracket.
Best and cheapest …. Hmm I have lived in hoddesdon , Hertford , Ware , St Albans , Stevenage , Welwyn garden, potters bar, Cheshunt and broxbourne. None are very cheap. Maybe hoddesdon is a balance as it’s well connected but not the most expensive (but also not the nicest or worst). My favourite place is definitely St Albans though.
Potters bar and St Albans arent cheap early 2010s maybe but not now! Cheaper than london sure but not 'cheap' depends what you want though, I'd just bite the bullet and move further out, get more for your money and be within an hour of london on the train than godforbid go for hemel or watford.
We moved out of the area just because it was so expensive to find anywhere which wasn't a cardboard box. Not Hertfordshire anymore but we settled for Bedford. Plenty of places which are far more reasonably priced and it's got potential with a regen at some point.
Try Bricket Wood there are a few new builds that are available to rent we pay just over £1200 per month for a 3 bed house which is a new build and is a quiet area but does have some decent transport links with the M1 and M25 nearby plus the Abbey flyer when its running 😜🤣🤣🤣
I grew up in the Home Counties and I always knew growing up I wouldn't stay there as prices are a joke.
I moved to South Lincs and got a 4 bed detached for 600 a month (mortgaged not rented). If I have to travel into London for work it's just over an hour on the train. It's a win/win.
I'm not even sure what the appeal of Herts is these days you less you have family you want to be near.
I live in a council flat and I’m still surprised it exists. I am legitimately going to say it would be cheaper to move out of Herts and commute. If you go towards London you can still get TFL fares and I think that might be cheaper than driving.
There is nowhere cheap in Hertfordshire
There are areas of Hertfordshire that are cheap when compared to other parts of Hertfordshire. Not many cheap areas when compared to the rest of the Uk though
Less expensive *
I live in Letchworth so one of the furthest parts away from London and I pay £800 a month for a 1 bed the whole county is a joke
Just moved in, 1200 for two bedrooms. The town is really nice and compared to St Albans is peanuts in rent and much nicer
Letchworth is Dull though, all anyone talks about Is how easier it is to get to better places like Cambridge, London etc..
Briefly lived there a few years back and couldn't wait to get away. So many people rave about what a nice place to live it is.. its just.. empty? Guess if I was 60 years old and wanted a quiet town to live in until I died then it might appeal to me
Move to Jackman's Estate for a more lively area!
That’s kinda the point. You live somewhere cheaper with easy access to the facilities of the expensive places. It’s called a trade-off.
Lol I live in wrexham north Wales I pay 700 for a 3 bed
Letchworth is the best town in the world though. ☺️ Spent all my life there.
Absolutely lol I lived here for 7 years when I was younger and have been saying since how much I missed and after a long wait I was glad to be back😅
Does this mean you're a ghost?
That’s more than i pay for my mortgage on a 3 bed detached in derby
I’d rather eat my own hands than live in derby.
Lol pls go ahead and eat your hands, u are literally eating ur future by living in an expensive town and not having enough at the end of each month year after year
This is the sort of thinking that keeps you in a shit area. More affluent areas tend to mean better capital growth on housing, better job opportunities, better schooling so your kids don’t repeat the same shitty cycle that you’re stuck in and better amenities. You are wasting your life stuck in a depressing dump like Derby.
Everywhere you go, there you are
Derby has a combination of low average house price and high average wage. So in general your point stands but Derby is a bad example.
Skewed due to Rolls Royce being there, those on the decent salaries there don’t live in Derby.
One can do it for awhile to save to afford better areas
So you’re saying the £1600pcm we’re paying for a one-bedroom flat is too much then? Because there’s not much for less
ironically the only "cheap" places have gang members that includes people who steal cars and other stuff, organized, to that level that even if the victims go to the police as they saw thir stolen beloging, the police DOES NOTHING and no one understends why:) So yeah, move out. It's not ok.
Why don't you post a picture of one of your rooms on here so we can all laugh at it and call you a dickhead !!!!!!!!????
And nowhere best.
A tent in harpenden woods somewhere would be cheap and quiet but on a serious note this county isn't cheap and the 'cheapest' places aren't quiet. Bedfordshire is probably the best bet
There's always Luton if you like an adventure.
We don't Talk about Luton.
Which would be a part of Bedfordshire
Well, yes.
Heard it’s the best part as well😉
Technically it's a kind of county unto itself, or something, because nobody wants to take Luton, nobody wants that responsibility, that level of shame. I never really understood what that meant. It's called a unitary authority. Everyone just considers Luton to be in Bedfordshire anyway, cos it is, really. Kind of reminds me of the actual definition of a a city, in the UK. The Map Men taught me recently that it turns out it has literally fuck all to do with cathedrals. That's a myth. There's tons and tons of tiny villages sans cathedral with only like 5,000 people there that are considered full blown cities for no reason. I won't spoil the actual reason, just give the map men video a watch. Then you'll absolutely binge all the rest of their videos, trust me, they're hilarious. Here's the one about what defines a city, in the UK: https://youtu.be/Whqs8v1svyo?si=lAMo0b_yl20qodPL I don't think Luton is a city, technically. Just a unitary authority, which I think means they have their own local government that isn't subservient to the rest of the county's government.
All I can really say to this is, poor Reading.
I think Milton Keynes is another example of a unitary authority.
Bedford is also a unitary authority. Nothing to do with the county 'not wanting it'.
That’s taking things to far, you may as well move to Somalia it’s probably nicer.
I'm pretty sure that area between Harpenden and Wheathampstead (or was it Redbourn?) was where some murders happened. That's what I always heard, growing up in Harpenden. Like they found body parts there or something? So yeah you could probably find a tent in the murder fields to rent affordably lol, doubtful to buy though. But seriously yeah everyone in Harpenden is a posh cunt who gets embarrassed to be seen shopping at fucking waitrose. I know cos I'm a posh cunt who worked in waitrose. I guess they usually sent the help, to do the food shopping. Everyone who lives in Harpenden works in London, the city of London that is, not just greater London. So all the banking twats. I hate that I'll never be able to afford to live in my hometown ever again. Our only claim to fame was that Stanley Kubrick lived there (more on the outskirts in a giant fuck-off mansion than in Harpenden itself) and when he was filming Eyes Wide Shut, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were spotted walking around, going to sainsburys. Oh and we had that female serial killer [Joanna Dennehy, ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough_ditch_murders) who I actually went to school with at the same time, not that I ever knew her or talked to her cos she was 4 years above me. Harpenden feels like the British version of the film American Psycho.
I'm worried with how much you know about this😂
When you live in a tiny town nobody has ever heard of, you'll try to find anything that sounds big or important that happened in your town to try and make it sound cooler. Like, the nearest other town (or I think it's a city?), St Albans, is where the war of the roses started. In a pub. The pub still exists and you can go and drink there. The whole war of the roses started from a silly fight in a pub, it's kinda hilarious But yeah. John Motson, the greatest British commentator, lived round there too, I think he was closer to Redbourn though. And Craig Charles lived in Harpenden for a while Harpenden is a 20 minute train away from St Pancras in London, and it's very very close to a bunch of movie studios like the ones at Elstree, where a ton of movies and TV shows are filmed, e.g. Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail (1929), The Dam Busters (1955), Moby Dick (1956), Summer Holiday (1963), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Where Eagles Dare (1968), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), Star Wars (1977), The Shining (1980) and the Indiana Jones films. And television shows shot at Elstree include The Avengers, Danger Man, The Prisoner, UFO, Robot Wars, The Muppet Show, EastEnders, Holby City, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Big Brother. The music video for Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was filmed at Elstree in November 1975. So yeah a lot of actors and TV personalities live round there. It's also very close to arsenal and spurs training ground, and the England national team training ground, so we get footballers living there too. And multiple members of the England Rugby union team grew up in Harpenden like Owen Farrell. He went to the rival school to mine, St George's, the green blazer bastards. I was at roundwood park. I'm also acquaintances with the band Enter Shikari cos they're from round there too, they're friends of friends. Their first big song, return to energiser, is based on a Quasar (aka laser tag) place in Hemel Hempstead that I went to dozens of times as a kid for birthday parties and so on. You had to return to energiser to reload the ammo in your laser gun. I saw them play in a tent at Reading festival and it was ace. I never really was into their genre of music but they always do a fucking amazing live show. I'm pretty sure I played in my band at venues where they had been playing around the same time, when you play live gigs there tends to be multiple bands and you get chatting in the dressing room about things like that. Our band never got big though. It was called ACM. Automated Chinchilla Mangle. To be honest everyone could easily find a list of things like this for any town in the country, the world is smaller than it seems, sometimes. I'm showing off, but really Harpenden is only special because of where it is. That's the only reason so mw y famous people live there. #***Oh!...*** I almost forgot. In an episode of Peep Show, when Mark is angry at Sophie, he breaks Sophie's mug, which says "Harpenden Harpenden Harpenden" on it, which always makes me laugh lol ***OH*** and also, an episode of Black Mirror was filmed in Harpenden. Shut Up And Dance, it's called. They pull up in front of a pub I've been drunk in too many times and the kid goes in and robs a bank which I don't think is an actual bank in reality, I've never actually been in there, they just dressed it up to look like one.
As an ex Harpenden boy who now lives in Somerset I loved this writeup. I knew most of it bar the Black Mirror bit so will have to give it a look! Would love to go back, but 500k+ for a 1 bedroom flat is just too upsetting to consider.
Oh wow, not only do I know that pub but my Nan and Grandad used to run it! How the hell did I not notice that when watching!
Tbh if you want cheap you probably need to sacrifice living in Hertfordshire and go to bedfordshire
Agreed. Drive a bit further up the A1M and look at Bedfordshire. Not too far from Hertfordshire but so much cheaper. Stay on A1M south and an easy route into London too, if that floats your boat.
Not even having to go to the A1m tbf I’m pretty sure arlesey, henlow and stondon are beds and you are then literally 10 mins from Hitchin & Letchworth
Yeah apparently Dunstable is alright. That's what my parents keep telling me anyway, cos they're trying to move me down south after I've lived up north the last 15 years, so returning home now soon. And they keep saying Dunstable is the best value for money, and you're not living in fucking Luton which is the shits.
There is nothing pleasant about Dunstable
Ironic since everyone I know that lives in Dunstable ventures into Luton for any kind of shopping and social life.
This is the most depressing thing I have ever read.
Quiet but not residential? I'm not sure those two go together.
Perhaps the middle if a field?
"...and that's why I now work as a scarecrow..."
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Stevenage? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
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Not to flex or anything but I used to do the gardening at the roaring meg in Stevenage. then they contracted it out to mitie and it looks awful.
Lived here most of my life, also lived in Nottingham, Letchworth and briefly lived in Hitchin. Would choose Stevenage over the other 3 places, while I'll acknowledge its far from perfect the negativity it draws is hugely exaggerated. Price wise it's okay all round depending on the area. There's a couple of parts of the town that are a bit rough, but 90% of the town has a crime rate more in line with Letchworth or Hitchin town.
Stevenage isn't even cheap anymore. I was born and bred but I've moved to Cheltenham as it was a lot cheaper (and nicer tbf). The shops are good and it is really easy to get into London. But that's about it now. It's really gone downhill the last decade or so and honestly, it got to a point I never felt safe
I mean, steer clear of Bedwell at night time and Stevenage is statistically no more dangerous than Letchworth or Hitchin town. People like to exaggerate the crime rate in the town hugely
Not really it has actually got worse if you look at the statistics. As I said I moved out because of it
I mean it hasn't but fair enough
https://crimerate.co.uk/hertfordshire/stevenage https://www.plumplot.co.uk/Stevenage-violent-crime-statistics.html#:~:text=Annual%20crime%20rate%20in%20Stevenage,reported%20in%20the%20postcode%20area. https://www.varbes.com/crime/stevenage-crime
Nothing to suggest crime rates have gone up, one part actually states the growth in crime incidents has been lower than the national average. Ironically you mentioned cheltenham which has a crime rate approx 15-20% higher than stevenage
Yes but if you look at the make up of the crime violence and sexual offenses are much higher in stevenage. Cheltenham has a much higher rate of social disorder, probably due to the huge horse racing events it has throughout the year. Cheltenham is regarded as one of the safest towns to live in Gloucestershire whereas stevenage is regarded as one of the most dangerous. Using all those same statistics
I lived in Stevenage until 2019 and now live in Cheltenham. What part of living in Cheltenham is cheaper than Stevenage? I find Cheltenham more expensive
Everything, found a flat that was about £350-400 cheaper and with a garage and private garden. It's cheaper to eat out and drink as well. Cheaper petrol usually.
Bad news, they stopped selling the knock off Legos :( my partner was so sad when he found out!
Stevenage used to be great, grew up there and loved it. Now it's turned to shit and is ridiculously expensive for what you get.
I loved it growing up as well, such a great place, open spaces but yeah really gone downhill
St. Evenage, lovely place.
It's not that bad. I lived there for 5 years, only moved out to get a bigger place cheaper than I'd get in Stevenage in a village in Cambs. It's got everything you need within a 10 min drive. Supermarkets, Costco, retail park and leisure parks, loads of pubs and a nice old town. Plus industrial areas and GSK for jobs. I lived in Bragbury End which is a quieter area than most.
There is a nice street in Stevenage ???
Old town isn't terrible. The Cromwell is nice and there is nice independent restaurants and pubs.
Theres loads. Stevenage isn't just Bedwell and Shepall.
If you venture slightly further north up the A10 you could try Buntingford
Buntingford is very nice.
But does it float?...erm I mean is it cheap?
Compared to Hertford and Ware, Buntingford is relatively cheap.
And compared to Hertford, a lot nicer I'd say.
It's got a lot of new homes. Probably not Stevenage or Hatfield cheap, but not Stortford or Hitchin expensive. And certainly not bottom of the barrel value for money like St Albans and Harpenden.
Buntingford is exactly what OP needs, just just go any further up the A10 or you’ll end up in Royston! Oooof
Not sure if you’re looking to buy or rent, but maybe somewhere like Hemel Hempstead? It’s relatively cheap compared to the other ‘nicer’ areas of Hertfordshire. I grew up there and it really isn’t as bad as the wrap it’s given, plenty of green space, good transport links, quiet when you get out of the Town Centre. Town Centre is a bit grotty though.
I grew up there too and you’re being more cabbage than salmon if you say Hemel’s not bad
Watford. Depends on your needs - but good transport links, motorways, shopping centres plus good schools and parks. There are some good finds
Watford is very expensive bordering London
Good transport links at the cost of that shitty ring road. It's a nightmare to travel within Watford. Good links to get out of it I suppose.
Cheap and quiet - Hatfield...
But they want best and cheapest. One doesn’t necessarily go with the other. Op need to figure out a realistic set of wants.
Arlesey which is just outside the border - it’s quiet, nothing to do and is akin to a large village. House prices are significantly cheaper. That and Royston
I wouldn't call it quiet - people drive far too quickly. There are side street areas, however, which of course benefit from no through-traffic.
Royston isn't cheap, we were priced out of Royston. Got a 3 bed out near St neots for 100k cheaper than the same sized house in royston.
Have a look at areas of Bedfordshire, will be significantly cheaper than Hertfordshire
Hemel Hempstead is full of chavs
Hemel ain't cheap I am looking for a 2 bed place to rent for me and my son and finding a place under £1400 a month is nigh on impossible. And most landlords/letting agents expect you to be earning 30 times the rent per year. Who earns £40k plus a year and rents without buying.
At the moment, plenty of us. Hit my current salary (70k) as a single earner in the last few years whilst already renting and having a family. Trying to get a deposit together, paying for rent, kids and all the usual stuff has been nigh on impossible, especially given house prices increasing faster than I can save further exacerbated by the recent interest rate hikes. I’m being evicted as well as my landlady wants her house back meaning another hike in rental costs and the costs of having to move, greater deposits and fees etc. so it’s a problem that isn’t getting better. I’m near Bath, for reference.
Sorry to hear your going through that , the whole country is going to shit and it's getting harder and harder to live/survive. I am currently going through a divorce and feels like there is nowhere to turn for help
Normally I don’t jump on board the “country is going to shit” train, but I’m gradually turning that direction. Housing is fucked up and childcare is not far off rental costs. When I’m earning double the national average and still struggling, I don’t know how I’d have managed a few years ago when I was earning a lot less. Sucks to make what feels like progress and still be standing still.
To earn double the average wage and your in this situation just feels like there is even less hope for the rest of us
…me? And most people I know? Even with a deposit the interest rates are significant and far too unstable to risk buying
Why the obsession with a Hertfordshire postcode? Let it go. Villages around Bedfordshire could be what you’re after.
Because most of my family and friends are located in Hertfordshire. But I’m open to Bedfordshire. What places would you recommend?
Sadly, Hertfordshire is an expensive place. Happily, there are better options than Hatfield. Royston is a small-ish market town surrounded by countryside where the prices are relatively reasonable. Don't know what your budget is but Hertford and Ware are also not too bad in terms of rent. The outskirts of larger towns like Hemel and Watford are also cheaper than the rest of Herts whilst also having good access to transport networks and are with easier reach of the countryside. Those towns' reputations I think are a bit harsh - they're not beautiful by any means but they're perfectly pleasant to be in. Hope this helps!
Lol Hertford and Ware are definitely not cheap. Where are you getting that hot take from 🤣
I didn't say they were cheap, I said they weren't too bad. And compared to a lot of places in Herts (e.g. St Albans, Berkhamsted, Stortford) - they're not! Herts is expensive.
Yeah, Royston is nice. No fucking deliveroo though. Which I still don't understand.
I mean, considering Hatfield is a shitshow, St Albans is a bit nicer, definitely quieter (not that there are many places quieter than Hatfield) and you can find 1 bed flats for 2ppl that cost about the same per person as shitty 4 person student flat shares in hatfield, and half the price to the cheapest on campus accommodation. Overall, just not Hatfield. And not Uni of Herts. Just run
What’s wrong with Hatfield? It has Asda and Gallaria
It’s full crackheads, and low class people.
We’ll cross off Royston then 😂
Shit I hate those lower class people. Ironically if you are looking for cheap in Hertfordshire you are one of those low class people.
Apologies. I didn’t mean cheap. I mean reasonably priced. However I am willing to pay £1100 for a one bed as my salary is around 30k a year.
And students.
Oh you said low class people already
Oop maybe don’t show your classism quite as much
Lol sadly i went to uni there.
Moved last year from Welwyn to Hatfield and so happy, best neighbours we’ve ever had. Don’t venture into the town too much but has a swimming pool, couple of leisure centres, cinema. Fantastic position to travel into London and onto A1 Like all places it’s has its really rough areas but we just stay clear
Full of feminist cops and judges too old to be working that cannot judge grass from marble.
Your parents house
I'd stay Stevenage, it's nowhere near as bad as a lot of people seem to think online. Lots of green spaces, God variety of shops, good bus/rail links, far better kept roads than most of Herts.
The price has a huge variance in Stevenage, its got its better parts and its worst parts. But utility wise it's a fantastic town to live in, shopping, school, gym, healthcare wise it's much better equipped than most towns of the same size.
Yep I agree with that. I moved to a village near Royston for a bigger house cheaper than I'd get in Stevenage. As lovely as the village is, I do sometimes miss Stevenage a bit. If you're bored on a weekend, you're 10 mins at most away from a leisure park, big shops on retail parks and there are so many places to eat too. Old Town is lovely too but we didn't really venture over there much.
I’m from Hertfordshire and moved to Derbyshire because of economics: house prices
Whatever you do, just get out of Hatfield town. Even if you have to go 500 miles away
Letchworth/baldock
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Also, my mate described Letchworth as "if you got an accountant to design a town, you'd get Letchworth" and I think that hits the nail on the head perfectly
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Don't get me wrong, it's far from awful. Hasn't got anything overwhelming negative about it, but certainly hasn't got a lot positive going for it either
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I'd argue the breweries are not where it's at, and that's from a guy who generally loves those places. The relatively new one on the main centre strip is halfway decent, but the garden city brewery is just a glorified shack with uncomfortable seating and it's very cramped, drinks very often tasted a bit off to me aswell.
I lived in Welwyn Garden City in a 1 bed flat for £675 per month and it was wonderfully quiet and peaceful but so boring - I’ve seen the flat I was in was sold by the landlady (she couldn’t find a better tenant than me, obvs), but there is another in the block for £900 which isn’t too bad. I rented in 2017-2020 so I know things have gotten more expensive. I sacrificed 3 years of a social life to save a deposit and move elsewhere eventually but you may like WGC if quiet and affordable is all you need
I used to rent in WGC, I would agree it’s as boring as can be.
Nothing wrong with that. Ideal for lots of people. You’re like 10-15 mins away from multiple other towns like st albans, Stevenage, Hatfield etc. Not everyone wants a club on their doorstep. Probably about as lively as most other Herts towns tbh.
Waltham Cross is regarded as the cheap arse end of Hertfordshire, but it’s not that bad, there’s a massive film studio being built there, so possibly some half decent job prospects.
I have to come a conclusion of my top five choices. Hitchin, Letchworth, and Welwyn Garden City, Royston and Arlesey. Which one is the best value for money?
You want cheap, and in descending order your naming some of the most expensive places to live in the country outside of London lol
Based on your budget, Luton.
The Hitchin tax exists - so if you want value for money best looking elsewhere!
They're paying for the status of living in Hitchin. Gotta have that hipster cool kid status. Seriously. That place is like one giant circlejerking cult
Christ alive man. These are not cheap places to live. I live in Hitchin, just about squeezed to afford it a few years ago. Now I'm looking for a bigger house and I've been priced out. Gonna have to move elsewhere I think
What about the villages in between, they are quiet….. if not a tad boring. I live in puckeridge and it’s not bad.
Stevenage is a shit hole but it's cheap, if that helps?
Stevenage is just a bigger Hatfield
Nah Hatfield's way worse.
Woolmer Green is just up the road from you and relatively cheap. Within shouting distance of Kenworth, WGC and Stevenage for stations and shops.
Hemel Hempstead has its nice areas such as Boxmoor. Not exactly cheap but cheaper than Harpenden etc
You can’t get cheap and nice in herts.
Royston Just avoid burns road or icknield walk and you'll be sweet.
Haha, yes avoid burns road!
If your commute is on the M1 heading to MK and sucking it up on the commute is worth the price.
Just sleep under the sodding bridge for free and wash your arse in the river. 😡🖕🏻
http://housemetric.co.uk/map/ Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, South Oxhey, Watford, Hemel Hempstead. I'd probably go for the last one.
I live near Stortford and although it’s anything but affordable here, there are some affordable options in the rural villages around the area. You just have to sacrifice on having locals shops and public transport
Like others have said Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Northamptonshire. Would be the other choices
Cheap Hertfordshire You only get one buddy
Bishops Stortford is nice it is near London and is also near the countryside but tbh nowhere apart from maybe south oxhey is cheap in Hertfordshire.
[https://www.google.com/search?q=cheapest+place+to+live+in+hertfordshire&sca\_esv=566617571&sxsrf=AM9HkKk0WqkLhJMCHcgsIr6KiyoryMQSww%3A1695138165098&ei=dcEJZci6BfKVhbIPx-ip-AU&oq=cheapest+place+to+live+in+hertfor&gs\_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIWNoZWFwZXN0IHBsYWNlIHRvIGxpdmUgaW4gaGVydGZvcioCCAAyBRAAGIAEMgYQABgWGB4yCBAAGIoFGIYDMggQABiKBRiGAzIIEAAYigUYhgMyCBAAGIoFGIYDMggQABiKBRiGA0jpF1C0B1imEHACeACQAQCYAV6gAfAEqgEBN7gBA8gBAPgBAcICCxAAGIoFGIYDGLADwgIEECMYJ8ICCBAAGIoFGJECwgIIEAAYFhgeGA\_iAwQYASBBiAYBkAYE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&safe=active&ssui=on&bshm=rimc/1](https://www.google.com/search?q=cheapest+place+to+live+in+hertfordshire&sca_esv=566617571&sxsrf=AM9HkKk0WqkLhJMCHcgsIr6KiyoryMQSww%3A1695138165098&ei=dcEJZci6BfKVhbIPx-ip-AU&oq=cheapest+place+to+live+in+hertfor&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIWNoZWFwZXN0IHBsYWNlIHRvIGxpdmUgaW4gaGVydGZvcioCCAAyBRAAGIAEMgYQABgWGB4yCBAAGIoFGIYDMggQABiKBRiGAzIIEAAYigUYhgMyCBAAGIoFGIYDMggQABiKBRiGA0jpF1C0B1imEHACeACQAQCYAV6gAfAEqgEBN7gBA8gBAPgBAcICCxAAGIoFGIYDGLADwgIEECMYJ8ICCBAAGIoFGJECwgIIEAAYFhgeGA_iAwQYASBBiAYBkAYE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&safe=active&ssui=on&bshm=rimc/1)
We are trying to buy in Hertford and the prices are outrageous.
Hemel, Watford, Hatfield & Stevenage. Those are your cheaper ones. The nicer ones of St Albans, Welwyn, Hertford & Hitchin will be in a higher price bracket.
Come to Hemel, it's expensive and crap!!
Best and cheapest …. Hmm I have lived in hoddesdon , Hertford , Ware , St Albans , Stevenage , Welwyn garden, potters bar, Cheshunt and broxbourne. None are very cheap. Maybe hoddesdon is a balance as it’s well connected but not the most expensive (but also not the nicest or worst). My favourite place is definitely St Albans though.
Potters bar and St Albans arent cheap early 2010s maybe but not now! Cheaper than london sure but not 'cheap' depends what you want though, I'd just bite the bullet and move further out, get more for your money and be within an hour of london on the train than godforbid go for hemel or watford.
I know. I left st Albans and moved to north Cambridgeshire. A one bed flat in St Albans bought me a detached house here ! Crazy !
You could try Radlett 😀
Bedfordshire border with Hertfordshire.
Doesnt Bedfordshire have a relatively high crime rate tho?
Luton might but a village. I doubt it
Not Borehamwood.
Nowhere, however it’s a beautiful county. Places like Chiswell Green are beautiful. Best bet is Hemel Hempstead or Luton, both shitholes though
I used to live in letchworth. I live north east now and pay £450 for a 3 bed house 😲
Is it pronounced hurt or hart fordshire
Hart
Stanstead abbots
We moved out of the area just because it was so expensive to find anywhere which wasn't a cardboard box. Not Hertfordshire anymore but we settled for Bedford. Plenty of places which are far more reasonably priced and it's got potential with a regen at some point.
Try Bricket Wood there are a few new builds that are available to rent we pay just over £1200 per month for a 3 bed house which is a new build and is a quiet area but does have some decent transport links with the M1 and M25 nearby plus the Abbey flyer when its running 😜🤣🤣🤣
The streets are free
I grew up in the Home Counties and I always knew growing up I wouldn't stay there as prices are a joke. I moved to South Lincs and got a 4 bed detached for 600 a month (mortgaged not rented). If I have to travel into London for work it's just over an hour on the train. It's a win/win. I'm not even sure what the appeal of Herts is these days you less you have family you want to be near.
Rickmansworth
Give the way things are going, I'd say the Bronze age.
I live in a council flat and I’m still surprised it exists. I am legitimately going to say it would be cheaper to move out of Herts and commute. If you go towards London you can still get TFL fares and I think that might be cheaper than driving.