Neighbourhood comparison
Cottonmill & Sopwell vs Longacres
St Albans, East of England · St Albans, East of England
Cottonmill & Sopwell · 9Dead heat — 9 wins each on 23 comparable metrics · 5 tiesLongacres · 9
Headline scores
Composite indexes, 0–100 (higher is better).
42
Liveability
Weighted index of safety, schools, transport, affordability and amenities.
Δ +31 pts
73
✓ leads
62
Safety
Higher = lower crime and ASB rates per 1,000 residents.
Δ +23 pts
85
✓ leads
90
✓ leads
Transport
Higher = closer to rail, more bus stops, faster commute reach.
Δ -15 pts
75
82
Schools
Higher = more Good/Outstanding Ofsted schools within 2 km.
Δ +15 pts
97
✓ leads
Cost of living
Native units — what residents actually pay.
£1,667/mo
✓ leads
Est. rent
LAD-published rent scaled by within-LAD price gradient (HMLR sales) with neighbour smoothing. Within ±15-25% of true market median; varies LSOA-to-LSOA.
Δ +£212/mo
£1,879/mo
£2,234/mo
Total monthly cost
Rent + council tax (1/12) + EPC-band utility estimate.
Δ +£15/mo
£2,249/mo
£2,484/yr
✓ leads
Council tax
Δ +£185/yr
£2,669/yr
5.3 yrs
✓ leads
Years to 10% deposit
Years for the local median earner to save a 10% deposit at the local median price.
Δ +1.2 yrs
6.5 yrs
Earning power
£45,543/yr
Median salary
Δ £0/yr
£45,543/yr
61%
Rent ÷ take-home pay
How much of the local median take-home goes on rent.
Δ 0 pp
61%
0.45
Jobs per resident
Workplace job count divided by working-age residents.
Δ 0.00
0.45
Safety detail
73.4
Crime per 1,000 / yr
Δ -26.2
47.2
✓ leads
Schools detail
40%
% Good/Outstanding (within 2 km)
Δ +12 pp
52%
✓ leads
Connectivity
979 m
✓ leads
Nearest rail station
Δ +704 m
1.7 km
23 min
✓ leads
Commute to nearest job hub
Public-transport time to the nearest of 10 major UK job hubs.
Δ +17 min
39 min
100%
Gigabit broadband coverage
Δ 0 pp
100%
People & vibe
How busy and varied the neighbourhood is — what's actually around to do.
7,838
Population
6,793
3,512 / km²
Population density
People per km². Higher = denser urban; lower = leafier.
6,648 / km²
44%
% with a degree
Δ +14 pp
58%
✓ leads
41%
% working from home
Δ +15 pp
56%
✓ leads
3
Restaurants nearby
Restaurants within ~5 minutes' walk (500 m).
Δ +7
10
✓ leads
—
Pubs & bars nearby
Pubs and bars combined, within 500 m.
1
3
✓ leads
Cafés nearby
Cafés within 500 m.
Δ -3
0
2
✓ leads
Supermarkets nearby
Supermarkets within 500 m.
Δ -2
0
1
✓ leads
Gyms within 1 km
Δ -1
0
1
Parks within 500 m
Δ +2
3
✓ leads