Neighbourhood comparison
Cottonmill & Sopwell vs St Albans Central
St Albans, East of England · St Albans, East of England
Cottonmill & Sopwell · 4St Albans Central leads on 11 of 23 metrics · 8 tiesSt Albans Central · 11
Headline scores
Composite indexes, 0–100 (higher is better).
42
Liveability
Weighted index of safety, schools, transport, affordability and amenities.
Δ +11 pts
53
✓ leads
62
✓ leads
Safety
Higher = lower crime and ASB rates per 1,000 residents.
Δ -5 pts
58
90
Transport
Higher = closer to rail, more bus stops, faster commute reach.
Δ +7 pts
97
✓ leads
82
Schools
Higher = more Good/Outstanding Ofsted schools within 2 km.
Δ +3 pts
85
Cost of living
Native units — what residents actually pay.
£1,667/mo
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 -£149/mo
£1,518/mo
✓ leads
£2,234/mo
Total monthly cost
Rent + council tax (1/12) + EPC-band utility estimate.
Δ +£3/mo
£2,237/mo
£2,484/yr
Council tax
Δ +£32/yr
£2,517/yr
5.3 yrs
Years to 10% deposit
Years for the local median earner to save a 10% deposit at the local median price.
Δ -1.2 yrs
4.1 yrs
✓ leads
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
✓ leads
Crime per 1,000 / yr
Δ +36.4
109.8
Schools detail
40%
% Good/Outstanding (within 2 km)
Δ +2 pp
42%
Connectivity
979 m
Nearest rail station
Δ 475 m
504 m
✓ leads
23 min
✓ leads
Commute to nearest job hub
Public-transport time to the nearest of 10 major UK job hubs.
Δ +3 min
25 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
9,338
3,512 / km²
Population density
People per km². Higher = denser urban; lower = leafier.
7,645 / km²
44%
% with a degree
Δ +24 pp
68%
✓ leads
41%
% working from home
Δ +22 pp
63%
✓ leads
3
Restaurants nearby
Restaurants within ~5 minutes' walk (500 m).
Δ +53
56
✓ leads
—
Pubs & bars nearby
Pubs and bars combined, within 500 m.
19
3
Cafés nearby
Cafés within 500 m.
Δ +11
14
✓ leads
2
✓ leads
Supermarkets nearby
Supermarkets within 500 m.
Δ -1
1
1
Gyms within 1 km
Δ +1
2
✓ leads
1
Parks within 500 m
Δ +1
2
✓ leads