Postcode sector · Watford

WD17 1 area guide

Who lives in WD17 1, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Watford
Region: East of England
Population: 13,174 (2024)

WD17 1Postcode sector · Watford

At a glance

What WD17 1 is like

The WD17 1 postcode sector in Watford covers 106 live postcodes and is home to about 13,174 people in 5,044 households. 33.8% of households own their home, 47.8% rent privately and 16.4% are in social housing. The largest age group is 30–34, and 66.8% of adults are in work. On deprivation, it sits near the middle of the scale for England. Higher-harm crime is well above the England and Wales average. Homes in WD17 1 sold for a median of £287,200 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How WD17 1 compares

Headline figures for WD17 1, set against England as a whole.

AffluenceMore

4.1/ 10

Around the middle. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).

CrimeMore

8/ 10

Higher than most: 48.6 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£287,200

Median over 19 sales in WD17 1, −26% on the year before.

TransportMore

8.5/ 10

Excellent: 3 stations within a mile, 56 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

Rated good or better across 4 inspected schools in WD17 1.

Household incomeMore

£59,574

Average annual income before tax, higher than 66% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Where WD17 1 differs most from the national average.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
47.8% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
Higher crime than mostLook closer
48.6 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
03
A young populationPositive
29.5% of residents are aged 20 to 34 (the peak renting age), against 19.6% across England.
04
Well connectedPositive
3 stations within a mile and 56 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.
05
Well-rated schoolsPositive
100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better.

Questions

WD17 1 FAQs

Is WD17 1 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

It scores 4.1 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 10 is the least deprived in England. Higher-harm crime runs at 48.6 per 1,000 people a year, band 8 of 10 nationally. 100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 8.5 out of 10 (excellent).

How much does a house cost in WD17 1?

The median sale price over the last year was £287,200.

Homes in WD17 1 sold for a median of £287,200 across 19 sales in the year to August 2026, −26% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry’s record of every residential sale.

Is WD17 1 safe?

How recorded crime here compares with the national average.

Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 48.6 offences per 1,000 people a year around WD17 1, well above the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 8 of 10.

Who lives in WD17 1?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The largest age group is 30–34, at 12.7% of residents. 33.8% of households own their home. The most common property type is purpose-built flat (44.8%).

Which council covers WD17 1?

The local authority for WD17 1 is Watford.

WD17 1 comes under Watford in the East of England. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is WD17 1?

Connectivity scores 8.5 out of 10.

There are 56 bus stops within 800m and 3 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 8.5 out of 10 (excellent). The nearest station is Watford Junction Rail Station, 0.3 miles away.

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS); ONS mid-year population estimates; police recorded crime; the English, Welsh and Scottish indices of deprivation; ONS small area income estimates; ONS private rents; DfE, Welsh and Scottish school registers and Ofsted; DfT NaPTAN; ORR estimates of station usage; HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.

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