East Common is in Harpenden and in St Albans district. AL5 1DD is located in the Harpenden South electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about East Common, Harpenden, AL5 1DD and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: AL5 1DB, AL5 1DE, AL5 1BZ, AL5 1BY, AL5 1DF, AL5 1DA, AL5 1BX, AL5 1BP, AL5 1BN.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding AL5 1DD has a slightly higher male population, with 52.6% of residents being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 51% | 47.4% | -3.6% | 51.0% | -3.6% |
| Male | 49% | 52.6% | 3.6% | 49.0% | 3.6% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of AL5 1DD there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 65.8% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 20% | 18.4% | -1.6% | 37.9% | -19.5% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 64.3% | 65.8% | 1.5% | 44.2% | 21.6% |
| Separated | 2.7% | 1.3% | -1.4% | 2.2% | -0.9% |
| Divorced | 5.1% | 8.1% | 3.0% | 9.1% | -1.0% |
| Widowed | 7.8% | 6.4% | -1.4% | 6.1% | 0.3% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (88.9%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either a younger population or more affluent area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 51% | 55.1% | 4.1% | 48.4% | 6.7% |
| Good health | 37% | 33.8% | -3.2% | 33.6% | 0.2% |
| Fair health | 11% | 7.3% | -3.7% | 12.7% | -5.4% |
| Bad health | 0.7% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 4.0% | -0.5% |
| Very bad health | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
In the area around AL5 1DD this area, 3.8% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%. This area stands out for its high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 61.7%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 7.5% | 3.8% | -3.7% | 18.2% | -14.4% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 7.1% | 6.4% | -0.7% | 9.6% | -3.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 17.3% | 8.9% | -8.4% | 13.4% | -4.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.2% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 5.3% | -2.7% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11.8% | 13.2% | 1.4% | 16.9% | -3.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 52.9% | 61.7% | 8.8% | 33.8% | 27.9% |
| Other | 2.4% | 3.4% | 1.0% | 2.8% | 0.6% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 92.3% identifying as such, significantly higher than the UK average of 81.4%. This indicates a lower level of ethnic diversity compared to the broader UK population.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 1.3% | 0% | -1.3% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 0.3% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.1% | -0.3% |
| Other Asian | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| Black African | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.5% | -2.1% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.3% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| Mixed Other | 2.3% | 0% | -2.3% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| White | 94.3% | 92.3% | -2.0% | 81.4% | 10.9% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Arab | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| Other | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
In this area, 92.7% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is higher than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 92.3% | 92.7% | 0.4% | 83.2% | 9.5% |
| European Union | 2.7% | 3.1% | 0.4% | 6.1% | -3.0% |
| Africa | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 2.7% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 5.6% | -1.8% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 91.7% | 92.7% | 1.0% | 83.2% | 9.5% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 9.8% | -3.9% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 2.9% | -2.9% |
| 2-5 Years | 1% | 1.4% | 0.4% | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 7% | 0% | -7.0% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 92.7% | 76.7% | 16.0% |
| Ireland | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Germany | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Italy | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Other EU countries | 0.3% | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 5.6% | 13.5% | -7.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 33% | 37.2% | -4.2% |
| Christian | 53.8% | 46.2% | 7.6% |
| Hindu | 1.4% | 1.7% | -0.3% |
| Jewish | 2.1% | 0.5% | 1.6% |
| Muslim | 1% | 6.5% | -5.5% |
| Not answered | 8.7% | 6.0% | 2.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around East Common was 26.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 0.9% higher than the Harpenden South average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
East Common has the 19th lowest crime rate of 40 local areas in Harpenden South and the 121st lowest crime rate of 430 local areas in St Albans .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 3.3 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 50.0%.

Households in this area have a much higher level of wealth compared to the average household in England and Wales. 97% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greygates East Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £3,210,000 | 2018-09-21 | £3,736,469 |
| Toftwood East Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £660,000 | 2000-06-30 | £2,240,930 |
| Limbrick Lodge East Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £490,000 | 1998-03-02 | £2,351,080 |
AL5 1DD area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 16% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 13% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
AL5 1DD area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 0% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
The percentage of retired residents living in AL5 1DD area is much higher than the country's average. According to Census 2011, 36% residents of this area were retired, while the average in the UK was 14%.
| Retired | 85 |
| Full-Time Employee | 69 |
| Self-Employed | 31 |
| Part-Time Employee | 26 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 9 |
| Looking after home or family | 6 |
| Other | 3 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 3 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 29 |
| Human health and social work activities | 21 |
| Education | 15 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 12 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 12 |
| Information and communication | 11 |
| Other | 11 |
| Construction | 8 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 5 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batford Nursery School Holcroft Road , AL5 5BQ | 4out of 4 | 3,202 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Grove Junior School Dark Lane , AL5 1QB | 3out of 4 | 1,139 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Grove Infant and Nursery School Dark Lane , AL5 1QD | 4out of 4 | 1,154 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Dominic Catholic Primary School St Dominic Catholic Primary School , Southdown Road AL5 1PF | 4out of 4 | 1,381 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| High Beeches Primary School Aldwickbury Crescent , AL5 5SD | 4out of 4 | 1,712 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Crabtree Infants' School Crabtree Lane , AL5 5PU | 4out of 4 | 1,859 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir John Lawes School Manland Way , AL5 4QP | 4out of 4 | 2,660 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St George's School Sun Lane , AL5 4TD | 4out of 4 | 2,673 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Roundwood Park School Roundwood Park , AL5 3AE | 4out of 4 | 3,050 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Katherine Warington School Lower Luton Road , AL5 5FH | - not rated | 3,168 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Townsend VA Church of England High Oaks , AL3 6DR | 3out of 4 | 3,271 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldwickbury School Aldwickbury School , Wheathampstead Road AL5 1AD | - not rated | 1,765 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| St Hilda's School 28 Douglas Road , AL5 2ES | - not rated | 2,647 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| The King's School Elmfield , Ambrose Lane AL5 4DU | - not rated | 3,710 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Batchwood School Townsend Drive , AL3 5RP | 2out of 4 | 4,323 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Luke's School Crouch Hall Lane , Redbourn AL3 7ET | 2out of 4 | 4,334 yd | Foundation special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazy Bear | Ground Floor, 122 Southdown Road | 817 yd | |
| Well Bean Cafe (The Harpenden Trust) | 130 Southdown Road, Harpenden | 847 yd | |
| Cafe Aroma | 135 Southdown Road, Harpenden | 847 yd | |
| Sarakh | 2 Grove Road, Harpenden | 869 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harpenden Common Golf Club | Cravells Road, East Common | 347 yd | |
| The Engineer Ph | 12 St Johns Road, Harpenden | 628 yd | |
| The Carpenters Arms Ph | 14 Cravells Road, Harpenden | 676 yd | |
| The Plough and Harrow | The Plough And Harrow Ph, 88 Southdown Road | 890 yd | |
| The White Horse | Public House, Hatching Green | 972 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Regent | 123-124 Southdown Road, Harpenden | 799 yd | |
| The Burger Box Harpenden | 125 Southdown Road, Harpenden | 799 yd | |
| Rice & Spice | 125 Southdown Road, Harpenden | 799 yd | |
| Emilio's | 137 Southdown Road, Harpenden | 847 yd | |
| BENTOZO | 131 Southdown Road, Harpenden | 847 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Harpenden Common Golf Club EAST COMMON | golf | 346 yd |
| The Acre (Harpenden Rovers Fc) EAST COMMON | grass pitches | 574 yd |
| Bamville Cricket Club BAMVILLE CRICKET CLUB BAMVILLE CRICKET CLUB EAST COMMON | grass pitches | 717 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 40.7 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 37.4 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 55.29 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 55.29 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 9.4 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 13.23 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.