Bower Heath is in Harpenden and in St Albans district. AL5 5EB is located in the Sandridge & Wheathampstead 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 Bower Heath, Harpenden, AL5 5EB and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding AL5 5EB has a slightly higher male population, with 50.4% 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 | 51.3% | 49.6% | -1.7% | 51.0% | -1.4% |
| Male | 48.7% | 50.4% | 1.7% | 49.0% | 1.4% |
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 5EB there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 65.5% 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 | 21.2% | 21% | -0.2% | 37.9% | -16.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 62% | 65.5% | 3.5% | 44.2% | 21.3% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Civil partnership: Opposite sex | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Separated | 2.5% | 1.2% | -1.3% | 2.2% | -1.0% |
| Divorced | 11.1% | 7.2% | -3.9% | 9.1% | -1.9% |
| Widowed | 2.5% | 4.5% | 2.0% | 6.1% | -1.6% |
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 (92%) 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 | 68.2% | 59.8% | -8.4% | 48.4% | 11.4% |
| Good health | 25% | 32.2% | 7.2% | 33.6% | -1.4% |
| Fair health | 4.8% | 6.6% | 1.8% | 12.7% | -6.1% |
| Bad health | 1.3% | 1% | -0.3% | 4.0% | -3.0% |
| Very bad health | 0.8% | 0.5% | -0.3% | 1.2% | -0.7% |
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 5EB this area, 6.3% 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 56.9%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 9.2% | 6.3% | -2.9% | 18.2% | -11.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 7.9% | 5.7% | -2.2% | 9.6% | -3.9% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.9% | 13.2% | -1.7% | 13.4% | -0.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.8% | 2.4% | -0.4% | 5.3% | -2.9% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.8% | 13.5% | 2.7% | 16.9% | -3.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 53.2% | 56.9% | 3.7% | 33.8% | 23.1% |
| Other | 1.3% | 2.1% | 0.8% | 2.8% | -0.7% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 92.7% 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Pakistani | 0.3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.7% | -0.8% |
| Other Asian | 1.8% | 0.2% | -1.6% | 1.6% | -1.4% |
| Black African | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2.5% | -2.3% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.5% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Other Black | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.3% | 0% | -1.3% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.3% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| White | 95.2% | 92.7% | -2.5% | 81.4% | 11.3% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
In this area, 89.8% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is similar to the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 91.4% | 89.8% | -1.6% | 83.2% | 6.6% |
| European Union | 2% | 2.2% | 0.2% | 6.1% | -3.9% |
| Africa | 2.3% | 2.2% | -0.1% | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.5% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 5.6% | -2.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.5% | 2.2% | 0.7% | 1.3% | 0.9% |
| Oceania | 1.3% | 1% | -0.3% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 91.2% | 89.8% | -1.4% | 83.2% | 6.6% |
| 10+ Years | 1.3% | 7.6% | 6.3% | 9.8% | -2.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.8% | 0.7% | -0.1% | 2.9% | -2.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 0.5% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 2.2% | -0.7% |
| Less than 2 years | 6.3% | 0.5% | -5.8% | 1.9% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 93.7% | 76.7% | 17.0% |
| Ireland | 0.2% | 0.6% | -0.4% |
| Germany | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Italy | 0.2% | 0.6% | -0.4% |
| Other Europe | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Southern Asia | 0.2% | 1.2% | -1.0% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 1% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| No passport held | 3.7% | 13.5% | -9.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 32.7% | 37.2% | -4.5% |
| Christian | 56.3% | 46.2% | 10.1% |
| Buddhist | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Jewish | 2.2% | 0.5% | 1.7% |
| Muslim | 2.2% | 6.5% | -4.3% |
| Other religion | 0.2% | 0.6% | -0.4% |
| Not answered | 5.9% | 6.0% | -0.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Bower Heath was 31.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 19.5% higher than the Harpenden South average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Bower Heath has the 17th highest crime rate of 40 local areas in Harpenden South and the 150th lowest crime rate of 430 local areas in St Albans .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 12.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -77.0%.

Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 88% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill Farm Plummers Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £2,000,000 | 2008-08-20 | £3,771,218 |
| Dane Farm Bower Heath, Harpenden, Hertfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £271,000 | 1996-10-17 | £1,688,793 |
AL5 5EB area has a very high level of entrepreneurship. Only 4% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 18% 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 5EB area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 1% 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.
| Full-Time Employee | 94 |
| Retired | 90 |
| Self-Employed | 59 |
| Part-Time Employee | 34 |
| Looking after home or family | 27 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 15 |
| Other | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Unemployed | 3 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 1 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 33 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 27 |
| Human health and social work activities | 19 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 17 |
| Education | 15 |
| Other | 14 |
| Construction | 14 |
| Information and communication | 12 |
| Real estate activities | 12 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 11 |
| Manufacturing | 6 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 4 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 3 |
| Transport and storage | 3 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batford Nursery School Holcroft Road , AL5 5BQ | 4out of 4 | 1,944 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauncey Wood Primary School Pickford Hill , AL5 5HL | 3out of 4 | 1,819 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Lea Primary School and Nursery Moorland Road , AL5 4LE | 3out of 4 | 2,006 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Manland Primary School Sauncey Avenue , AL5 4QW | 3out of 4 | 2,429 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Crabtree Junior School Crabtree Lane , AL5 5PU | 4out of 4 | 3,214 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Crabtree Infants' School Crabtree Lane , AL5 5PU | 4out of 4 | 3,269 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Warington School Lower Luton Road , AL5 5FH | - not rated | 1,964 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Sir John Lawes School Manland Way , AL5 4QP | 4out of 4 | 2,493 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St George's School Sun Lane , AL5 4TD | 4out of 4 | 2,735 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Roundwood Park School Roundwood Park , AL5 3AE | 4out of 4 | 3,803 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The King's School Elmfield , Ambrose Lane AL5 4DU | - not rated | 2,571 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Hilda's School 28 Douglas Road , AL5 2ES | - not rated | 3,465 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| Aldwickbury School Aldwickbury School , Wheathampstead Road AL5 1AD | - not rated | 3,807 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
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% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.