Water Lane is in Watford and in Watford district. WD17 2NJ is located in the Central electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Watford. This postcode has been in use since 2000-10-01.
StreetScan combines information about Water Lane, Watford, WD17 2NJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: WD17 2NH, WD17 2EX, WD17 2AP, WD17 2QZ, WD17 2QY, WD17 2LZ, WD17 2QX, WD17 2WH, WD17 2ER.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding WD17 2NJ has a slightly higher male population, with 52% 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 | 46.9% | 48% | 1.1% | 51.0% | -3.0% |
| Male | 53.1% | 52% | -1.1% | 49.0% | 3.0% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around WD17 2NJ, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 56% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 57.3% | 56% | -1.3% | 37.9% | 18.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 28.5% | 28% | -0.5% | 44.2% | -16.2% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Separated | 3.4% | 3.3% | -0.1% | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| Divorced | 8.2% | 9.5% | 1.3% | 9.1% | 0.4% |
| Widowed | 2.2% | 2.5% | 0.3% | 6.1% | -3.6% |
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 (88.6%) 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 | 48% | 50.2% | 2.2% | 48.4% | 1.8% |
| Good health | 36.7% | 38.4% | 1.7% | 33.6% | 4.8% |
| Fair health | 10.5% | 7.7% | -2.8% | 12.7% | -5.0% |
| Bad health | 4.1% | 3% | -1.1% | 4.0% | -1.0% |
| Very bad health | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 1.2% | -0.5% |
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.
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 48%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 17.2% | 12.5% | -4.7% | 18.2% | -5.7% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 12.4% | 5.5% | -6.9% | 9.6% | -4.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 11.6% | 9.5% | -2.1% | 13.4% | -3.9% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.9% | 4.8% | 2.9% | 5.3% | -0.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 12% | 17.2% | 5.2% | 16.9% | 0.3% |
| Degree or Similar | 37.8% | 48% | 10.2% | 33.8% | 14.2% |
| Other | 7.1% | 2.6% | -4.5% | 2.8% | -0.2% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 66.4% of the residents identify as white, which is lower than the UK average of 81.4%, there are significant representations of other ethnic groups.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| Chinese | 0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.7% | 1.6% |
| Indian | 1% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 3.1% | -0.8% |
| Pakistani | 7.1% | 6% | -1.1% | 2.7% | 3.3% |
| Other Asian | 6.1% | 2.7% | -3.4% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Black African | 3.7% | 2.7% | -1.0% | 2.5% | 0.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.4% | 2.3% | -0.1% | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Other Black | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1% | 1.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| Mixed White and African | 1% | 0.7% | -0.3% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 3.1% | 2.3% | -0.8% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Mixed Other | 0.7% | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| White | 73.1% | 66.4% | -6.7% | 81.4% | -15.0% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Roma | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 0.3% | 7.3% | 7.0% | 1.6% | 5.7% |
In this area, 57.6% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is lower than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 66.3% | 57.6% | -8.7% | 83.2% | -25.6% |
| European Union | 14.3% | 25.1% | 10.8% | 6.1% | 19.0% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 0.8% | 1.6% |
| Africa | 5.4% | 4.1% | -1.3% | 2.7% | 1.4% |
| Middle East and Asia | 10.9% | 7.1% | -3.8% | 5.6% | 1.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.4% | 2% | -0.4% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.3% | 1.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 63.6% | 57% | -6.6% | 83.2% | -26.2% |
| 10+ Years | 2.7% | 20.5% | 17.8% | 9.8% | 10.7% |
| 5-10 Years | 9.2% | 6.4% | -2.8% | 2.9% | 3.5% |
| 2-5 Years | 10.5% | 9.7% | -0.8% | 2.2% | 7.5% |
| Less than 2 years | 13.9% | 6.4% | -7.5% | 1.9% | 4.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 64.4% | 76.7% | -12.3% |
| Ireland | 2% | 0.6% | 1.4% |
| France | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Germany | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Italy | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Spain | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Lithuania | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Poland | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Romania | 7.7% | 0.9% | 6.8% |
| Other EU countries | 7% | 1.5% | 5.5% |
| Turkey | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Other Europe | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| North Africa | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 2% | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Central and South America | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 4.7% | 13.5% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 34.6% | 37.2% | -2.6% |
| Christian | 41.9% | 46.2% | -4.3% |
| Buddhist | 1.3% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Hindu | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.0% |
| Muslim | 10.4% | 6.5% | 3.9% |
| Other religion | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Not answered | 8.7% | 6.0% | 2.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Water Lane was 93.0 per 1,000 residents, which is 73.3% lower than the Central average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Water Lane has the 9th lowest crime rate of 32 local areas in Central and the 102nd highest crime rate of 275 local areas in Watford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 49.4 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -63.8%.
Households in this area have a slightly higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 68% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.
| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 Water Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £408,000 | 2024-08-23 | £424,232 |
| 49 Water Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £294,350 | 2021-06-10 | £299,190 |
| 41 Water Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £395,000 | 2021-05-24 | £424,878 |
| 43 Water Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £380,000 | 2019-06-07 | £449,218 |
| 49 Water Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £280,000 | 2017-07-28 | £288,158 |
WD17 2NJ area has a very high level of entrepreneurship. Only 8% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 15% 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.
WD17 2NJ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% 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 | 129 |
| Self-Employed | 43 |
| Part-Time Employee | 32 |
| Retired | 22 |
| Other | 17 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Looking after home or family | 8 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 8 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 34 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 23 |
| Manufacturing | 18 |
| Human health and social work activities | 17 |
| Construction | 17 |
| Education | 15 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 15 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 14 |
| Other | 12 |
| Transport and storage | 12 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 10 |
| Information and communication | 9 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxhey Early Years Centre Eastbury Road , Oxhey WD19 4RL | 4out of 4 | 1,564 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingswood Nursery School Briar Road , WD25 0DX | 4out of 4 | 4,194 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Primary School Derby Road , WD17 2LX | 3out of 4 | 186 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Watford St John's Church of England Primary School 32 Clarendon Road , WD17 1JJ | 3out of 4 | 621 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Field Junior School Watford Field Road , WD18 0AZ | 4out of 4 | 643 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Watford Field School (Infant & Nursery) Neal Street , WD18 0WF | 3out of 4 | 643 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Chater Junior School Addiscombe Road , WD18 0WN | 4out of 4 | 900 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watford Grammar School for Girls Lady's Close , WD18 0AE | 4out of 4 | 554 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| The Watford UTC 18 Colonial Way , WD24 4PT | 3out of 4 | 1,565 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queens' School Aldenham Road , WD23 2TY | 3out of 4 | 1,731 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Watford Grammar School for Boys Rickmansworth Road , WD18 7JF | 4out of 4 | 1,758 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| The Grange Academy London Road , WD23 3AA | - not rated | 1,889 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Herts College Watford Campus , Hempstead Road WD17 3EZ | - not rated | 1,445 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longwood School Bushey Hall Drive , WD23 2QG | - not rated | 1,205 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Purcell School Aldenham Road , Bushey WD23 2TS | - not rated | 1,932 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Falconer School Falconer Road , WD23 3AT | 3out of 4 | 1,940 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| Chessbrook Education Support Centre Tolpits Lane , WD18 6LJ | 4out of 4 | 1,956 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Gurukula - The Hare Krishna Primary School Hartspring Cottage , Elton Way WD25 8HB | - not rated | 2,721 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next - Costa Coffee | UNIT A, Waterfields Retail Park | 181 yd | |
| Joe & The Juice | Intu Watford, 52 The Harlequin | 230 yd | |
| Taste Of Lahore | 170 High Street, Watford | 248 yd | |
| Oodles Chinese | 162 High Street, Watford | 248 yd | |
| Cafe Giardino | Intu Watford, 202 The Harlequin | 260 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The One Crown | 156 High Street, Watford | 285 yd | |
| Watford Social Club | 70 - 72 Queens Road, Watford | 515 yd | |
| Diamonds And Strings | 9 Market Street, Watford | 617 yd | |
| The Florist | Intu Watford, 65 - 67 High Street | 639 yd | |
| The Palace Theatre | Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road | 690 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tikka Nation | Intu Watford, 52A The Harlequin | 233 yd | |
| Wings N More Ltd | 162 High Street, Watford | 248 yd | |
| Yo To Go | Tesco Stores Limited, 239 - 241 Lower High Street | 326 yd | |
| Kellys Market | Tesco Stores Limited, 239 - 241 Lower High Street | 326 yd | |
| Subway | 11 King Street, Watford | 391 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | Tesco Stores Limited, 239 - 241 Lower High Street | 326 yd | |
| Tesco | 114D High Street, Watford | 407 yd | |
| Lidl | 275 Lower High Street | 535 yd | |
| Aldi | 7 - 8 Century Park, Dalton Way | 559 yd | |
| The Range | Unit 1, Watford Arches Retail Park | 559 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfields Recreation Ground (Closed) Shaftesbury Road | grass pitches | 369 yd |
| Femme Fitness (Ladies Only) (Closed) Queens Road | health and fitness suite | 432 yd |
| Watford Fields Recreation Ground (Closed) Watford Field Road | grass pitches | 455 yd |
| Watford Grammar School For Girls LADYS CLOSE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool, tennis courts | 585 yd |
| Ymca Community Gym (Watford) CHARTER HOUSE CHARTER HOUSE CHARTER PLACE | health and fitness suite, squash courts | 646 yd |
| Radlett Road Playing Fields Radlett Road | grass pitches | 757 yd |
| Nrg (Watford) 19-21 19-21 CLARENDON ROAD | health and fitness suite | 792 yd |
| Oxhey Park (Closed) Wiggenhall Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 881 yd |
| Fitness4Less (Watford) THE PARADE HIGH STREET | health and fitness suite | 898 yd |
| Bushey Hall Golf Club BUSHEY HALL DRIVE | golf | 1,055 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 | 79.7 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 117.1 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 550 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 550 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 19.9 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 19.9 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 75 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.