City Pop. 236

Living in Preston (North Hertfordshire): Liveability Score 37/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Preston (North Hertfordshire) is 37/100, built from 9 categories. Measured against other towns, economic health stands out most: 89/100 where the typical UK town scores 67/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 10/100 versus a median of 60/100.

Among the 10 scored places sharing the SG4 postcode district, Preston (North Hertfordshire) ranks 9th. It scores 20 points below the SG4 postcode district as a whole, which averages 57/100. Its economic health score runs 15 points above the SG4 district's 74/100. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the SG4 postcode district.

37
OUT OF 100
Below Avg
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Preston (North Hertfordshire) scores 37 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Preston (North Hertfordshire).
Or compare:
SG4 0AA SG4 7AA SG4 8AB SG4 9AA SG4

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
93
161 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 13 crimes
↑ 65% above national average
Public order 6 crimes
↑ 291% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 6 crimes
↑ 274% above national average
Burglary 4 crimes
↑ 383% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 3 crimes
↓ 16% below national average
other 6 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Pasture Lane 5 crimes
  2. 2 Heath Road 4 crimes
  3. 3 Whiteway Bottom 4 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
62
Air Quality NO₂ 7.2 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 11.6 µg/m³
72
Green Space 38
Parks None
Sports Pitches Adequate 2
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 2
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
11
1 school in area · 5 within 4km
1Good
  • Preston Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
6
A&E departmentsLister Hospital2.8 mi
Luton and Dunstable Hospital7.9 mi
Queen Elizabeth II Hospital9 mi
Hospital waitsEast And North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust2.7 mi
Routine referral (median)10 wks
Treated within 18 weeks68.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs74.7%
Nearest GP surgeryDr Rajpreet Millan2.3 mi
GP capacity1,435 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
10
Full fibre (FTTP)69.8%
available across North Hertfordshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
2.9%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
2.9%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
97.6%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 18 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
89
Employment rate58.3%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed58.3%Unemployed1.5%Retired27.4%Student5.4%Other inactive7.5%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial51.8%Skilled & technical35.2%Routine & elementary13%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications11.3%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.1%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.2%Level 3 (A levels)16.2%Level 4+ (degree & above)41.6%Apprenticeship6.2%Other (incl. vocational)2.5%
Home ownership67.3%
Among the least-deprived 26% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
47
Council tax North Hertfordshire · 2026-27
A £1,633
B £1,905
C £2,177
D £2,449
E £2,993
F £3,537
G £4,082
H £4,898
Energy Eastern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Affinity Water
Average bill regional £490/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
9
Hitchin 3.2 mi
Stevenage 3.3 mi
Central Terminal 4.4 mi
J8 A1(M) 2.9 mi
J8 A1(M) 3.2 mi
J7 A1(M) 3.5 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
10
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness Ample 7

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Preston (North Hertfordshire) in the last 12 months, which isn't enough for a reliable median. Smaller villages often fall below this in any given year. Figures come from HM Land Registry Price Paid data and are updated monthly, so this may fill in later.

Nearby places

Gosmore 50 1.5 mi away ⇄
Rush Green 0 1.8 mi away ⇄
St Ippolyts 0 1.9 mi away ⇄
Whitwell (North Hertfordshire) 41 2.3 mi away ⇄
Breachwood Green 34 2.5 mi away ⇄
Little Wymondley 51 2.6 mi away ⇄
Great Offley 36 2.8 mi away ⇄
Hitchin 69 3.0 mi away ⇄
Kimpton 40 4.0 mi away ⇄
Stevenage 57 4.1 mi away ⇄
Ickleford 61 4.3 mi away ⇄
Codicote 40 4.6 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Preston (North Hertfordshire) a nice place to live?

Preston (North Hertfordshire) has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Preston (North Hertfordshire) is 37/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Preston (North Hertfordshire)?

Preston (North Hertfordshire) is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 93/100. There were 38 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Preston (North Hertfordshire)?

Among the top-rated schools in Preston (North Hertfordshire) is Preston Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Preston (North Hertfordshire) in total.

Preston (North Hertfordshire) in context

See the best places to live in Hertfordshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Preston (North Hertfordshire)

SG4 57 ⇄

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