St AlbansCountsSt Albans, in numbers.Local help →St Albans · England
St Albans council area. Every figure carries its own date.
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats drawn from the available evidence. These are analytical judgements, not an official council assessment. Where a national comparison is available, lower housing costs, lower reported poor health and higher qualification shares are treated as relative strengths; this does not prove affordability or service quality.
strength
Jubilee Square homes are complete with social-rent tenants moving in, and the District Local Plan has been adopted.
The completed scheme offers evidence about lived housing and public-space use. The wider plan sets a framework; it does not mean all its sites are built or funded.
What could help →strength
3% of people reported bad or very bad health in St Albans council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 1.9% in Harpenden West to 4.7% in Colney Heath — a gap of 2.8 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
What could help →strength
53% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in St Albans council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 6.1% in Harpenden West to 16.5% in London Colney — a gap of 10.4 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
What could help →weakness
Average private rent is £1,931 a month (August 2026) in St Albans council area. This is £472 higher than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.8% in Marshalswick West to 38.4% in St Peters — a gap of 29.7 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
What could help →opportunity
St Albans has a district-wide advice route and grant funding, but the page does not establish how many homes the new grant has improved.
Proposed response: Help eligible residents through assessment and installation, then check whether the work meets their needs.
What could help →opportunity
17.2% of people in St Albans council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 9.5% in St Peters to 24.7% in St Stephen — a gap of 15.2 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
What could help →opportunity
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in St Albans council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
What could help →opportunity
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
What could help →opportunity
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 5.2% in Harpenden West to 16.3% in London Colney — a gap of 11.1 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
What could help →The evidence gathered here does not yet support a distinct finding in this category.
| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
|---|---|---|
| Use Jubilee Square’s experience to shape future district housingJubilee Square homes and public space: Homes completed; social-rent tenants moving in. St Albans District Local Plan: Local Plan adopted. | St Albans City and District Council and Watford Community Housing; St Albans City and District Council | |
| Help households get suitable energy improvementsAdvice service listed and £1.5 million grant award reported; no new-grant completion total verified. | St Albans City and District Council and delivery partners | |
| Make room for homes people can affordAverage private rent is £1,931 a month (August 2026) in St Albans council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.8% in Marshalswick West to 38.4% in St Peters — a gap of 29.7 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 20 of 20 current wards have comparable figures. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | |
| Plan homes and care around an older population17.2% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 9.5% in St Peters to 24.7% in St Stephen — a gap of 15.2 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 20 of 20 current wards have comparable figures. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | |
| Bring support closer to people in poor health3% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 1.9% in Harpenden West to 4.7% in Colney Heath — a gap of 2.8 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 20 of 20 current wards have comparable figures. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | |
| Connect local skills to local opportunities53% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 6.1% in Harpenden West to 16.5% in London Colney — a gap of 10.4 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 20 of 20 current wards have comparable figures. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Target support where disadvantages overlapHouseholds facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 5.2% in Harpenden West to 16.3% in London Colney — a gap of 11.1 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 20 of 20 wards. | The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services |