Harrow Area Guide [Updated with 2024 Data]

What’s it like to live in Harrow?

Living in the London Borough of Harrow can offer a balance between a suburban lifestyle and city-living, with easy access to central London. The area has numerous green spaces and is of course close to Hertfordshire and the Green Belt, plus it’s home to many highly rated schools, including the prestigious Harrow School.

There is a range of transportation options, with several tube stations serving the borough, including Harrow on the Hill, West Harrow, and Rayners Lane. Commuting to central London takes around 20-40 minutes, making it a popular choice for professionals. Additionally, the area is served by several bus routes and is within easy reach of major motorways like the M1 and M25.

This guide provides an overview of important statistics about the borough and how it compares to other boroughs in London.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Harrow?

Properties in Harrow on average cost £521,416.00, ranking the borough as the 18 most affordable borough in London, according to data from HM Land Registry. 

Buying a property in Harrow is typically inline with the London average, though some areas in the borough, such as Harrow on the Hill, are more expensive than others.

How much does it cost to rent in Harrow?

The cost of renting in Harrow is below the London average, though rent prices vary greatly depending on the specific area. According to data from the ONS:

• A studio costs on average £923 per month to rent which ranks 6 as the most affordable borough in London
• A one bedroom property costs on average £1,233 per month to rent which ranks 11 as the most affordable borough in London
• A two bedroom property costs on average £1,505 per month to rent which ranks 11 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £1,893 per month to rent which ranks 11 as the most affordable borough in London
• A four or more bedroom property costs on average £2,575 per month to rent which ranks 13 as the most affordable borough in London

How many people live in Harrow?

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Housing, it has 94000 in total, ranking 25 of London boroughs by number of dwellings.

According to data from the ONS:

• 37.2% of households are owned outright
• 29.7% of households are being bought with a mortgage
• 8.7% of households are rented from the local authority of housing association
• 8.7% of households are privately rented

Is Harrow a good place to live?

Although determining whether an area is a good place to live is subjective, we can use data on personal wellbeing collected by the ONS through the Annual Population Survey as an indicator to compare boroughs:

• Harrow ranks 13 of 32 boroughs in terms of life satisfaction (i.e. ‘how satisfied are you with your life?’)
• Harrow ranks 21 of 32 boroughs in terms of ‘worthwhile’ (i.e. ‘to what extent do you feel things you do in your life are worthwhile?’)
• Harrow ranks 8 of 32 boroughs in terms of happiness (i.e. ‘how happy did you feel yesterday?’)
• Harrow ranks 1 of 32 boroughs in terms of anxiousness (i.e. ‘how anxious did you feel yesterday?’)

What schools are there in Harrow and are they good?

In total Harrow has 75 schools, which are broken down into:

• 42 state primary schools
• 13 state secondary schools
• 13 independent schools

Harrow is very well known for its school, particularly due to the prestigious Harrow School, which was founded in 1572 and has alumni consisting of royalty, heads of state and Nobel Prize winners.

For a breakdown of all schools in the area and their latest ratings, search Ofsted’s reports.

Is Harrow polluted?

According to data from the GLA and TFL Air Quality:

• Harrow ranks 6 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest NO2 concentration
• Harrow ranks 4 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM2 concentration
• Harrow ranks 7 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM10 concentration

What is the employment rate in Harrow?

The employment rate in Harrow is 76.8% which ranks 12 of 32 boroughs in terms of highest employment rate.

Employment rate is important to know for those considering moving to the area, as it can provide an indication of the job market and economic opportunities available in the borough.

Is Harrow a wealthy area?

The average income in Harrow is £46,500 according to data from HMRC. This ranks 19 of London’s boroughs (ranked by highest average income). 

The London Borough of Harrow has a mix of affluent and less affluent areas. Some of the more affluent parts of the borough include Harrow on the Hill, Pinner, and Stanmore. These areas are known for their attractive residential properties, prestigious schools, and excellent amenities like high-end shops and restaurants.

On the other hand, areas like Wealdstone and South Harrow are generally considered to be less affluent, with a higher concentration of social housing and lower household incomes.

Is Harrow a religious area?

Like the rest of London, Harrow is a diverse area with a mix of cultures and religions – in particular Harrow has a large Hindu population. According to the ONS:

• 37.0% of the resident population identifies as Christian
• 12.3% of the resident population identifies as Muslim
• 27.6% of the resident population identifies as Hindu
• 1.7% of the resident population identifies as Sikh
• 2.6% of the resident population identifies as Jewish
• 5.6% of the resident population do not identify as religious

How large is Harrow?

Harrow is 50.5 km2, making it the 12th largest borough in London.

Its population is estimated as 265,449 according to data from the GLA, ranking it 21 as the most populous borough.

Its population per km2 is 5,260, ranking it 21 as the most populous per km2 borough.

Is Harrow safe?

According to data from the Metropolitan Police Service, in the last two years there were:

• 10,411 total reported crimes and 39.22 total crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Harrow as 1 of boroughs with the least total number of crimes
• 495 total reported burglaries and 1.86 total burglaries per 1k of the population, ranking Harrow as 1 of boroughs with the least number of burglaries
• 702 total reported cases of criminal damage and 2.64 total cases of criminal damage per 1k of the population, ranking Harrow as 1 of boroughs with the least number of cases of criminal damage
• 339 total reported drug related crimes and 1.28 total drug related crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Harrow as 3 of boroughs with the least number of drug related crimes
• 411 total reported robberies and 1.55 total robberies per 1k of the population, ranking Harrow as 4 of boroughs with the least number of robberies
• 233 total reported sexual offences and 0.88 total sexual offences per 1k of the population, ranking Harrow as 2 of boroughs with the least number of sexual offences
• 4,870 total reported thefts and 18.35 total thefts per 1k of the population, ranking Harrow as 2 of boroughs with the least number of thefts
• 3,187 total reported violent crimes and 12.01 total violent crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Harrow as 2 of boroughs with the least number of violent crimes

What public transport options does Harrow have?

The London Borough of Harrow has a range of public transport options connecting it to central London and outside the city.

The borough is served by several tube stations, including Harrow on the Hill, West Harrow, North Harrow, Rayners Lane, South Harrow, Canons Park, Stanmore and Harrow & Wealdstone, which are on the Metropolitan, Piccadilly, Jubilee and Bakerloo lines. These stations provide easy access to central London and other parts of the city.

In addition, there are overground rail services at Harrow & Wealdstone station, which connects to Euston, Watford, and Milton Keynes.

The borough also has several bus routes running through it, connecting various neighbourhoods to surrounding areas. Some popular routes include the 182, which runs from Harrow Weald to Brent Cross, and the H9, which runs from Harrow to Hounslow.

What places are in Harrow?

The London Borough of Harrow has a range of neighbourhoods, each with its own unique character and amenities.

• Harrow on the Hill: This area is known for its picturesque hilltop village, historic buildings, and renowned educational institutions like Harrow School.
• Pinner: A charming village-like area, known for its pretty high street, historic architecture, and numerous local events and festivals.
• Stanmore: A leafy, affluent suburb with excellent schools and attractive residential properties.
• Wealdstone: A diverse area with a range of shops and restaurants catering to different cultures.
• South Harrow: A bustling, multicultural area with a mix of independent shops and chain stores, and easy access to public transport.
• Rayners Lane: A busy high street area, with a range of shops and restaurants, and good transport links to central London.

What is Harrow famous for?

Harrow is popular with locals and visitors for a number of reasons, such as:

1. Harrow School: One of the most prestigious public schools in the world, with a long list of notable alumni, including Winston Churchill and Jawaharlal Nehru.
2. The Harrow Arts Centre: A vibrant cultural hub, hosting a range of live performances, exhibitions, and workshops.
3. The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital: A world-renowned hospital specialising in orthopaedic care and research.
4. The Kodak Building: An iconic Art Deco building that was once the headquarters of the Kodak company in the UK.
5. Northwick Park Hospital: A large teaching hospital with a range of specialist departments and services.
6. The Harrow Weald Common: A 76-acre common, offering scenic walks and wildlife spotting opportunities.
7. Stanmore Country Park: A large park in Stanmore, featuring woodlands, meadows, and ponds, with numerous walking and cycling trails.
8. Harrow Hill Golf Course: A picturesque 9-hole golf course situated on Harrow on the Hill, with stunning views over London.
9. Harrow United Synagogue: One of the largest synagogues in the UK, serving the Jewish community in Harrow and beyond.
10. The Harrow Half Marathon: An annual event that attracts runners from all over the UK, offering a scenic route through the borough’s parks and streets.

What boroughs are next to Harrow?

Harrow is bordered by several other boroughs:

• The London Borough of Barnet is to the east
• The London Borough of Brent is to the southeast
• The London Borough of Ealing is to the south
• The London Borough of Hillingdon is to the west

To the north, Harrow is bordered by Three Rivers and Hertsmere in Hertfordshire.