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Property investment stats for Harlow, East of England

A complete guide to property investment in Harlow.

Last updated: 18 September 2025

Investment summary

Harlow offers investors a market where families are the dominant household type, sitting in the 90th percentile for family households and seeing a notably high proportion of social rented housing. The area’s property market is fairly liquid, with homes spending an average of 51 days on the market and annual sales at 944, suggesting a steady level of activity. Affordability is relatively balanced, with a price-to-income ratio of 6.0 and a rent-to-income ratio of 31.9%, making it accessible for both buyers and renters compared to many parts of the region.

Rental yields are a particular highlight, with an average of 6.1% and the top postcode district achieving yields of 7.4%, which will catch the eye of buy-to-let investors. However, capital growth over the past year has changed by -0.3%, though the three-year figure is a more reassuring 4.6%. Median prices per square foot stand at £383 per sq ft, offering a clear benchmark for value.

Image of Harlow, East of England

Key investment stats for Harlow

Median price per sq ft

£383 / sq ft

Average rental yield

6.1%

Capital growth (1y)

-0.3%

Sales in past year

944

* Property stats calculated for last full calendar year (2024).

Live property stats in Harlow

Live prices in Harlow, East of England

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£360,000

25% of properties below...

£250,000

75% of properties below...

£547,462

Most expensive property

£2,795,000

Live listings

506

Median days on market

51

Should you invest in Harlow?

Opportunities

  • Strong rental yields of 6.1% across the area, and even higher yields of 7.4% in the top-performing district, make Harlow appealing for investors focused on income.
  • The high proportion of families and a large social rented sector point to consistent demand for rental properties, particularly larger homes.
  • Properties spend an average of 51 days on the market, indicating reasonable liquidity for those looking to sell or exit.

Risks

  • Capital growth over the past year has changed by -0.3%, so investors seeking short-term appreciation may need to adjust expectations.
  • The area has a high proportion of social rented housing (91st percentile), which could create competition for private landlords.
  • The population has a lower proportion of degree-educated residents and professionals than many areas, which could affect long-term demand dynamics.

Outlook

Harlow’s outlook for investors is shaped by its solid rental yields and a large, stable family renter base. While capital growth in the past year has changed by -0.3%, the three-year annualised growth is 1.5%, suggesting a more stable long-term trend. The accessible price-to-income and rent-to-income ratios mean affordability is not stretched to extremes, which should help support ongoing demand.

Investors can expect the market to remain active, given the consistent annual sales and reasonable days on market. The high proportion of social rented housing and families is likely to underpin rental demand, especially for larger properties. While the area may not deliver rapid capital gains, its strengths in yield and liquidity make it a pragmatic choice for income-focused investors.

Live properties in Harlow

Investment properties in Harlow, East of England

3 bedroom terraced house for sale
24% below median price

£325,000 - Guide Price

3 bedroom terraced house for sale

Woodcroft, Harlow, Essex, CM18

Properties needing refurbishment in Harlow, East of England
Needs Refurb
4 bedroom detached house for sale
27% below median price

£465,000 - Guide Price

4 bedroom detached house for sale

Malkin Drive, Church Langley, Harlo...

Priced to sell properties in Harlow, East of England
Priced to Sell
2 bedroom apartment for sale
On market for 174 days

£185,000 - Guide Price

2 bedroom apartment for sale

Little Cattins, Harlow

Slow to sell properties in Harlow, East of England
Slow to Sell
2 bedroom end of terrace house for sale
Reduced by 14%

£300,000

2 bedroom end of terrace house for sale

The Fortunes, Harlow

Big price drop properties in Harlow, East of England
Big Price Drop
4 bedroom terraced house for sale
High yield opportunity

£350,000 - Guide Price

4 bedroom terraced house for sale

Herons Wood, Harlow

HMO properties in Harlow, East of England
HMO
4 bedroom detached bungalow for sale
2,301 sq ft

£700,000 - Guide Price

4 bedroom detached bungalow for sale

Kingsdon Lane, Harlow

Properties with planning granted in Harlow, East of England
Planning Granted
2 bedroom terraced house for sale
42% below median price

£280,000 - Guide Price

2 bedroom terraced house for sale

Shawbridge, Harlow

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Harlow, East of England
Low Price per Sq Ft
1 bedroom apartment for sale
28% below median price

£115,000 - Guide Price

1 bedroom apartment for sale

Brockles Mead, Harlow, Essex, CM19 ...

Auction properties in Harlow, East of England
Auction

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Seller's market

Asking and achieved prices are broadly aligned — little negotiation room on average.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £2,500

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £7,000 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £12,500 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 0.9%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 2.2%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 3.6%

Best places to invest in Harlow

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1CM207.4%2.2%£374 / sq ft
2CM195.8%3.3%£375 / sq ft
3CM185.5%3.9%£364 / sq ft
4CM175.2%1.7%£417 / sq ft

Data sources

GeoGlider calculates property investment stats by blending official and proprietary datasets. Here's a quick overview of key sources and how we use them:

  • HM Land Registry: Property transaction and sold-price records for England & Wales used to calculate historical capital growth, price levels and comparables.

  • Office for National Statistics (ONS): Demographic and economic indicators for the UK, including Census 2021, supporting area profiling and market context.

  • Ordnance Survey: Authoritative UK geospatial data powering accurate boundaries, roads and terrain for mapping and spatial analysis.

  • GeoProp: Our proprietary AI pipeline that processes millions of property listings to extract rich features and live market signals.

  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scores and property floor areas.

  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): Household income and employment data to understand local affordability and economic conditions.

Data is updated continuously, matched across sources and rigorously validated.