Property investment stats for St Albans, East of England

• There is a strong, stable demand from families, as shown by the high family household percentile, which can underpin both sales and rental markets.
• The top postcode district rental yield of 5.0% offers a higher-than-average return for investors targeting the best pockets of the market.
• A consistently high proportion of professionals and managers means that the area’s rental and sales markets are likely to remain resilient even in tougher economic times.

• The price-to-income ratio of 7.3 highlights affordability pressures, which could limit future price growth or restrict the pool of potential buyers.
• With a median price per sq ft of £642 per sq ft, entry costs are high, making yield compression a risk if rents do not keep pace.
• The median achieved minus asking price of £5,000 (the typical achieved discount) indicates that buyers are typically negotiating discounts, suggesting sellers may need to be flexible on price.

Over the next year, I expect St Albans to offer steady, reliable performance rather than rapid growth. The annualised growth over three years of 2.4% and capital growth over three years of 7.4% reflect a market that rewards patience and long-term thinking. Rental demand should remain robust, supported by a high proportion of affluent professionals and managers, and the rent-to-income ratio of 24.1% suggests that rents are sustainable for the local population.

Liquidity remains healthy, with properties typically selling in 64 days, and the median sale and rent prices for three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom flats (£700,000, £2,750, £400,000, £1,750) are likely to hold up well. Overall, St Albans looks set to remain a safe, if unexciting, option for investors who value stability and a strong tenant base.