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Central

Interactive map displaying Central

About

Central ward is a densely populated residential area located directly north of Watford's town centre. It is primarily characterised by Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing, with some modern apartment developments near the main transport links. The ward includes the neighbourhoods of Holywell and parts of Oxhey, providing homes for a significant portion of the town's population.

The area is well-connected by the Watford Junction railway station and major bus routes along St Albans Road. Cassiobury Park, one of the largest public parks in Hertfordshire with its historic avenues and the Grand Union Canal, forms a large green boundary to the west. Local commerce is focused along the main arterial roads, serving the everyday needs of the community.

Area overview

On average Central has moderate deprivation and high crime levels, with around 247 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Approximately 13.9% of homes in this area are social housing provided by a local council or housing association. The average income per household in Central is £54,093 per year. There are 6 schools in Central: 4 primary (1 Outstanding and 2 Good) and 1 secondary (1 Outstanding and 0 Good). Central is home to around 10,472 people, with a population density of about 6,363.2 per km2.

Crime rate
8/10
Crimes per 1k residents
247
Deprivation level
6/10
Income level
4/10
Social housing
13.9%
Connectivity
N/A

Area Profile

Central Population
10,472
Population density
6,363.2 per km²

Crime

Crime per 1,000 population

Violence and sexual offences
105.23(+238%)
Anti-social behaviour
76.49(+562%)
Shoplifting
50.71(+613%)
Other theft
26.74(+381%)
Public order
24.35(+368%)
East of England average

Demographics

Ethnic groups

British
3,608
34.45%
Other White
2,403
22.94%
Indian
974
9.3%
Pakistani
670
6.4%
Other Asian
620
5.92%
Total population: 10,474

Economics

Education (age 16+)

Level 4 qualifications or above
4,063
47.29%
No qualifications
1,312
15.27%
Level 3 (A level)
1,068
12.43%
Level 2 (GCSEs 9-4)
862
10.03%
Level 1 (GCSEs 3-1)
661
7.69%
Total 16+ residents: 8,592

Housing

Housing tenure

Private landlord or letting agency
2,507
52.8%
Owns with a mortgage
851
17.92%
Owns outright
684
14.41%
Other social rented
441
9.29%
Other forms of private rent
101
2.13%
Total households: 4,748

Property prices in Central

Based on 97 recent sales, the median property price is £323,000 in Central area, with individual transactions ranging from £90,000 up to £850,000.

Price distribution per property type (last year)

Price distribution by property type for Central in the last year.

Median sale price and percentiles per property type (last year)

Median sale price, sales count, and percentile information for each property type in Central over the last year.
TypeSalesMedian
Flats61£255,000
Semi-Detached4£438,000
Terraced32£399,250

10 years median price trend in Central

Ten year median sale price trend for each property type in Central.

All postcodes in Central

WD172TR

Central

WD171AZ

Central

WD171BY

St John's Road

WD171NN

The Parade

WD172BT

High Street

WD172BW

High Street

WD180FQ

Wilmington Close

WD171QT

Canterbury Road

WD172NH

Water Lane

WD180AZ

May Cottages

WD180PB

Market Street

WD172TL

Central

WD171DQ

Central

WD171ET

Station Road

WD172NU

Lower High Street

WD180BS

George Street

WD180WF

Neal Street

WD171DD

Clarendon Road

WD171JR

Clarendon Road

WD171RL

Leavesden Road

WD172PA

Loates Lane

WD172PJ

Loates Lane

WD172PU

Gartlet Road

WD172QN

Queens Road

WD180JS

Upton Road

WD171DF

St Johns Road

WD171QS

Westland Road

WD172PS

Estcourt Road

WD180DF

Central

WD180QJ

Cassio Road

WD171QX

Westland Road

WD172AB

Loates Lane

WD172DS

High Street

WD172HF

Clarendon Road

WD172NX

Queens Road

WD172SB

Ebury Road

WD180QS

Cassio Road

WD171LN

The Parade

WD172NT

Queens Road

WD180BB

Cannon Road

WD180BD

Hamilton Street

WD180GR

St Marys View

WD180PX

Market Street

WD171NA

The Parade

WD172HW

High Street

WD172RT

Beechen Grove

WD171HX

Clarendon Road

WD172BP

High Street

WD172RE

Ebury Road

WD172UB

Beechen Grove

WD171AD

Central

WD171DG

Verulam Passage

WD171QG

Albert Road South

WD171SZ

Clarendon Road

WD172BB

Central

WD172ET

High Street

WD172HU

Lower High Street

WD172JZ

Colne Valley Retail Park

WD172TQ

High Street

WD180DR

St Mary's Road

WD171DJ

Central

WD171NB

Central

WD171PG

Orphanage Road

WD180AA

Smith Street

WD180BW

King Street

WD180LL

Central

WD172JJ

Lower High Street

WD172QS

Grosvenor Road

WD172RA

Gladstone Road

WD180AX

Neal Street

WD180JE

Rickmansworth Road

WD180PD

Market Street

WD180QR

Cassio Road

WD171ES

Central

WD171EQ

Station Road

WD171JU

Station Road

WD172LQ

Lord Street

WD172QQ

Sutton Road

WD172RU

Central

WD180QQ

Cassio Road

WD171NP

Central

WD171PB

Woodford Road

WD171AA

The Parade

WD171BS

Central

WD172AW

Frogmore Avenue

WD172QW

Queens Road

WD172GZ

High Street

WD172TN

Beechen Grove

WD180BF

Sherborne Cottages

WD180WJ

Central

WD171LS

St John's Road

WD171QN

Monmouth Road

WD171QQ

Elm Court

WD172PB

Duke Street

WD172PE

Loates Lane

WD171BH

Woodford Road

WD171JW

Clarendon Road

WD171PW

St John's Road

WD172DN

Central

WD172JH

Bridge Place

Data Sources

All data is sourced from official UK government agencies and public datasets. Last updated: 16/01/2026.