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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

WD180BH

Watford Field Road

WD171EE

Central

WD171QL

Leavesden Road

WD180JL

Upton Road

WD180JP

Upton Road

WD171TB

Clarendon Road

WD172AX

Wellstones

WD172EJ

Central

WD172FG

Lower High Street

WD172JE

Lower High Street

WD171AP

Station Road

WD171AR

Station Road

WD171UE

Bridle Path

WD172AG

Lower High Street

WD180AG

The Crescent

WD180GJ

Cambridge Road

WD180JG

Exchange Road

WD171DH

Verulam Passage

WD171QA

St Johns Road

WD172BJ

High Street

WD172LA

Queens Road

WD172TA

Central

WD180JF

Upton Road

WD180JW

The Beeches

WD180RW

Ladys Close

Data Sources

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