AL5 or LU4?
Two neighbouring postcode districts compared on sold prices, energy, flood risk, crime and deprivation, all from the same official sources as every report on this site.
Figures gathered 17 September 2026.
- Homes sell for about 24% less in LU4 than in AL5.
- AL5 recorded fewer crimes in the same period, though busier places always record more.
- AL5 is the less deprived of the two on the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
|
AL5
St Albans
|
LU4
Luton
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Median home sale nearby | £450,000
from 85 sales |
£340,000
from 106 sales |
| Average sold price | £382,500 | £71,668 |
| Area price growth (YoY) | +2.3% (St Albans) | +0.5% (Luton) |
| Dwelling type | Top-floor flat | Mid-floor flat |
| Floor area | 43 m² | 36 m² |
| Built | 1900–1929 | 1983–1990 |
| Energy rating | C | C |
| Heating cost (EPC est.) | £310/yr | £480/yr |
| Schools likely to admit |
4 likely, 2 borderline of 8 with a figure
Harpenden Academy, St Nicholas CofE VA Primary School, St Dominic Catholic Primary School, Crabtree Junior School |
2 likely of 8 with a figure
Challney High School for Girls, Challney High School for Boys |
| Flood zone | Zone 1 (low probability) | Zone 1 (low probability) |
| Crime nearby | 121 recorded | 334 recorded |
| Deprivation decile | 9 of 10 | 3 of 10 |
Common questions
Is AL5 or LU4 cheaper?
LU4 is the cheaper of the two. Homes around AL5 sell for about £450,000 and around LU4 for about £340,000, from HM Land Registry records of what actually changed hands.
Which has less crime, AL5 or LU4?
AL5 recorded fewer crimes in the same period (121 in AL5 against 334 in LU4, Police.uk). Busier places record more, so read this alongside how built-up each area is rather than on its own.
Is AL5 or LU4 the more affluent area?
On the Index of Multiple Deprivation, AL5 sits in decile 9 of 10 and LU4 in decile 3, where 10 is the least deprived.
Should I buy in AL5 or LU4?
That depends on what you need, and no dataset answers it. What this page gives you is the evidence side by side: what homes actually sell for, the energy ratings, the flood zone, recorded crime and deprivation, each traced to the body that published it.
A quick side-by-side snapshot only. Open each property's full report for the complete picture.