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Living in Watford (Watford)

Watford (Watford) is a city in the United Kingdom, with a population of 131,325 in March 2021. The city covered 24.5 km² in December 2022. Population density was 5,365 people per km² in 2021. Gigabit broadband availability was 94.6%. The employment rate was 64.8% in March 2021. For Watford (Watford), annual PM2.5 was 7.93 µg/m³ in 2025.

Higher unemployment than 72% of United Kingdom cities that publish it, less recorded crime than 72% of United Kingdom cities that publish it and dirtier air than 98% of United Kingdom cities that publish it.

Which United Kingdom-wide rules apply when you move to Watford (Watford)?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in United KingdomNational rates and thresholds that apply in Watford (Watford).Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

Owner occupation accounted for 58.1% of homes in March 2021.

No city-level rent or cost figure is published for Watford (Watford) yet. United Kingdom has country-level context; it is not substituted for this city.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Dwellings50,870 count21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley4Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Rent price index, mean2,135 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), UK: monthly price statistics10Official

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Watford (Watford)?

The unemployment rate is 4.2 % (January 2023). Source: www.ons.gov.uk11

Unemployment across cities in United KingdomUnemployment in Watford (Watford) is 4.2%. Of 1,007 cities with data, 657 have unemployment of 2 to under 4%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in United Kingdom per band24 cities: 0% to under 2%240–2657 cities: 2% to under 4%6572–4265 cities: 4% to under 6%2654–6Watford (Watford) 4.2%49 cities: 6% to under 8%496–87 cities: 8% to under 10%78–104 cities: 10% to under 12%410–121 city: 16% to under 18%116–18

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Gigabit broadband availability94.6 %Not statedwww.ofcom.org.uk13Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Employment rate64.78 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley9Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Superfast broadband availability99.62 %Not statedwww.ofcom.org.uk13Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Unemployment rate4.2 %country median 3.4%31 Dec 2023www.ons.gov.uk11Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Watford (Watford). The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Jobcentre Plus — Public employment service

Department for Work and Pensions

Job SearchUnemployment Claim
Open official service
Open the United Kingdom service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Watford (Watford). Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Schools52 count7 Jul 2026DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract2Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure

Safety

How safe is Watford (Watford)?

Police recorded about 8,635 incidents per 100,000 (2026). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: www.ons.gov.uk12

Recorded crime across major citiesWatford (Watford) highlighted among comparable cities
Recorded crime across major cities with Watford (Watford) highlighted14,267Manchester13,099Bristol12,409Liverpool11,462Leeds11,416Birmingham11,001Leicester9,693Sheffield9,379Cardiff8,836Coventry8,635Watford (Watford)757Glasgow549Edinburghrecorded incidents per 100k residents
MetricValuePeriodSource
Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents8,635 incidents per 100,000country median 9,66927 Aug 2026www.ons.gov.uk12Official
Violent crime per 100,000 residents3,202 per 100,000Apr 2026data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary1Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Burglary per 100,000 residents240.6 per 100,000Apr 2026data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary1Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure

Climate and air quality

Annual NO₂ was 11.5 µg/m³ in 2025. Annual PM10 was 13.1 µg/m³ in 2025.

Is the air quality good in Watford (Watford)?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 7.9 µg/m³ (2025) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

  • PM2.5 — annual mean: 7.93 µg/m³ · official estimated total annual mean background concentration8
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Watford (Watford) annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5257.9PM2.5154013.1PM10104011.5NO₂µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in United KingdomAnnual PM2.5 in Watford (Watford) is 7.9 µg/m³. Of 864 cities with data, 448 have annual PM2.5 of 6 to under 7 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in United Kingdom per band1 city: 3 µg/m³ to under 4 µg/m³13–428 cities: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³284–5203 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³2035–6448 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³4486–7174 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³1747–8Watford (Watford) 7.98 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³88–91 city: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³19–101 city: 13 µg/m³ to under 14 µg/m³113–14

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
NO₂ — annual mean11.51 µg/m³country median 7.12025official estimated total annual mean background concentration6Official
PM10 — annual mean13.08 µg/m³country median 11.32025official estimated total annual mean background concentration7Official
PM2.5 — annual mean7.93 µg/m³country median 6.52025official estimated total annual mean background concentration8Official

Cities of a similar size in United Kingdom

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All United Kingdom cities
Watford131,325 residentsNewport (Newport)130,890 residentsColchester130,245 residentsExeter126,175 residentsBlackburn124,955 residentsPoole141,005 residents

Population and city profile

How many people live in Watford (Watford)?

The published population was 131,325 people in March 2021. Source: Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.4

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Watford (Watford) residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport68.2%Foreign residents31.8%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Area24.48 km²Dec 2022ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley4Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
City area24.48 km²Dec 2022Exact 2022 Built Up Area polygon area for BUA22CD in EPSG:27700, converted from square metres to km2.3Official
Foreign residents41,710 people21 Mar 2021Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts.4Official
GP practices per 10,000 residents0.914 per 10,000 people7 Jul 2026NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Schools per 10,000 residents3.96 per 10,000 people7 Jul 2026DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract2Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Population density5,365 people/km²21 Mar 2021www.ons.gov.uk4Official · built-up-area figure
Population131,325 people21 Mar 2021Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.4Official

Is Watford (Watford) a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker25%strong on work, weak on safety · range 16–34%
Skilled employee36%strong on work, weak on education · range 27–45%
Student24%strong on legal route, weak on education · range 14–34%
Family20%strong on family, weak on education · range 11–29%
Retirement25%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 15–35%
Foreign residents41,710 people21 Mar 2021Official source · Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts.
Population131,325 people21 Mar 2021Official source · Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.
Rent price index, mean2,135 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Official source · Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), UK: monthly price statistics
Dwellings50,870 count21 Mar 2021Official source · ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
Gigabit broadband availability94.6 %Not statedIndependent source · www.ofcom.org.uk
Employment rate64.78 %21 Mar 2021Official source · ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-09-14

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Owner-occupied homes58.12 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley4Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
GP practices12 count7 Jul 2026NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Residents born abroad31.8 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley4Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Median age37 years21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley4Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Watford (Watford) under the national coverage rules.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

How does Watford (Watford) compare?

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Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Watford (Watford)?

The published population was 131,325 people in March 2021. Source: Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales..

Is the air quality good in Watford (Watford)?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 7.9 µg/m³ (2025) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: official estimated total annual mean background concentration.

How safe is Watford (Watford)?

Police recorded about 8,635 incidents per 100,000 (2026). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: www.ons.gov.uk.

What is the unemployment rate in Watford (Watford)?

The unemployment rate is 4.2 % (January 2023). Source: www.ons.gov.uk.

How many foreign residents live in Watford (Watford)?

41,710 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts..

Is Watford (Watford) a good place to live?

Watford (Watford) may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 14). Watford (Watford), United Kingdom: rent, jobs, safety [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62; version approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/watford-watford/ Retrieved 2026-09-14. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_watford-watford-united-kingdom-rent-jobs-safety_51d909f77edd,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Watford (Watford), United Kingdom: rent, jobs, safety},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-14},
  version = {approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62},
  snapshot = {approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/watford-watford/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-14. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Watford (Watford), United Kingdom: rent, jobs, safety](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/watford-watford/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62; version approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62; retrieved 2026-09-14; built 2026-09-14.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary data.police.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  2. DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract get-information-schools.service.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  3. Exact 2022 Built Up Area polygon area for BUA22CD in EPSG:27700, converted from square metres to km2. services1.arcgis.com · checked 2026-07-15
  4. Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts. ons.gov.uk · checked 2021-03-21
  5. NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates digital.nhs.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  6. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
  7. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
  8. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
  9. ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-05
  10. Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), UK: monthly price statistics ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-09-12
Show 3 more sources
  1. www.ons.gov.uk ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-26
  2. www.ons.gov.uk ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-26
  3. www.ofcom.org.uk ofcom.org.uk · checked 2026-07-15

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