Key differences
Median price: Hackney (£580k) is ahead of Kensington and Chelsea (£1225k)
Crime rate /1k: Kensington and Chelsea (68) is ahead of Hackney (79)
Liveability: Kensington and Chelsea (74/100) is ahead of Hackney (69/100)
Head-to-head comparison
The Verdict
Kensington and Chelsea has a stronger liveability score — 74/100 vs 69/100. Hackney is more affordable at £580k median vs £1225k.
Hackney is cheaper, but Kensington and Chelsea scores higher on liveability.
Best for
Hackney
Hackney suits first-time buyers and value-focused buyers on tighter budgets.
Best for
Kensington and Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea suits buyers who want the strongest overall quality of life.
Hackney vs Kensington and Chelsea: what the data says
Overall, Kensington and Chelsea scores higher on liveability (69/100 vs 74/100), reflecting a better combined picture across safety, transport, schools and environment.
Property in Hackney is more affordable — median price £580k vs £1225k in Kensington and Chelsea, a difference of around 53%. Over the past year prices changed +20.4% in Hackney and +13.3% in Kensington and Chelsea.
Kensington and Chelsea has a lower crime rate (68 incidents per 1,000 residents vs 79 in Hackney). Central London boroughs typically show higher per-resident figures due to large daytime populations.
Kensington and Chelsea edges ahead on public transport connectivity (score 59/100 vs 54/100).
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