Key differences
Median price: Islington (£658k) is ahead of Kensington and Chelsea (£1225k)
Crime rate /1k: Kensington and Chelsea (68) is ahead of Islington (105)
Safety score: Kensington and Chelsea (78/100) is ahead of Islington (75/100)
Head-to-head comparison
The Verdict
Islington and Kensington and Chelsea are closely matched across the key liveability metrics. Islington is more affordable at £658k median vs £1225k.
The areas are closely matched — the decision comes down to specific streets and personal priorities.
Best for
Islington
Islington suits first-time buyers and value-focused buyers on tighter budgets.
Best for
Kensington and Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea suits buyers drawn to the specific character and amenities of this area.
Islington vs Kensington and Chelsea: what the data says
Overall, Kensington and Chelsea scores higher on liveability (72/100 vs 74/100), reflecting a better combined picture across safety, transport, schools and environment.
Property in Islington is more affordable — median price £658k vs £1225k in Kensington and Chelsea, a difference of around 46%. Over the past year prices changed +12.0% in Islington and +13.3% in Kensington and Chelsea.
Kensington and Chelsea has a lower crime rate (68 incidents per 1,000 residents vs 105 in Islington). 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 58/100).
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