Tower Hamlets area report

Highlights

Tower Hamlets is a London borough with a population of 310306. The median house price stands at 476900, with flats comprising 87.8 per cent of the housing stock. Over the past five years, prices have declined by 9.3 per cent. The affordability ratio is 7.5, based on median earnings of 66686. The area has 66 primary schools and 17 secondary schools; 44 schools are rated good or better by Ofsted. Crime totalled 4557 incidents in May 2026, equivalent to 14.7 per 1000 population, with anti-social behaviour and violent crime among the top categories. The median age is 30.8 years. Residents born outside the UK comprise 46.8 per cent of the population. Employment stands at 61.4 per cent, with 50.3 per cent of residents aged 16 and above holding level 4 or higher qualifications. Life expectancy is 79.3 years for males and 82.9 years for females. The area has 28 rail stations and 0.4 kilometres to the nearest station. Gigabit-capable broadband is available to 73.4 per cent of premises.

Data updated 2026/27 (tax); 2025 (control). Tower Hamlets, London — a free, sourced local-area report from Acreright. Every figure shows its source and date; where the data isn't reliable we say so rather than guess.

Within London, Tower Hamlets ranks 11th cheapest of 33, 29th safest and 1st most affordable.

What does it cost?

• £476,900 median home price (HM Land Registry Price Paid + UK HPI, Apr 2026)

Sold prices in Tower Hamlets have fallen 16% over the last five years (UK House Price Index).

How safe is it?

• 14.7 recorded crimes per 1,000 people (police.uk, May 2026)

Who lives here?

• 310,306 residents (ONS Census 2021 (Nomis), 2021)

About 35% of neighbourhoods in England are more deprived than Tower Hamlets (English Indices of Deprivation, decile 4 of 10, national basis).

Schools

• 94% of inspected schools rated Good or Outstanding (Get Information About Schools (GIAS) + Ofsted inspections MI, 2026)

Health

• 79.3 · 82.9 yrs life expectancy (men · women) (NHS ODS register (GP/dentist/pharmacy) + OSM (hospitals) + IoD2025 health domain + OHID Fingertips (outcomes), 2026/2025)

Getting around

• ≈5 min fastest train to London (OpenStreetMap + National Rail timetable (ATOC/RDG, GTFS), 2026)
• 73% of premises can get gigabit broadband (Ofcom Connected Nations 2024, Jul 2024)

Has it been a good investment?

Of homes in Tower Hamlets that changed hands in the last five years, 23.4% sold for less than the previous owner paid — 5.7 points above London (17.7%) (nominal, not inflation-adjusted). Across those resales the typical gain was 15.26% over 8.93 years held.

Investment context: a gross rental yield of about 6.8% (area median rent against the median sold price) — appraise a specific property at /appraisal/tower hamlets.

Compare every area in London: London area guide & rankings.

Nearby areas we cover: City of London, Hackney, Southwark.