Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 43 min4:41 am – 9:24 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 45 min8:06 am – 3:51 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People11,485 residentsin the Hitchin Town & West census areaMedian age 43.85,044 households63% of homes owner-occupied35% owned outright21% social rented, 15% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting4.6% unemployment rate62% of adults are economically active, 5,487 in work, 25% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 13%, health and social work 13%, education 11%Getting to work: 45% work from home, 40% go by car, 5% take public transport, 10% walk or cycle63% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages44% of adults hold a degree or higher15% have no qualifications, 4% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 96%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 23°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 7°C, lows 2°C655 mm of rain a year, 15 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October43 days of air frost, 19 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksWindmill hill Hitchinhistoric site · 1.3 miTatmore Hillshills · under a mileMinsden Chapelhistoric site · 2.5 miHalfway Hillhill · under a milePinnacle Hillhill · 1.0 miCharlton Mill Pondpond · under a milePreston Reservoirreservoir · 2.1 miThe Willowswoodland · under a mileSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
Parks and green spacesThe Village Greenpark · under a milePinehill Parkpark · 1.6 mi · 4 haVillage Greenpark · 1.6 miThe Smithson Recreation Groundplaying field · 1.0 miBancroft Recreation Groundplaying field · 1.4 mi · 3 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes27 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 22 Sep 202016 mi away, Leighton Buzzard, BedsMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 18 Aug 202527 mi away, Thornborough, BucksSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at High risk within 500 m of the centrea 1 in 30 chance of flooding in any year, or greaterAlso medium, low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 7.3 · PM2.5 7.0 · PM10 12 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband93% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband100% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)5,332 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation80 m262 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 64 to 144 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalThe Lister Hospital3.6 miGP surgeryNmp Hct - Palliative Care Team9 surgeries within 2 miles1.2 miPharmacyBoots6 pharmacies within 2 miles1.1 miDentistTilehouse Dental Care Clinic1.0 miPolice stationHitchin Police Station1.6 miCash machinePost OfficeHitchin1.3 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Overture Maps
SchoolsWithin 2 mi16 schools11 primary, 3 secondary, 1 independent, 1 nurseryPrimarySamuel Lucas Primary Schoolages 4-11, 416 pupils1.1 miPrimaryHighbury Infant School and Nurseryages 3-7, 195 pupils1.2 miSecondaryHitchin Boys' Schoolages 11-18, 1,364 pupils1.3 miCollegeNorth Hertfordshire College4.9 miUniversityUniversity of Bedfordshire6.4 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Luton Airport LTN5.2 miRailway stationHitchin1.8 miBus stationBus StationStevenage4.5 miFerryCamden Lock WaterbusCamden Town28 miBus stops10 within a mileEV chargingLairaige Multi storey Car Park1.1 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the SG5 postcode district.
