Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Dacorum: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £23,179 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,685 a month, against £1,556 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£23,179
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,685
- Mortgage £2,140, of which £646 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,556
- Rent £1,378 plus council tax
- Median price
- £415,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £47,250
- £41,500 deposit + £5,750 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 25.1
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Dacorum by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £260,000 | £1,098 | +£480 | Buy £15,646 |
| 2 bed | £415,000 | £1,378 | +£1,129 | Rent £23,179 |
| 3 bed | £536,750 | £1,655 | +£1,581 | Rent £57,332 |
| 4+ bed | £804,000 | £2,288 | +£2,549 | Rent £110,226 |
Average rent and house prices in Dacorum
The ONS average private rent in Dacorum is £1,594 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 1.3% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £452,500 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026).
Default scenario: 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%. Council tax is £2,141 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Dacorum: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dacorum?
For a 2-bed home in Dacorum, owning costs about £2,685 a month and renting about £1,556, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £23,179 better off after 7 years. This assumes a 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%.
What is the average rent in Dacorum?
The ONS average private rent in Dacorum is £1,594 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,098 for 1 bed, £1,378 for 2 bed, £1,655 for 3 bed, £2,288 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 1.3% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Dacorum?
The median price paid in Dacorum is £452,500 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £415,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Dacorum?
A first-time buyer paying £415,000 would pay £5,750 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £41,500, the cash needed on day one is about £47,250.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Dacorum?
About 25.1: the 2-bed price is 25.1 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Dacorum?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £15,646 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.