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City Comparison · 2026

Northampton vs St Albans 2026

East Midlands
Northampton
Median Salary £30,000
Cost of Living 66/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo
Real Take-Home £23,500/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 4.8%
VS
South East England
St Albans
Median Salary £45,000
Cost of Living 90/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,500/mo
Real Take-Home £26,500/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.5%
Unemployment 2.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
St Albans
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Northampton
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
St Albans
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Northampton
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
St Albans
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
St Albans
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Northampton vs St Albans

Northampton

Northampton has excellent logistics connections and a strong financial services sector driven by Barclays and other financial firms.

Full Northampton Guide →

St Albans

St Albans is one of the UK's most affluent towns with the highest average salaries outside London and very high living costs.

Full St Albans Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Northampton

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Jobs in St Albans

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