Living in Balham vs Clapham: Comparison

Tube photo: Sebastian Grochowicz from Unsplash

Introduction to Balham

Balham is an attractive district in South London, England. Balham is mostly located in the London borough of Wandsworth. Currently, the area has an estimated population of around 15,000. Read more: Living in Balham

Introduction to Clapham

Clapham is a popular district in South London, England. Clapham is mostly located in the London borough of Lambeth. Currently, the area has an estimated population of around 50,000 inhabitants.

Is Balham cheaper than Clapham?

A general rule of thumb is that the further away from central London a location is, the cheaper the property and rental prices will be.

As a result of this, Balham rental and property prices are generally cheaper than Clapham.

Is Balham near Clapham?

Balham and Clapham are neighbouring districts in South London. It doesn’t take long to walk from the centre of Balham to reach Clapham Common and Clapham high street (15-20 minutes).

It’s also convenient to travel from Balham to Clapham on public transport. Clapham South, Clapham Common and Clapham North underground stations are all located in Zone 2 on the Northern underground line. Balham is located in Zone 3 on the Northern underground line. There are also a number of bus routes in the area that travel between both areas.

Is Balham better than Clapham?

It depends. If you’re looking for a safe, family-oriented district to live and settle in, Balham would be a good choice. However, if you’re a younger mover looking to be closer to central London and love your partying, perhaps Clapham could be the better choice for you.

Both Balham and Clapham have their fair share of great restaurants, bars and other amenities.

Clapham is the larger area of the two with a primarily young and affluent population.

Balham is popular with families. There’s a brilliant community atmosphere when you’re out and about.

We would encourage you to spend a day or two in both areas. Make sure you get a feel for the people, the area and the transport links before you make a move.

Is Balham safer than Clapham?

Balham is one of the safest areas to live in the London borough of Wandsworth. In May of 2019, 158 crimes were reported in Balham – with the majority being anti-social behaviour and shoplifting related offences.

Clapham is a much larger area and records more crime as a result – as of December 2021, the majority of crimes committed in Clapham included anti-social behaviour and burglary.

Final thoughts

We would be interested to hear your thoughts about both areas. Let us know below.

Balham and Clapham are vibrant and popular areas of South London.

Both districts have their benefits and drawbacks. It depends on what you want out of your time living in London. Make sure you do lots of research and visit each area before making any big decisions!

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