We know that Hitchin is a great place to live, with plenty of green space, culture and independent shops. That goes without saying. One of the biggest draws for new residents over the last few decades is just how easy it is to get into London. Hitchin is in the classic commuter belt, with loads of families choosing it as a compromise between the high prices of London and the green spaces of further out.

In this article, we'll look at commuting versus housing costs in 2026.

How quickly can you get to work?

Hitchin train station sits 31 miles north of London King's Cross and is one of the town's top selling points. There are multiple trains going in and out of the city every day, and although the average travel time is around 45 minutes, pick your trains carefully and you can do it in under half an hour.

Where you work is key here - if you've got offices close to King's Cross, then fantastic, you may only need to add a short walk or train journey. If you're across the other side of the city, then you could be easily doubling or potentially even trebling your journey time.

Are season tickets worth it?

Depending on the train, time of day and whether you can use tricks like split ticketing, return trains are going to set you back at least £30. This means a minimum spend of £150 a week, plus any additional tube or bus costs, based on commuting five days a week. Scale this up and you're looking at over £7,000 a year on trains.

If you are commuting every day, a season ticket is definitely worth considering. As of February 2026, a monthly season ticket through Thameslink between Hitchin and King's Cross is £496, or an annual season ticket will cost you £5,176. Both represent significant savings on paying the daily price, not factoring in homeworking days or holidays.

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House prices in Hitchin

Property in Hitchin comes at a premium thanks to its proximity to the city. In fact, a recent survey found it was the most expensive market town for first-time buyers in the whole country, with an average price of £410,366.  

If you're a regular commuter, then this might be a price worth paying, as it's significantly lower than the average house price for London. If your circumstances change though, or there's the option for a more hybrid or home-based model of working, then you might decide it's no longer offering value for money. If this is the case and you find yourself thinking 'it's time to sell my house and relocate', then one option is to use a cash buying service that gives you a guaranteed sale at a time that suits you and lets you choose your completion date.

While there's no denying that Hitchin is a fabulous place to live, you do pay that little bit more for such easy access into the capital. If you find that's not as important to you as it once was, it may be time to look slightly further afield.