Bucks or Herts?

[Hermonie2016]

I am recently separated and will be moving close to family/work around Bucks or Herts.
I will have a budget of around 550k and ideally want a 3 bed house near good secondary schools.

I could consider private school for ds but might then have a slightly smaller budget.
I don't want rural and would be prefer to be close to towns with friendly neighbours as will be starting my life again.Also transport links as ds will be a teen so will want some level of independence.

Ideas really welcome.

St Albans. Or (if DS is likely to pass 11+) somewhere in catchment for one of the Bucks grammars. You would get a decent house in Chesham or maybe Amersham for £550k.

I would also look at Tring and Berkhamsted in Herts. There are also good schools around Potters Bar/Brookmans Park and transport links are good.

I live in Amersham and would love to know where the decent houses for 550k are

Redbourn (though it has to be the side which gets into Roundwood) is an option. It depends how old your DS is. They are building a new school in Harpenden but its taking its time. Supposed to be built in 2018. If it is built then Southdown / all of Redbourn / Kimpton / Wheathampstead will all become options. The new school is going to be run by the existing secondaries in Harpenden so likely to be outstanding.

You could also get a house near Sandringham in St Albans for that money.

Sorry just seen he is a teen. Then you would be looking for in year admissions???