Ashtead vs Wandsworth
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Ashtead wins on house prices with a 23% gap. Ashtead has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ashtead edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ashtead
£694,684
Wandsworth
£904,017
Crime Rate
Ashtead
56.0
Wandsworth
76.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ashtead
100.0%
Wandsworth
96.8%
Avg Download Speed
Ashtead
369.9
Wandsworth
448.2
EPC Rating
Ashtead
67.9
Wandsworth
72.5
Median Income
Ashtead
£37,374
Wandsworth
£44,854
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £694,684, Ashtead undercuts Wandsworth (£904,017) by around 23% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Ashtead is a flat at £331,010, while in Wandsworth it is a flat at £713,185.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 70% pricier in Wandsworth (£3,245,500 vs £986,744).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ashtead prices grew faster — 17% vs -8%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Ashtead experience less crime overall, with a rate of 56 per 1,000 versus 76.6 per 1,000 in Wandsworth. The most common crime category in Ashtead is violent-crime, while in Wandsworth it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South EastOf the 6 schools in Ashtead, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Wandsworth, which has 70 schools, the figure is 96.8%.
Ashtead School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wandsworth School Inspection Breakdown
96.8% of 70 schools (58 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ashtead | Wandsworth |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 70 |
| Primary | 5 | 58 |
| Secondary | 1 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 96.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Wandsworth averages 448.2 Mbps – ahead of Ashtead's 369.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.4% of premises in Ashtead and 95.9% in Wandsworth. Gigabit availability stands at 69.4% in Ashtead and 83.2% in Wandsworth.
Wandsworth is the faster of the two by 21% on average download speed (448 vs 370 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Wandsworth, scoring 72.5 on average (band C) compared to 67.9 (band C) in Ashtead. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,489 in Ashtead and £905 in Wandsworth. 55% of homes in Ashtead have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 74.1% in Wandsworth.
Wandsworth has more energy-efficient housing — 74.1% reach band C or above, vs 55% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £44,854 in Wandsworth and £37,374 in Ashtead. The median age is 47.8 in Ashtead and 36.8 in Wandsworth. Employment rates stand at 58.5% in Ashtead and 69.6% in Wandsworth. Owner-occupancy is 73.2% in Ashtead versus 42.5% in Wandsworth. Ashtead has a population of 14,830 and Wandsworth has 325,268.
| Indicator | Ashtead | Wandsworth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,830 | 325,268 |
| Median Age | 47.8 | 36.8 |
| Median Household Income | £37,374 | £44,854 |
| Employment Rate | 58.5% | 69.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 73.2% | 42.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.1% | 62.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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