Billingshurst vs Southwater
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Southwater is about 21% cheaper on average. Southwater has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Southwater edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Billingshurst
£546,196
Southwater
£449,850
Crime Rate
Billingshurst
34.2
Southwater
34.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Billingshurst
0.0%
Southwater
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Billingshurst
311.6
Southwater
356.9
EPC Rating
Billingshurst
68.5
Southwater
70.4
Median Income
Billingshurst
£35,767
Southwater
£34,970
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Southwater is £449,850, which is 21% less than Billingshurst at £546,196. The most affordable entry point in Billingshurst is a flat at £172,513, while in Southwater it is a flat at £211,133.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 38% pricier in Billingshurst (£819,093 vs £591,556).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Billingshurst prices grew faster — 26% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Southwater (34.1 per 1,000) compared to Billingshurst (34.2 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Billingshurst is violent-crime, while in Southwater it is shoplifting.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Billingshurst's most common crime is violent crime; in Southwater it's shoplifting.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South EastSouthwater has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 0% in Billingshurst. Billingshurst has 2 schools in total, while Southwater has 3.
Billingshurst School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Southwater School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Billingshurst | Southwater |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 3 |
| Primary | 1 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Southwater offers faster average downloads at 356.9 Mbps, compared to 311.6 Mbps in Billingshurst. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.3% of premises in Billingshurst and 92.2% in Southwater. Gigabit availability stands at 57.1% in Billingshurst and 66.1% in Southwater.
Southwater is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (357 vs 312 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Southwater are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.4 (band C) versus 68.5 (band C) in Billingshurst. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,410 in Billingshurst and £1,268 in Southwater. 57.2% of homes in Billingshurst have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.8% in Southwater.
Southwater has more energy-efficient housing — 63.8% reach band C or above, vs 57.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,766.7 in Billingshurst and £34,969.5 in Southwater. The median age is 47.3 in Billingshurst and 45.8 in Southwater. Employment rates stand at 57.4% in Billingshurst and 61% in Southwater. Owner-occupancy is 69.8% in Billingshurst versus 72.4% in Southwater.
| Indicator | Billingshurst | Southwater |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,121 | 11,204 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 45.8 |
| Median Household Income | £35,766.7 | £34,969.5 |
| Employment Rate | 57.4% | 61% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.8% | 72.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 37.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Billingshurst and Southwater?
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