Town comparison
Burgess Hill vs Haywards Heath
Which is better to live in? 3.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Burgess Hill wins on house prices with a 23% gap. Burgess Hill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Haywards Heath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Burgess Hill
£423,336
Haywards Heath
£547,040
Crime Rate
Burgess Hill
45.8
Haywards Heath
45.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Burgess Hill
71.4%
Haywards Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Burgess Hill
419.7
Haywards Heath
426.8
EPC Rating
Burgess Hill
70.6
Haywards Heath
70.6
Median Income
Burgess Hill
£32,006
Haywards Heath
£32,006
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Haywards Heath commands an average of £547,040, compared with £423,336 in Burgess Hill – a difference of 23%. The most affordable entry point in Burgess Hill is a flat at £269,793, while in Haywards Heath it is a flat at £268,501.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 27% pricier in Haywards Heath (£821,153 vs £595,384).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Haywards Heath prices grew faster — 26% vs 13%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Burgess Hill experience less crime overall, with a rate of 45.8 per 1,000 versus 45.8 per 1,000 in Haywards Heath. The most common crime category in Burgess Hill is violent-crime, while in Haywards Heath 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 EastFamilies may prefer Haywards Heath, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 71.4% in Burgess Hill. There are 9 schools in Burgess Hill and 9 in Haywards Heath.
Burgess Hill School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Haywards Heath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 9 schools (8 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Burgess Hill | Haywards Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 9 | 9 |
| Primary | 7 | 8 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 71.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 426.8 Mbps in Haywards Heath and 419.7 Mbps in Burgess Hill. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.5% of premises in Burgess Hill and 98.1% in Haywards Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 81.1% in Burgess Hill and 82.8% in Haywards Heath.
Haywards Heath is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (427 vs 420 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Burgess Hill, scoring 70.6 on average (band C) compared to 70.6 (band C) in Haywards Heath. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,218 in Burgess Hill and £1,218 in Haywards Heath. 62.4% of homes in Burgess Hill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.4% in Haywards Heath.
Burgess Hill has more energy-efficient housing — 62.4% reach band C or above, vs 62.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,005.5 in Burgess Hill and £32,005.5 in Haywards Heath. The median age is 47 in Burgess Hill and 47 in Haywards Heath. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Burgess Hill and 57.8% in Haywards Heath. Owner-occupancy is 71.8% in Burgess Hill versus 71.8% in Haywards Heath. Burgess Hill has a population of 33,352 and Haywards Heath has 40,528.
| Indicator | Burgess Hill | Haywards Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,352 | 40,528 |
| Median Age | 47 | 47 |
| Median Household Income | £32,005.5 | £32,005.5 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.8% | 71.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 36.8% | 36.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath?
Is Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath safer?
Which has better schools, Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath?
Which has faster broadband, Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath?
Keep exploring