Town comparison
Burgess Hill vs Lewes
Which is better to live in? 8.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Burgess Hill is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 25% lower. Burgess Hill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Lewes edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Burgess Hill
£423,336
Lewes
£562,635
Crime Rate
Burgess Hill
45.8
Lewes
55.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Burgess Hill
71.4%
Lewes
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Burgess Hill
419.7
Lewes
246.6
EPC Rating
Burgess Hill
70.6
Lewes
68.9
Median Income
Burgess Hill
£32,006
Lewes
£29,267
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Lewes commands an average of £562,635, compared with £423,336 in Burgess Hill – a difference of 25%. The most affordable entry point in Burgess Hill is a flat at £269,793, while in Lewes it is a flat at £272,804.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 32% pricier in Lewes (£502,080 vs £342,824).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Burgess Hill prices grew faster — 13% vs 13%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastBurgess Hill has a crime rate of 45.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 20% lower than Lewes at 55.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Burgess Hill is violent-crime, while in Lewes 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 Lewes, 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 5 in Lewes.
Burgess Hill School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Lewes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Burgess Hill | Lewes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 9 | 5 |
| Primary | 7 | 4 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 71.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 419.7 Mbps in Burgess Hill and 246.6 Mbps in Lewes. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.5% of premises in Burgess Hill and 97.2% in Lewes. Gigabit availability stands at 81.1% in Burgess Hill and 40% in Lewes.
Burgess Hill is the faster of the two by 70% on average download speed (420 vs 247 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Burgess Hill, scoring 70.6 on average (band C) compared to 68.9 (band C) in Lewes. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,218 in Burgess Hill and £1,263 in Lewes. 62.4% of homes in Burgess Hill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.7% in Lewes.
Burgess Hill has more energy-efficient housing — 62.4% reach band C or above, vs 57.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,005.5 in Burgess Hill and £29,267 in Lewes. The median age is 47 in Burgess Hill and 49.1 in Lewes. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Burgess Hill and 53.5% in Lewes. Owner-occupancy is 71.8% in Burgess Hill versus 71.1% in Lewes. Burgess Hill has a population of 33,352 and Lewes has 16,066.
| Indicator | Burgess Hill | Lewes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,352 | 16,066 |
| Median Age | 47 | 49.1 |
| Median Household Income | £32,005.5 | £29,267 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 53.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.8% | 71.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 36.8% | 34.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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