Town comparison
Burgess Hill vs Southwater
Which is better to live in? 10.5 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 6% gap. Southwater has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Southwater edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Burgess Hill
£423,336
Southwater
£449,850
Crime Rate
Burgess Hill
45.8
Southwater
34.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Burgess Hill
71.4%
Southwater
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Burgess Hill
419.7
Southwater
356.9
EPC Rating
Burgess Hill
70.6
Southwater
70.4
Median Income
Burgess Hill
£32,006
Southwater
£34,970
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £423,336, Burgess Hill undercuts Southwater (£449,850) by around 6% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Burgess Hill is a flat at £269,793, while in Southwater it is a flat at £211,133.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 28% pricier in Burgess Hill (£269,793 vs £211,133).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Southwater prices grew faster — 21% vs 13%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Southwater experience less crime overall, with a rate of 34.1 per 1,000 versus 45.8 per 1,000 in Burgess Hill. The most common crime category in Burgess Hill is violent-crime, while in Southwater it is shoplifting.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Burgess Hill's most common crime is violent crime; in Southwater it's shoplifting.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South EastOf the 9 schools in Burgess Hill, 71.4% are in the top two inspection bands. In Southwater, which has 3 schools, the figure is 100%.
Burgess Hill School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 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 | Burgess Hill | Southwater |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 9 | 3 |
| Primary | 7 | 3 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 71.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Burgess Hill averages 419.7 Mbps – ahead of Southwater's 356.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.5% of premises in Burgess Hill and 92.2% in Southwater. Gigabit availability stands at 81.1% in Burgess Hill and 66.1% in Southwater.
Burgess Hill is the faster of the two by 18% on average download speed (420 vs 357 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Burgess Hill leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 70.6 (C), while Southwater averages 70.4 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,218 in Burgess Hill and £1,268 in Southwater. 62.4% of homes in Burgess Hill 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 62.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,969.5 in Southwater and £32,005.5 in Burgess Hill. The median age is 47 in Burgess Hill and 45.8 in Southwater. Owner-occupancy is 71.8% in Burgess Hill versus 72.4% in Southwater. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Burgess Hill and 61% in Southwater.
| Indicator | Burgess Hill | Southwater |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,352 | 11,204 |
| Median Age | 47 | 45.8 |
| Median Household Income | £32,005.5 | £34,969.5 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 61% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.8% | 72.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 36.8% | 37.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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