Caterham vs Crawley Down
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Crawley Down is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 10% lower. Crawley Down has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Caterham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Caterham
£534,519
Crawley Down
£486,525
Crime Rate
Caterham
55.2
Crawley Down
45.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Caterham
100.0%
Crawley Down
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Caterham
390.3
Crawley Down
395.9
EPC Rating
Caterham
67.6
Crawley Down
69.6
Median Income
Caterham
£35,440
Crawley Down
£33,662
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £486,525, Crawley Down undercuts Caterham (£534,519) by around 10% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Caterham is a flat at £280,876, while in Crawley Down it is a flat at £224,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 36% pricier in Caterham (£881,775 vs £650,083).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Caterham prices grew faster — 24% vs 12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrawley Down has a crime rate of 45.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 20% lower than Caterham at 55.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Caterham is violent-crime, while in Crawley Down 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 Caterham, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Crawley Down, which has 1 schools, the figure is 100%.
Caterham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Crawley Down School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Caterham | Crawley Down |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 1 |
| Primary | 5 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Crawley Down averages 395.9 Mbps – ahead of Caterham's 390.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Caterham and 96.2% in Crawley Down. Gigabit availability stands at 74.3% in Caterham and 75.7% in Crawley Down.
Crawley Down is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (396 vs 390 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Crawley Down, scoring 69.6 on average (band C) compared to 67.6 (band D) in Caterham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,184 in Caterham and £1,179 in Crawley Down. 49.7% of homes in Caterham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.9% in Crawley Down.
Crawley Down has more energy-efficient housing — 58.9% reach band C or above, vs 49.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,439.5 in Caterham and £33,661.7 in Crawley Down. The median age is 42.4 in Caterham and 43.1 in Crawley Down. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Caterham and 61.7% in Crawley Down. Owner-occupancy is 64.6% in Caterham versus 67.6% in Crawley Down. Caterham has a population of 22,757 and Crawley Down has 5,775.
| Indicator | Caterham | Crawley Down |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,757 | 5,775 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 43.1 |
| Median Household Income | £35,439.5 | £33,661.7 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 61.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.6% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.2% | 34.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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