Caterham vs Croydon
Which is better to live in? Distance: 5.9 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Croydon wins on house prices with a 10% gap. Caterham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Caterham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Caterham
£534,519
Croydon
£487,682
Crime Rate
Caterham
55.2
Croydon
80.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Caterham
100.0%
Croydon
90.8%
Avg Download Speed
Caterham
390.3
Croydon
423
EPC Rating
Caterham
67.6
Croydon
69.8
Median Income
Caterham
£35,440
Croydon
£37,541
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £487,682, Croydon 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 Croydon it is a flat at £261,008.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 26% pricier in Caterham (£881,775 vs £699,532).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Croydon prices grew faster — 27% vs 24%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Caterham experience less crime overall, with a rate of 55.2 per 1,000 versus 80.6 per 1,000 in Croydon. The most common crime category in Caterham is violent-crime, while in Croydon 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 Croydon, which has 112 schools, the figure is 90.8%.
Caterham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Croydon School Inspection Breakdown
90.8% of 112 schools (87 primary, 25 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Caterham | Croydon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 112 |
| Primary | 5 | 87 |
| Secondary | 1 | 25 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Croydon averages 423.0 Mbps – ahead of Caterham's 390.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Caterham and 94.5% in Croydon. Gigabit availability stands at 74.3% in Caterham and 82.4% in Croydon.
Croydon is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (423 vs 390 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Croydon leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 69.8 (C), while Caterham averages 67.6 (D). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,184 in Caterham and £1,020 in Croydon. 49.7% of homes in Caterham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63% in Croydon.
Croydon has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 49.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,541 in Croydon and £35,439.5 in Caterham. The median age is 42.4 in Caterham and 40.2 in Croydon. Owner-occupancy is 64.6% in Caterham versus 59.6% in Croydon. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Caterham and 62% in Croydon.
| Indicator | Caterham | Croydon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,757 | 389,242 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 40.2 |
| Median Household Income | £35,439.5 | £37,541 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 62% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.6% | 59.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.2% | 40.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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