Caterham vs Dorking
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.3 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Caterham wins on house prices with a 19% gap. Caterham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Caterham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Caterham
£534,519
Dorking
£662,041
Crime Rate
Caterham
55.2
Dorking
56.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Caterham
100.0%
Dorking
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Caterham
390.3
Dorking
413.9
EPC Rating
Caterham
67.6
Dorking
67.9
Median Income
Caterham
£35,440
Dorking
£37,374
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Dorking commands an average of £662,041, compared with £534,519 in Caterham – a difference of 19%. The most affordable entry point in Caterham is a flat at £280,876, while in Dorking it is a flat at £289,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 11% pricier in Dorking (£987,296 vs £881,775).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Dorking prices grew faster — 29% vs 24%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Caterham experience less crime overall, with a rate of 55.2 per 1,000 versus 56 per 1,000 in Dorking. The most common crime category in Caterham is violent-crime, while in Dorking 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 Caterham, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Dorking. There are 6 schools in Caterham and 7 in Dorking.
Caterham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dorking School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Caterham | Dorking |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 7 |
| Primary | 5 | 5 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 413.9 Mbps in Dorking and 390.3 Mbps in Caterham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Caterham and 97% in Dorking. Gigabit availability stands at 74.3% in Caterham and 79.8% in Dorking.
Dorking is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (414 vs 390 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Dorking, scoring 67.9 on average (band C) compared to 67.6 (band D) in Caterham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,184 in Caterham and £1,489 in Dorking. 49.7% of homes in Caterham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55% in Dorking.
Dorking has more energy-efficient housing — 55% reach band C or above, vs 49.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,374 in Dorking and £35,439.5 in Caterham. The median age is 42.4 in Caterham and 47.8 in Dorking. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Caterham and 58.5% in Dorking. Owner-occupancy is 64.6% in Caterham versus 73.2% in Dorking. Caterham has a population of 22,757 and Dorking has 17,463.
| Indicator | Caterham | Dorking |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,757 | 17,463 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 47.8 |
| Median Household Income | £35,439.5 | £37,374 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 58.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.6% | 73.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.2% | 43.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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