Caterham vs Swanley
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Swanley is about 30% cheaper on average. Swanley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Caterham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Caterham
£534,519
Swanley
£409,875
Crime Rate
Caterham
55.2
Swanley
52.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Caterham
100.0%
Swanley
83.3%
Avg Download Speed
Caterham
390.3
Swanley
350.2
EPC Rating
Caterham
67.6
Swanley
69.9
Median Income
Caterham
£35,440
Swanley
£36,984
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Swanley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £409,875 versus £534,519 in Caterham. The most affordable entry point in Caterham is a flat at £280,876, while in Swanley it is a flat at £245,658.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 44% pricier in Caterham (£881,775 vs £613,555).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Caterham prices grew faster — 24% vs -21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 52.8 offences per 1,000 people, Swanley is the safer of the two – 5% lower than Caterham's 55.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Caterham is violent-crime, while in Swanley 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 EastSchool quality favours Caterham: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 83.3% in Swanley.
Caterham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Swanley School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Caterham | Swanley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 6 |
| Primary | 5 | 5 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 83.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Caterham enjoy 390.3 Mbps on average, while Swanley lags behind at 350.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Caterham and 97.2% in Swanley. Gigabit availability stands at 74.3% in Caterham and 64.6% in Swanley.
Caterham is the faster of the two by 11% on average download speed (390 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Swanley is band C (score 69.9), ahead of Caterham's band D (score 67.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,184 in Caterham and £1,192 in Swanley. 49.7% of homes in Caterham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.4% in Swanley.
Swanley has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 49.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Caterham has a population of 22,757 while Swanley has 17,209. Median household income is £36,983.7 in Swanley and £35,439.5 in Caterham. The median age is 42.4 in Caterham and 42.4 in Swanley. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Caterham and 61.5% in Swanley.
| Indicator | Caterham | Swanley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,757 | 17,209 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £35,439.5 | £36,983.7 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 61.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.6% | 68.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.2% | 37.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Caterham and Swanley?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Caterham or Swanley?
Is Caterham or Swanley safer?
Which has better schools, Caterham or Swanley?
Which has faster broadband, Caterham or Swanley?
Keep exploring