Town comparison
Crawley (Crawley) vs Haywards Heath
Which is better to live in? 8.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Crawley (crawley) wins on house prices with a 23% gap. Haywards Heath has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Haywards Heath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Crawley (Crawley)
£421,713
Haywards Heath
£547,040
Crime Rate
Crawley (Crawley)
111.5
Haywards Heath
45.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Crawley (Crawley)
96.3%
Haywards Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Crawley (Crawley)
395.9
Haywards Heath
426.8
EPC Rating
Crawley (Crawley)
69.6
Haywards Heath
70.6
Median Income
Crawley (Crawley)
£33,662
Haywards Heath
£32,006
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £421,713, Crawley (crawley) undercuts Haywards Heath (£547,040) by around 23% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Crawley (crawley) is a flat at £207,428, while in Haywards Heath it is a flat at £268,501.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 23% pricier in Haywards Heath (£268,501 vs £207,428).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Haywards Heath prices grew faster — 26% vs 13%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Haywards Heath experience less crime overall, with a rate of 45.8 per 1,000 versus 111.5 per 1,000 in Crawley (crawley). The most common crime category in Crawley (crawley) is violent-crime, while in Haywards Heath 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 33 schools in Crawley (crawley), 96.3% are in the top two inspection bands. In Haywards Heath, which has 9 schools, the figure is 100%.
Crawley (Crawley) School Inspection Breakdown
96.3% of 33 schools (26 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Haywards Heath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 9 schools (8 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Crawley (Crawley) | Haywards Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 33 | 9 |
| Primary | 26 | 8 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 96.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Haywards Heath averages 426.8 Mbps – ahead of Crawley (crawley)'s 395.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.2% of premises in Crawley (crawley) and 98.1% in Haywards Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 75.7% in Crawley (crawley) and 82.8% in Haywards Heath.
Haywards Heath is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (427 vs 396 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Haywards Heath, scoring 70.6 on average (band C) compared to 69.6 (band C) in Crawley (crawley). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,179 in Crawley (crawley) and £1,218 in Haywards Heath. 58.9% of homes in Crawley (crawley) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.4% in Haywards Heath.
Haywards Heath has more energy-efficient housing — 62.4% reach band C or above, vs 58.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,661.7 in Crawley (crawley) and £32,005.5 in Haywards Heath. The median age is 43.1 in Crawley (crawley) and 47 in Haywards Heath. Employment rates stand at 61.7% in Crawley (crawley) and 57.8% in Haywards Heath. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Crawley (crawley) versus 71.8% in Haywards Heath. Crawley (crawley) has a population of 120,206 and Haywards Heath has 40,528.
| Indicator | Crawley (Crawley) | Haywards Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 120,206 | 40,528 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 47 |
| Median Household Income | £33,661.7 | £32,005.5 |
| Employment Rate | 61.7% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 71.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.5% | 36.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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