Town comparison
Crawley Down vs Dorking
Which is better to live in? 13.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Crawley Down is about 27% cheaper on average. Crawley Down has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Crawley Down edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Crawley Down
£486,525
Dorking
£662,041
Crime Rate
Crawley Down
45.9
Dorking
56.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Crawley Down
100.0%
Dorking
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Crawley Down
395.9
Dorking
413.9
EPC Rating
Crawley Down
69.6
Dorking
67.9
Median Income
Crawley Down
£33,662
Dorking
£37,374
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Crawley Down is £486,525, which is 27% less than Dorking at £662,041. The most affordable entry point in Crawley Down is a flat at £224,500, while in Dorking it is a flat at £289,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 34% pricier in Dorking (£987,296 vs £650,083).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Dorking prices grew faster — 29% vs 12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 45.9 offences per 1,000 people, Crawley Down is the safer of the two – 22% lower than Dorking's 56 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Crawley Down 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 EastCrawley Down has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Dorking. Crawley Down has 1 schools in total, while Dorking has 7.
Crawley Down School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) 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 | Crawley Down | Dorking |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 7 |
| Primary | 1 | 5 |
| Secondary | 0 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Dorking offers faster average downloads at 413.9 Mbps, compared to 395.9 Mbps in Crawley Down. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.2% of premises in Crawley Down and 97% in Dorking. Gigabit availability stands at 75.7% in Crawley Down and 79.8% in Dorking.
Dorking is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (414 vs 396 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Crawley Down are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.6 (band C) versus 67.9 (band C) in Dorking. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,179 in Crawley Down and £1,489 in Dorking. 58.9% of homes in Crawley Down have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55% in Dorking.
Crawley Down has more energy-efficient housing — 58.9% reach band C or above, vs 55% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,374 in Dorking and £33,661.7 in Crawley Down. The median age is 43.1 in Crawley Down and 47.8 in Dorking. Employment rates stand at 61.7% in Crawley Down and 58.5% in Dorking. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Crawley Down versus 73.2% in Dorking.
| Indicator | Crawley Down | Dorking |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,775 | 17,463 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 47.8 |
| Median Household Income | £33,661.7 | £37,374 |
| Employment Rate | 61.7% | 58.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 73.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.5% | 43.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Crawley Down and Dorking?
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