Town comparison
Crawley Down vs Forest Row
Which is better to live in? 5.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Crawley Down is about 8% cheaper on average. Forest Row has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Crawley Down edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Crawley Down
£486,525
Forest Row
£526,850
Crime Rate
Crawley Down
45.9
Forest Row
40.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Crawley Down
100.0%
Forest Row
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Crawley Down
395.9
Forest Row
388.1
EPC Rating
Crawley Down
69.6
Forest Row
71.4
Median Income
Crawley Down
£33,662
Forest Row
£32,873
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Crawley Down more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £486,525 versus £526,850 in Forest Row. The most affordable entry point in Crawley Down is a flat at £224,500, while in Forest Row it is a flat at £228,167.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 17% pricier in Forest Row (£784,045 vs £650,083).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Crawley Down prices grew faster — 12% vs 5%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 40.7 offences per 1,000 people, Forest Row is the safer of the two – 13% lower than Crawley Down's 45.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Crawley Down is violent-crime, while in Forest Row 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 Crawley Down: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Forest Row.
Crawley Down School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Forest Row School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Crawley Down | Forest Row |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 1 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Crawley Down enjoy 395.9 Mbps on average, while Forest Row lags behind at 388.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.2% of premises in Crawley Down and 95.1% in Forest Row. Gigabit availability stands at 75.7% in Crawley Down and 73.9% in Forest Row.
Crawley Down is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (396 vs 388 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Forest Row is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Crawley Down's band C (score 69.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,179 in Crawley Down and £1,236 in Forest Row. 58.9% of homes in Crawley Down have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.6% in Forest Row.
Forest Row has more energy-efficient housing — 63.6% reach band C or above, vs 58.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Crawley Down has a population of 5,775 while Forest Row has 3,881. Median household income is £33,661.7 in Crawley Down and £32,873 in Forest Row. The median age is 43.1 in Crawley Down and 46.9 in Forest Row. Employment rates stand at 61.7% in Crawley Down and 59% in Forest Row.
| Indicator | Crawley Down | Forest Row |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,775 | 3,881 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 46.9 |
| Median Household Income | £33,661.7 | £32,873 |
| Employment Rate | 61.7% | 59% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 74.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.5% | 35.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Crawley Down and Forest Row?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Crawley Down or Forest Row?
Is Crawley Down or Forest Row safer?
Which has better schools, Crawley Down or Forest Row?
Which has faster broadband, Crawley Down or Forest Row?
Keep exploring