Town comparison
Crawley Down vs Haywards Heath
Which is better to live in? 8.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Crawley Down is about 11% cheaper on average. Haywards Heath has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Crawley Down edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Crawley Down
£486,525
Haywards Heath
£547,040
Crime Rate
Crawley Down
45.9
Haywards Heath
45.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Crawley Down
100.0%
Haywards Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Crawley Down
395.9
Haywards Heath
426.8
EPC Rating
Crawley Down
69.6
Haywards Heath
70.6
Median Income
Crawley Down
£33,662
Haywards Heath
£32,006
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Crawley Down more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £486,525 versus £547,040 in Haywards Heath. The most affordable entry point in Crawley Down is a flat at £224,500, while in Haywards Heath it is a flat at £268,501.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 21% pricier in Haywards Heath (£821,153 vs £650,083).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Haywards Heath prices grew faster — 26% vs 12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Haywards Heath (45.8 per 1,000) compared to Crawley Down (45.9 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Crawley Down 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 EastSchool quality favours Crawley Down: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Haywards Heath.
Crawley Down School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) 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 Down | Haywards Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 9 |
| Primary | 1 | 8 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Haywards Heath enjoy 426.8 Mbps on average, while Crawley Down lags behind at 395.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.2% of premises in Crawley Down and 98.1% in Haywards Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 75.7% in Crawley Down 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
The average EPC rating in Haywards Heath is band C (score 70.6), ahead of Crawley Down's band C (score 69.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,179 in Crawley Down and £1,218 in Haywards Heath. 58.9% of homes in Crawley Down 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
Crawley Down has a population of 5,775 while Haywards Heath has 40,528. Median household income is £33,661.7 in Crawley Down and £32,005.5 in Haywards Heath. The median age is 43.1 in Crawley Down and 47 in Haywards Heath. Employment rates stand at 61.7% in Crawley Down and 57.8% in Haywards Heath.
| Indicator | Crawley Down | Haywards Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,775 | 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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