Cuckfield vs Haywards Heath
Which is better to live in? Distance: 1.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Haywards Heath is about 23% cheaper on average. Haywards Heath has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cuckfield edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cuckfield
£674,259
Haywards Heath
£547,040
Crime Rate
Cuckfield
46.2
Haywards Heath
45.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cuckfield
100.0%
Haywards Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cuckfield
269.1
Haywards Heath
426.8
EPC Rating
Cuckfield
70
Haywards Heath
70.6
Median Income
Cuckfield
£32,552
Haywards Heath
£32,006
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Haywards Heath more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £547,040 versus £674,259 in Cuckfield. The most affordable entry point in Cuckfield is a flat at £238,000, while in Haywards Heath it is a flat at £268,501.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 11% pricier in Haywards Heath (£268,501 vs £238,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Haywards Heath prices grew faster — 26% vs 23%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 45.8 offences per 1,000 people, Haywards Heath is the safer of the two – 1% lower than Cuckfield's 46.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Cuckfield 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 Cuckfield: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Haywards Heath.
Cuckfield School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 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 | Cuckfield | Haywards Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 9 |
| Primary | 1 | 8 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Haywards Heath enjoy 426.8 Mbps on average, while Cuckfield lags behind at 269.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.7% of premises in Cuckfield and 98.1% in Haywards Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 46.3% in Cuckfield and 82.8% in Haywards Heath.
Haywards Heath is the faster of the two by 59% on average download speed (427 vs 269 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Haywards Heath is band C (score 70.6), ahead of Cuckfield's band C (score 70). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,274 in Cuckfield and £1,218 in Haywards Heath. 61.4% of homes in Cuckfield 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 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Cuckfield has a population of 3,767 while Haywards Heath has 40,528. Median household income is £32,552 in Cuckfield and £32,005.5 in Haywards Heath. The median age is 47.4 in Cuckfield and 47 in Haywards Heath. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Cuckfield and 57.8% in Haywards Heath.
| Indicator | Cuckfield | Haywards Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,767 | 40,528 |
| Median Age | 47.4 | 47 |
| Median Household Income | £32,552 | £32,005.5 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 73.2% | 71.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 35.8% | 36.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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