Want to compare two towns side by side?

Compare
East Grinstead — a hedgehog in the grassHaywards Heath — a group of people walking through a brick tunnel

Town comparison

East Grinstead vs Haywards Heath

Which is better to live in? 9.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.

East Grinstead
Haywards Heath
East Grinstead: Photo by Andy Willis on UnsplashHaywards Heath: Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash
Share this comparisonWhatsAppXFacebookEmail

The verdict

East Grinstead is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 8% lower. East Grinstead has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, East Grinstead edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

East Grinstead

£505,458

Haywards Heath

£547,040

Crime Rate

East Grinstead

45.8

Haywards Heath

45.8

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

East Grinstead

100.0%

Haywards Heath

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

East Grinstead

422

Haywards Heath

426.8

EPC Rating

East Grinstead

69.4

Haywards Heath

70.6

Median Income

East Grinstead

£32,864

Haywards Heath

£32,006

At £505,458, East Grinstead undercuts Haywards Heath (£547,040) by around 8% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in East Grinstead is a flat at £233,901, while in Haywards Heath it is a flat at £268,501.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: flat homes are 13% pricier in Haywards Heath (£268,501 vs £233,901).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, East Grinstead prices grew faster — 30% vs 26%.

East Grinstead has a crime rate of 45.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Haywards Heath at 45.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in East Grinstead 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.

Of the 9 schools in East Grinstead, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Haywards Heath, which has 9 schools, the figure is 100%.

East Grinstead School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 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.

MetricEast GrinsteadHaywards Heath
Total Schools99
Primary78
Secondary21
% Top two bands100%100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Broadband in Haywards Heath averages 426.8 Mbps – ahead of East Grinstead's 422.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in East Grinstead and 98.1% in Haywards Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 80.3% in East Grinstead and 82.8% in Haywards Heath.

Haywards Heath is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (427 vs 422 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Haywards Heath leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 70.6 (C), while East Grinstead averages 69.4 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,265 in East Grinstead and £1,218 in Haywards Heath. 55% of homes in East Grinstead 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 55% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £32,864 in East Grinstead and £32,005.5 in Haywards Heath. The median age is 46.3 in East Grinstead and 47 in Haywards Heath. Owner-occupancy is 74.7% in East Grinstead versus 71.8% in Haywards Heath. Employment rates stand at 59.3% in East Grinstead and 57.8% in Haywards Heath.

IndicatorEast GrinsteadHaywards Heath
Population26,35040,528
Median Age46.347
Median Household Income£32,864£32,005.5
Employment Rate59.3%57.8%
Owner Occupied74.7%71.8%
Degree-Level Qualified36.2%36.8%

Location

Loading map...

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are East Grinstead and Haywards Heath?
East Grinstead and Haywards Heath are approximately 9.4 miles apart as the crow flies.
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, East Grinstead or Haywards Heath?
East Grinstead is cheaper, with an average house price of £505,458.
Is East Grinstead or Haywards Heath safer?
East Grinstead has the lower crime rate at 45.8 per 1,000 residents.
Which has better schools, East Grinstead or Haywards Heath?
East Grinstead has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.
Which has faster broadband, East Grinstead or Haywards Heath?
Haywards Heath has faster average broadband at 426.8 Mbps.

Keep exploring

Related comparisons