Town Pop. 33,995

Living in Haywards Heath: Liveability Score 65/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Haywards Heath is 65/100, built from 9 categories. Healthcare is where Haywards Heath most outperforms the national norm: 66/100 against a median of 18/100 across UK towns. No other settlement in the RH16 postcode district scores higher. Haywards Heath leads all 3.

That sits 15 points above the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the top 5% of the towns and villages we score. Safety (91) also clears 80/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: RH16 postcode district.

65
OUT OF 100
Good
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Haywards Heath scores 65 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Haywards Heath.
Or compare:
RH16 1AA RH16 2AA RH16 3AB RH16 4AA RH16 9AF RH16 RH17

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
91
52.9 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 618 crimes
↓ 45% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 376 crimes
↓ 27% below national average
Public order 183 crimes
↓ 17% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 151 crimes
↓ 35% below national average
Other theft 110 crimes
↓ 48% below national average
other 361 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Parking Area 99 crimes
  2. 2 Supermarket 87 crimes
  3. 3 B2272 69 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
69
Air Quality NO₂ 6.7 · PM2.5 6.7 · PM10 10.3 µg/m³
73
Green Space 60
Parks Ample 25
Sports Pitches Ample 18
Allotments Ample 7
Golf Courses Adequate 2
Tennis Courts Ample 11
Bowling Greens Adequate 3
Playgrounds Ample 36

Services

Schools
45
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 11 in area · 13 within 4km
2Outstanding7Good2Ungraded
  • Chalkhill Education Centre, Chalkhill HospitalAlternative provision · inspected 2023
    Outstanding
  • Lindfield Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2021
    Outstanding
  • Bolnore Village Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2019
    Good
  • Harlands Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Northlands Wood Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Oathall Community CollegeSecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Wilfrid's CofE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Warden Park Secondary AcademySecondary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Blackthorns Community Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2025
    Ungraded

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
66
A&E departmentsRoyal Sussex County Hospital11.1 mi
East Surrey Hospital14.1 mi
Worthing Hospital15.9 mi
Hospital waitsSussex Community NHS Foundation Trust0.1 mi
Routine referral (median)16 wks
Treated within 18 weeks55.6%
A&E seen within 4 hrs98%
4 GP surgeries in area 5 within 4km best 'Good'
GP capacity1,789 patients per GP
5dentists7pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
71
Full fibre (FTTP)81.5%
available across Mid Sussex
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
91.9%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
91.9%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.8%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 986 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
79
Employment rate62.4%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed62.4%Unemployed2.4%Retired23.7%Student3.6%Other inactive8%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial52.5%Skilled & technical30.8%Routine & elementary16.6%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications10.4%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.2%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.2%Level 3 (A levels)17.3%Level 4+ (degree & above)43.8%Apprenticeship3.9%Other (incl. vocational)2.2%
Home ownership71.1%
Among the least-deprived 16% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
39
Council tax Mid Sussex · 2026-27
A £1,649
B £1,924
C £2,199
D £2,474
E £3,024
F £3,574
G £4,123
H £4,948
Energy South East England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band C
Water Southern Water
Average bill regional £683/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
52
Haywards Heath 0.5 mi
Wivelsfield 2.8 mi
Burgess Hill 3.6 mi
J11 M23 7.2 mi
J11 M23 7.3 mi
J10A M23 7.5 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
56
Pubs & Bars Ample 12
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 35
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 15
Retail Shopping Ample 161
Takeaways Ample 14
Fitness Ample 29

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £430,000 355
Detached £737,500 99
Semi-detached £500,000 87
Terraced £408,750 70
Flat / Maisonette £250,000 99
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£236k £424k £617k £805k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Cuckfield 54 1.8 mi away ⇄
Scayne's Hill 47 2.0 mi away ⇄
Wivelsfield 50 2.5 mi away ⇄
Wivelsfield Green 51 2.8 mi away ⇄
Ansty 45 3.0 mi away ⇄
Ardingly 40 3.1 mi away ⇄
Burgess Hill 58 3.4 mi away ⇄
North Chailey 40 3.8 mi away ⇄
Horsted Keynes 40 3.8 mi away ⇄
Balcombe 41 4.2 mi away ⇄
Staplefield 40 4.4 mi away ⇄
Bolney 46 4.6 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Haywards Heath a nice place to live?

Yes, Haywards Heath is a nice place to live. Our liveability score for Haywards Heath is 65/100, placing it among one of the better-scoring areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Haywards Heath?

Haywards Heath is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 91/100. There were 1,799 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Haywards Heath?

Among the top-rated schools in Haywards Heath are Chalkhill Education Centre, Chalkhill Hospital and Lindfield Primary Academy, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 11 rated schools in Haywards Heath in total.

What are house prices like in Haywards Heath?

The current median house price in Haywards Heath is £430,000, around 51% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £737,500, semi-detached £500,000, terraced £408,750, flat £250,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 4%. There were 355 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Haywards Heath in context

See where Haywards Heath ranks among the best places to live in West Sussex

Postcode districts in Haywards Heath

RH16 65 ⇄
RH17 49 ⇄

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