Croydon Area Guide [Updated with 2024 Data]

What’s it like to live in Croydon?

Living in Croydon can be a great option for those looking for affordable housing, good amenities and transport links, with its connections to central London via rail, tram and bus services. While the borough has undergone significant regeneration in recent years, there are still some areas that may require more attention in terms of safety.

This guide provides an overview of important statistics about the borough and how it compares to other boroughs in London.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Croydon?

Properties in Croydon on average cost £394,025.00, ranking the borough as the 3 most affordable borough in London, according to data from HM Land Registry. 

Buying a property in Croydon is typically cheaper than other boroughs, in part due to the borough’s distance from central London.

How much does it cost to rent in Croydon?

Croydon is one of the least expensive areas to rent in London. According to data from the ONS:

• A studio costs on average £997 per month to rent which ranks 10 as the most affordable borough in London
• A one bedroom property costs on average £1,108 per month to rent which ranks 3 as the most affordable borough in London
• A two bedroom property costs on average £1,390 per month to rent which ranks 5 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £1,723 per month to rent which ranks 5 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £2,297 per month to rent which ranks 5 as the most affordable borough in London

How many people live in Croydon?

Croydon is a large, mostly residential area in London. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Housing. It has 165000 in total, ranking 1 of London boroughs by number of dwellings.

According to data from the ONS:

• 27.2% of households are owned outright
• 35.8% of households are being bought with a mortgage
• 13.8% of households are rented from the local authority of housing association
• 13.8% of households are privately rented

Is Croydon a good place to live?

Although determining whether an area is a good place to live is subjective, we can use data on personal wellbeing collected by the ONS through the Annual Population Survey as an indicator to compare boroughs:

• Croydon ranks 10 of 32 boroughs in terms of life satisfaction (i.e. ‘how satisfied are you with your life?’)
• Croydon ranks 11 of 32 boroughs in terms of ‘worthwhile’ (i.e. ‘to what extent do you feel things you do in your life are worthwhile?’)
• Croydon ranks 3 of 32 boroughs in terms of happiness (i.e. ‘how happy did you feel yesterday?’)
• Croydon ranks 8 of 32 boroughs in terms of anxiousness (i.e. ‘how anxious did you feel yesterday?’)

What schools are there in Croydon and are they good?

In total Croydon has 144 schools, which are broken down into:

• 86 state primary schools
• 25 state secondary schools
• 21 independent schools

For a breakdown of all schools in the area and their latest ratings, search Ofsted’s reports.

Is Croydon polluted?

According to data from the GLA and TFL Air Quality:

• Croydon ranks 5 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest NO2 concentration
• Croydon ranks 7 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM2 concentration
• Croydon ranks 7 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM10 concentration

What is the employment rate in Croydon?

The employment rate in Croydon is 76.0% which ranks 16 of 32 boroughs in terms of highest employment rate.

Employment rate is important to know for those considering moving to the area, as it can provide an indication of the job market and economic opportunities available in the borough.

Is Croydon a wealthy area?

The average income in Croydon is £40,900 according to data from HMRC. This ranks 27 of London’s boroughs (ranked by highest average income). 

Croydon borough has a mix of wealthy neighbourhoods and more economically disadvantaged areas, so overall it is a diverse and varied area in terms of wealth levels.

Is Croydon a religious area?

Like the rest of London, Croydon is a diverse area with a mix of cultures and religions. According to the ONS:

• 49.3% of the resident population identifies as Christian
• 8.8% of the resident population identifies as Muslim
• 5.5% of the resident population identifies as Hindu
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Sikh
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Jewish
• 2.8% of the resident population do not identify as religious

How large is Croydon?

Croydon is 86.5 km2, making it the 5th largest borough in London.

Its population is estimated as 406,399 according to data from the GLA, ranking it 2 as the most populous borough.

Its population per km2 is 4,698, ranking it 26 as the most populous per km2 borough.

Is Croydon safe?

According to data from the Metropolitan Police Service, in the last two years there were:

• 22,811 total reported crimes and 56.13 total crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Croydon as 10 of boroughs with the least total number of crimes
• 1,314 total reported burglaries and 3.23 total burglaries per 1k of the population, ranking Croydon as 13 of boroughs with the least number of burglaries
• 1,878 total reported cases of criminal damage and 4.62 total cases of criminal damage per 1k of the population, ranking Croydon as 22 of boroughs with the least number of cases of criminal damage
• 995 total reported drug related crimes and 2.45 total drug related crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Croydon as 20 of boroughs with the least number of drug related crimes
• 1,335 total reported robberies and 3.28 total robberies per 1k of the population, ranking Croydon as 22 of boroughs with the least number of robberies
• 552 total reported sexual offences and 1.36 total sexual offences per 1k of the population, ranking Croydon as 15 of boroughs with the least number of sexual offences
• 9,330 total reported thefts and 22.96 total thefts per 1k of the population, ranking Croydon as 6 of boroughs with the least number of thefts
• 7,069 total reported violent crimes and 17.39 total violent crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Croydon as 14 of boroughs with the least number of violent crimes

What public transport options does Croydon have?

Though the underground doesn’t cover Croydon, it boasts a comprehensive public transport network, with several rail options including East Croydon, West Croydon and Norwood Junction stations which are served by Southern, Thameslink, and London Overground services. Trains that connect Central London to Gatwick Airport also pass through Croydon, making international travel straightforward.

It is also served by the Tramlink tram system that connects various parts of the borough including Croydon town centre, Beckenham, Wimbledon and New Addington.

Additionally, there are numerous bus routes serving the area, including the 109 from Brixton to Croydon, the 250 from Brixton to Croydon, and the 405 from Redhill to West Croydon, providing easy access to other parts of London.

What places are in Croydon?

As one of London’s largest boroughs, Croydon covers many neighbourhoods, some of which include the town centre, which is the heart of the borough and features a bustling commercial district, entertainment venues and restaurants, as well as residential areas like Addiscombe, Shirley, Coulsdon, Purley, South Norwood, and Thornton Heath. Other notable areas include Waddon, Woodside, and Selhurst, each with their own unique character and amenities.

What is Croydon famous for?

Croydon is in particular known for being a large commercial district. Some key landmarks and sites include:

1. Boxpark Croydon: a popular food and drink destination made from repurposed shipping containers.
2. Croydon Clocktower: an arts and cultural centre featuring a library, museum, and theatre.
3. Fairfield Halls: a concert venue and arts centre that has hosted many famous musicians and performers.
4. IKEA: the Swedish furniture retailer has a large store in Croydon.
5. Ruskin Square: a new business and residential development that includes offices, apartments, and a public square.
6. The Whitgift Centre: a large shopping centre in the heart of Croydon with a variety of retail options.
7. Surrey Street Market: a historic street market selling fresh produce, clothing, and other goods.
8. The Nestlé Tower: a distinctive office building in Croydon’s town centre that was originally built for the Swiss food and drink company.
9. Addington Palace: a grand country house that has been used for weddings and events.
10. The BRIT School: a performing arts school that has produced many famous alumni, including Adele, Jessie J, and Tom Holland.

What boroughs are next to Croydon?

Croydon is bordered by several other boroughs:

• The London Borough of Lambeth situated to the north
• The London Borough of Bromley situation to the east
• The London Borough of Sutton situated to the west
• The London Borough of Merton situated to the northwest

The boundary between Croydon (and Greater London) and Surrey is just a few miles south of Croydon town centre.