Sutton Area Guide (Based on Actual 2023 Data)

What’s it like to live in Sutton?

Sutton can offer a balance of rural and city living, given its location on the edge of London.

Sutton has numerous parks and green spaces, including Beddington Park, Poulter Park and Oaks Park, offering opportunities for outdoor activities, as well as playgrounds and sports facilities for children and adults.

For shopping, Sutton town centre is home to a number of shopping centres, including the St. Nicholas Centre and Times Square Shopping Centre, which offer a wide range of shops, cafes, and restaurants. There are also several smaller shopping districts in the borough, such as Cheam Village and Carshalton High Street.

The Honeywood Museum, which explores the history of the local area, and the Secombe Theatre, which hosts a range of theatrical productions and events, are two cultural attractions in the borough.

As a borough on the outskirts of London, Sutton is often seen as an attractive place to live because of its cost of living relative to other areas. While housing costs may vary depending on the type of property and location, Sutton has a range of housing options and is generally more affordable compared to the London average.

For travelling into central London and other destinations, Sutton relies on the rail and bus network. Trains are frequent and take commuters to the hub stations of London Bridge and London Victoria, though expect longer commute times than other boroughs that are more central with London Underground connections.

Finally, there are several school options in Sutton, including state-funded primary and secondary schools, grammar schools, independent schools, and special schools catering to students with special educational needs. Many of these schools have a strong academic reputation and offer a wide range of extracurricular activities.

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 Sutton?

Properties in Sutton on average cost £424,968.00, ranking the borough as the 7 most affordable borough in London, according to data from HM Land Registry. 

Some of the most expensive areas of Sutton to buy a house include Cheam, Belmont and

Carshalton Beeches, while St. Helier, Hackbridge and Sutton Common can be more affordable relative to other parts of the borough.

How much does it cost to rent in Sutton?

According to data from the ONS:

• A studio costs on average £822 per month to rent which ranks 2 as the most affordable borough in London
• A one bedroom property costs on average £1,066 per month to rent which ranks 2 as the most affordable borough in London
• A two bedroom property costs on average £1,358 per month to rent which ranks 3 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £1,763 per month to rent which ranks 7 as the most affordable borough in London
• A four or more bedroom property costs on average £2,473 per month to rent which ranks 10 as the most affordable borough in London

How many people live in Sutton?

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Housing, it has 84000 in total, ranking 30 of London boroughs by number of dwellings.

According to data from the ONS:

• 36.8% of households are owned outright
• 35.3% of households are being bought with a mortgage
• 9.8% of households are rented from the local authority of housing association
• 9.8% of households are privately rented

Is Sutton 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:

• Sutton ranks 1 of 32 boroughs in terms of life satisfaction (i.e. ‘how satisfied are you with your life?’)
• Sutton ranks 1 of 32 boroughs in terms of ‘worthwhile’ (i.e. ‘to what extent do you feel things you do in your life are worthwhile?’)
• Sutton ranks 2 of 32 boroughs in terms of happiness (i.e. ‘how happy did you feel yesterday?’)
• Sutton ranks 3 of 32 boroughs in terms of anxiousness (i.e. ‘how anxious did you feel yesterday?’)

What schools are there in Sutton and are they good?

In total Sutton has 71 schools, which are broken down into:

• 40 state primary schools
• 15 state secondary schools
• 7 independent schools

Sutton is home to a wide range of schools, catering to children of all ages and abilities, many of which are well-respected, contributing to Sutton’s high academic attainments. There are over 50 primary schools in the borough, including a mix of community, foundation, and voluntary-aided schools. Some examples include Cheam Common Junior Academy, Avenue Primary Academy, and Robin Hood Infants’ School.

Furthermore, Sutton has a number of well-regarded secondary schools, including both state-funded and independent options. Some of the state-funded schools in the area include Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County Grammar School, and Carshalton Boys Sports College. There are also several independent schools in the area, such as Sutton High School for Girls and Wilson’s School.

Sutton has several special schools that cater to children with a range of additional needs. These include Carew Academy, which is a special school for children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome, and The Link Secondary School, which caters to children with a range of complex needs.

There are several further education colleges in Sutton, including Carshalton College and Sutton College, which offer a range of courses and qualifications for students over the age of 16.

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

Is Sutton polluted?

According to data from the GLA and TFL Air Quality:

• Sutton ranks 3 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest NO2 concentration
• Sutton ranks 4 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM2 concentration
• Sutton ranks 3 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM10 concentration

What is the employment rate in Sutton?

The employment rate in Sutton is 79.2% which ranks 9 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 Sutton a wealthy area?

The average income in Sutton is £45,200 according to data from HMRC. This ranks 21 of London’s boroughs (ranked by highest average income). 

Although Sutton’s average income doesn’t reflect it, the borough is home to a number of affluent neighbourhoods, such as Cheam, Belmont, and Carshalton. In addition, according to Trust for London, the borough has one of the lowest rates of people living in poverty. But like any area, Sutton is not without its challenges and there are pockets of deprivation and inequality.

Is Sutton a religious area?

Like the rest of London, Sutton has a mix of cultures and religions. According to the ONS:

• 48.8% of the resident population identifies as Christian
• 7.3% of the resident population identifies as Muslim
• 8.2% 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
• 2.1% of the resident population do not identify as religious

How large is Sutton?

Sutton is 43.8 km2, making it the 14th largest borough in London.

Its population is estimated as 215,228 according to data from the GLA, ranking it 28 as the most populous borough.

Its population per km2 is 4,909, ranking it 24 as the most populous per km2 borough.

Is Sutton safe?

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

• 9,117 total reported crimes and 42.36 total crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Sutton as 3 of boroughs with the least total number of crimes
• 449 total reported burglaries and 2.09 total burglaries per 1k of the population, ranking Sutton as 3 of boroughs with the least number of burglaries
• 860 total reported cases of criminal damage and 4.00 total cases of criminal damage per 1k of the population, ranking Sutton as 11 of boroughs with the least number of cases of criminal damage
• 276 total reported drug related crimes and 1.28 total drug related crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Sutton as 4 of boroughs with the least number of drug related crimes
• 350 total reported robberies and 1.63 total robberies per 1k of the population, ranking Sutton as 5 of boroughs with the least number of robberies
• 208 total reported sexual offences and 0.97 total sexual offences per 1k of the population, ranking Sutton as 5 of boroughs with the least number of sexual offences
• 4,130 total reported thefts and 19.19 total thefts per 1k of the population, ranking Sutton as 3 of boroughs with the least number of thefts
• 2,688 total reported violent crimes and 12.49 total violent crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Sutton as 3 of boroughs with the least number of violent crimes

What public transport options does Sutton have?

Sutton has several public transport options available for commuters and visitors alike. These options include overground trains, rail, and bus services that run through the borough.

Sutton has train services provided by Southern Rail, offering access to London Victoria and London Bridge, amongst other destinations. The main station is Sutton station, which is located in the town centre and serves as a hub for other local transport services. Other stations for this service include Cheam, Carshalton, Carshalton Beeches, Wallington, Hackbridge and Belmont.

The Thameslink also provides rail services in Sutton, connecting it to nearby areas and central London. It stops at several stations throughout Sutton, including Carshalton, Hackbridge, and Sutton Common.

Sutton also has a number of Transport for London (TfL) bus routes available. These include the 80, running from Belmont to Hackbridge, the 154, running from Morden to West Croydon, and the S4, running from Roundshaw to St. Helier.

In addition to TfL buses, Sutton has its own local bus service, Sutton Bus. The service runs several routes throughout the borough, such as the S1, connecting Banstead to St. Helier, and the S3, connecting Worcester Park to Belmont.

What places are in Sutton?

There are several distinct areas in the borough of Sutton, each with their own unique characteristics and attractions. This includes:

• Sutton town centre – the commercial heart of the borough, with a mix of high street retailers and independent shops.
• Carshalton – a historic village with a number of parks and a local history museum.
• Wallington – a largely residential area with a mix of housing types, from Victorian terraces to modern apartment blocks.
• Cheam – an affluent area with a historic village centre and a range of high-end shops and restaurants.
• Belmont – a quiet residential area on the southern edge of the borough, with a mix of housing types and access to green spaces.
• Worcester Park – a suburban area on the border with the neighbouring borough of Kingston, with a mix of housing types and good transport links.
• Hackbridge – a small but growing community with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly living.
• Beddington – a residential area which includes Beddington Park and the River Wandle.
• Rosehill – a largely residential area with a range of housing types and good transport links.

What is Sutton famous for?

As a borough on the outskirts on London, Sutton isn’t as widely visited compared to a lot of other areas, though it has several known cultural attractions and amenities, such as:

1. The Royal Marsden Hospital – a renowned cancer treatment and research hospital located in Sutton.
2. Sutton United Football Club – a non-league football club that has had a number of notable FA Cup runs in recent years.
3. The Secombe Theatre – a performing arts venue named after famous comedian Harry Secombe, who grew up in Sutton.
4. Honeywood Museum – a local history museum housed in a Victorian villa that tells the story of Sutton’s past.
5. St Helier Hospital – a large NHS hospital that provides a range of services to the local community.
6. The Sutton Life Centre – a unique educational facility that teaches young people about safety, health, and citizenship.
7. The Sutton Guardian – a local newspaper that covers news and events in Sutton and the surrounding areas.
8. The Sutton Arms – a historic pub that dates back to the 1700s and is known for its real ale and cosy atmosphere.
9. The Sutton and Merton Synagogue – a prominent Jewish community centre and place of worship.
10. The Oaks Park – a large public park that features sports fields, a children’s playground, and a small zoo.

What boroughs are next to Sutton?

Sutton is bordered by several other boroughs:

• The London Borough of Kingston upon Thames is to the northwest
• The London Borough of Merton is to the north
• The London Borough of Croydon is to the east

The borough is also bordered by the English county of Surrey to the south.