Norbury Park
vs Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath has the younger population: 20% of residents are aged 15–29, against 19% in Norbury Park. Homes in Norbury Park sold for a median of £586,000, 47% above Thornton Heath. Norbury Park has more green space nearby (22% within 500 m, against 11%).
People
Norbury Park has 10,364 residents in 3,534 households; Thornton Heath has 17,995 in 7,070. Norbury Park has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 17%, 6.6 percentage points more than Thornton Heath (Croydon: 14%). Thornton Heath has the higher share of people living alone: 30%, 8 percentage points more than Norbury Park (Croydon: 28%).
Homes and prices
The most common type of home is semi-detached houses in Norbury Park (50%) and terraced houses in Thornton Heath (34%). Norbury Park has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 66%, 15.1 percentage points more than Thornton Heath (Croydon: 55%). Thornton Heath has the higher share of private renting: 29%, 9.7 percentage points more than Norbury Park (Croydon: 26%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £586,000 in Norbury Park and £400,000 in Thornton Heath, against £425,000 across Croydon.
Surroundings
Norbury Park has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 22%, 10.8 percentage points more than Thornton Heath (Croydon: 14%). A typical postcode has 101 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Norbury Park, and 118 in Thornton Heath. The typical postcode is 312 m from the nearest school in Norbury Park and 301 m in Thornton Heath. The typical postcode is 995 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Norbury Park and 708 m in Thornton Heath. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 91% of premises in Norbury Park and 88% in Thornton Heath.
Safety
Over 12 months, police recorded 59 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Norbury Park and 109 in Thornton Heath, against 108 across Croydon. Police.uk records crimes by approximate location, not by where victims or offenders live. Busy streets, shops, stations and nightlife record more. Figures are counts, not a measure of personal risk.
Sources: Census 2021 (ONS) · HM Land Registry Price Paid Data · official school registers · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Environment Agency · data.police.uk, 12 months to Aug 2026 · Ofcom Connected Nations
In brief.
Each ward in a few lines, from its own page.
Norbury Park is one of 28 wards in Croydon, home to 10,364 people in 3,534 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £586,000 over the past two years, 38% above the Croydon median. On average 22% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 52% above the Croydon average.
Thornton Heath is one of 28 wards in Croydon, home to 17,995 people in 7,070 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £400,000 over the past two years, 6% below the Croydon median. On average 11% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 24% below the Croydon average.
More comparisons.
Norbury Park and Thornton Heath next to other wards of Croydon.