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Purley & Woodcote
vs Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown

Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has the younger population: 17% of residents are aged 15–29, against 16% in Purley & Woodcote. Homes in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown sold for a median of £492,500, 6% above Purley & Woodcote. Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has more green space nearby (14% within 500 m, against 6%).

Map of Croydon with Purley & Woodcote highlighted
389 postcodes
Map of Croydon with Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown highlighted
216 postcodes
Map of Croydon
city average

People

Purley & Woodcote has 16,472 residents in 6,400 households; Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has 9,493 in 3,679. Purley & Woodcote has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 19%, 3.5 percentage points more than Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown (Croydon: 14%). Purley & Woodcote has the higher share of people living alone: 26%, 2.8 percentage points more than Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown (Croydon: 28%).

16,472Residents (2021)
9,493Residents (2021)
390,719Residents (2021)
6,400Households
3,679Households
152,945Households
15.9%Aged 15–29
16.7%Aged 15–29
18.3%Aged 15–29
18.8%Aged 65 and over
15.3%Aged 65 and over
13.6%Aged 65 and over
26.3%Living alone
23.5%Living alone
28.2%Living alone

Homes and prices

The most common type of home is detached houses in Purley & Woodcote (34%) and semi-detached houses in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown (31%). Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 70%, 3.2 percentage points more than Purley & Woodcote (Croydon: 55%). The share of private renting is about the same in both (20% and 19%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £465,000 in Purley & Woodcote and £492,500 in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown, against £425,000 across Croydon.

£465,000Median sale price
£492,500Median sale price
£425,000Median sale price
66.8%Owner-occupied
70.0%Owner-occupied
54.7%Owner-occupied
19.6%Private renting
19.2%Private renting
25.8%Private renting
11.2%Social renting
9.0%Social renting
17.9%Social renting
33.7%Detached houses
24.2%Detached houses
12.2%Detached houses
19.1%Semi-detached houses
31.1%Semi-detached houses
24.7%Semi-detached houses
10.2%Terraced houses
15.0%Terraced houses
23.3%Terraced houses
29.9%Flats
24.2%Flats
29.0%Flats

Surroundings

Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 14%, 7.6 percentage points more than Purley & Woodcote (Croydon: 14%). A typical postcode has 78 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Purley & Woodcote, and 101 in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown. The typical postcode is 497 m from the nearest school in Purley & Woodcote and 516 m in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown. The typical postcode is 571 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Purley & Woodcote and 487 m in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 83% of premises in Purley & Woodcote and 92% in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown.

6.2%Green space within 500 m
13.8%Green space within 500 m
14.2%Green space within 500 m
78Services within 15 min (median)
101Services within 15 min (median)
105Services within 15 min (median)
497 mNearest school (median)
516 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
571 mNearest tram or rail (median)
487 mNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
43Postcodes in flood risk areas
29Postcodes in flood risk areas
335Postcodes in flood risk areas
83.1%Gigabit broadband (premises)
91.8%Gigabit broadband (premises)
88.2%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 104 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Purley & Woodcote and 50 in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown, 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.

104Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
50Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
108Recorded crime per 1,000 residents

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.

Purley & Woodcote

Purley & Woodcote is one of 28 wards in Croydon, home to 16,472 people in 6,400 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £465,000 over the past two years, 9% above the Croydon median. On average 6% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 56% below the Croydon average.

Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown

Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown is one of 28 wards in Croydon, home to 9,493 people in 3,679 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £492,500 over the past two years, 16% above the Croydon median. On average 14% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — in line with the Croydon average.

More comparisons.

Purley & Woodcote and Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown next to other wards of Croydon.