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Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown
vs Sanderstead

Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has the younger population: 17% of residents are aged 15–29, against 14% in Sanderstead. Homes in Sanderstead sold for a median of £613,750, 25% above Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown. Sanderstead has more green space nearby (20% within 500 m, against 14%).

Map of Croydon with Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown highlighted
Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown
216 postcodes
Map of Croydon with Sanderstead highlighted
Sanderstead
317 postcodes
Map of Croydon
Croydon
city average

People

Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has 9,493 residents in 3,679 households; Sanderstead has 16,076 in 6,120. Sanderstead has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 23%, 7.5 percentage points more than Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown (Croydon: 14%). Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has the higher share of people living alone: 24%, 1.6 percentage points more than Sanderstead (Croydon: 28%).

9,493Residents (2021)
16,076Residents (2021)
390,719Residents (2021)
3,679Households
6,120Households
152,945Households
16.7%Aged 15–29
13.9%Aged 15–29
18.3%Aged 15–29
15.3%Aged 65 and over
22.8%Aged 65 and over
13.6%Aged 65 and over
23.5%Living alone
21.9%Living alone
28.2%Living alone

Homes and prices

In both, semi-detached houses are the most common type of home: 31% of homes in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown and 41% in Sanderstead. Sanderstead has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 83%, 13.3 percentage points more than Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown (Croydon: 55%). Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown has the higher share of private renting: 19%, 8.4 percentage points more than Sanderstead (Croydon: 26%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £492,500 in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown and £613,750 in Sanderstead, against £425,000 across Croydon.

£492,500Median sale price
£613,750Median sale price
£425,000Median sale price
70.0%Owner-occupied
83.3%Owner-occupied
54.7%Owner-occupied
19.2%Private renting
10.8%Private renting
25.8%Private renting
9.0%Social renting
5.4%Social renting
17.9%Social renting
24.2%Detached houses
38.8%Detached houses
12.2%Detached houses
31.1%Semi-detached houses
40.9%Semi-detached houses
24.7%Semi-detached houses
15.0%Terraced houses
5.2%Terraced houses
23.3%Terraced houses
24.2%Flats
10.2%Flats
29.0%Flats

Surroundings

Sanderstead has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 20%, 5.7 percentage points more than Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown (Croydon: 14%). A typical postcode has 101 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown, and 69 in Sanderstead. The typical postcode is 516 m from the nearest school in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown and 503 m in Sanderstead. The typical postcode is 487 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown and 1,313 m in Sanderstead. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 92% of premises in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown and 84% in Sanderstead.

13.8%Green space within 500 m
19.5%Green space within 500 m
14.2%Green space within 500 m
101Services within 15 min (median)
69Services within 15 min (median)
105Services within 15 min (median)
516 mNearest school (median)
503 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
487 mNearest tram or rail (median)
1.3 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
29Postcodes in flood risk areas
0Postcodes in flood risk areas
335Postcodes in flood risk areas
91.8%Gigabit broadband (premises)
84.3%Gigabit broadband (premises)
88.2%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 50 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown and 42 in Sanderstead, 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.

50Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
42Recorded 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 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.

Sanderstead

Sanderstead is one of 28 wards in Croydon, home to 16,076 people in 6,120 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £613,750 over the past two years, 44% above the Croydon median. On average 20% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 37% above the Croydon average.

More comparisons.

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

Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown vs Purley & WoodcotePurley Oaks & Riddlesdown vs South CroydonPurley Oaks & Riddlesdown vs KenleySanderstead vs Selsdon & Addington VillageSanderstead vs Selsdon Vale & ForestdaleSanderstead vs KenleyAll wards of Croydon