South Norwood
vs Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath has the younger population: 20% of residents are aged 15–29, against 18% in South Norwood. Homes in Thornton Heath sold for a median of £400,000, 18% above South Norwood. South Norwood has more green space nearby (11% within 500 m, against 11%).
People
South Norwood has 16,447 residents in 7,079 households; Thornton Heath has 17,995 in 7,070. The share of residents aged 65 and over is about the same in both (11% and 11%). South Norwood has the higher share of people living alone: 36%, 5.7 percentage points more than Thornton Heath (Croydon: 28%).
Homes and prices
The most common type of home is flats in South Norwood (39%) and terraced houses in Thornton Heath (34%). Thornton Heath has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 51%, 8.9 percentage points more than South Norwood (Croydon: 55%). South Norwood has the higher share of private renting: 34%, 5.3 percentage points more than Thornton Heath (Croydon: 26%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £340,000 in South Norwood and £400,000 in Thornton Heath, against £425,000 across Croydon.
Surroundings
The share of land within 500 m that is green space is about the same in both (11% and 11%). A typical postcode has 110 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in South Norwood, and 118 in Thornton Heath. The typical postcode is 270 m from the nearest school in South Norwood and 301 m in Thornton Heath. The typical postcode is 513 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in South Norwood and 708 m in Thornton Heath. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 86% of premises in South Norwood and 88% in Thornton Heath.
Safety
Over 12 months, police recorded 121 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in South Norwood 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.
South Norwood is one of 28 wards in Croydon, home to 16,447 people in 7,079 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £340,000 over the past two years, 20% below the Croydon median. On average 11% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 23% below 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.
South Norwood and Thornton Heath next to other wards of Croydon.