Compton or Cranleigh: Which Is Better Value?
Compton averages £580,000 against £579,000 in Cranleigh, a gap of £1,000 (under 1%). You would need £100 more deposit and about £5 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Cranleigh charges £64 more council tax at Band D.
Compton averages £580,000 against £579,000 in Cranleigh, a gap of £1,000 (under 1%). You would need £100 more deposit and about £5 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Cranleigh charges £64 more council tax at Band D.
Price and deposit
The headline gap is £1,000, or under 1%. On a 10% deposit that is £100 more cash to find before you start. Detached homes average £650,000 against £610,000.
Compton against Cranleigh
Town guides for each: Mortgage advice in Compton and Mortgage advice in Cranleigh.
Schools and families
Compton has more schools graded Outstanding at their last graded Ofsted inspection (before September 2024), with 2 against 0 in Cranleigh. Counting last graded Ofsted inspections (before September 2024), Compton has 2 schools and Cranleigh has 2 schools graded Good or better.
A strong catchment in the cheaper town can cost more than an average street in the dearer one. Compare catchments, not averages.
Running costs and getting to work
Band D council tax is £2,541 in Compton and £2,605 in Cranleigh, a difference of £64 a year.
The honest verdict
Cranleigh is cheaper to buy on these figures. Compton carries the higher price and, on this data, the stronger school profile.
Neither is right in the abstract. If the deposit is your constraint, the £100 difference matters more than anything else here. If catchment is the constraint, price follows the school you need.
What each town is actually like
Price is one axis. These are the things people move for, and the things they find out afterwards.
Compton
In its favour- A sought-after downland village with its own schools
- Both a primary & a secondary (The Downs School)
- The North Wessex Downs & the Ridgeway on the doorstep
- A medieval church, a sports centre & a research heritage
- No railway station (Goring/Didcot/Newbury a drive)
- A rural, car-dependent downland village
- Well-above-average prices; many homes up the bands
- Larger period & country homes mean substantial lending
Best for Families ★★★★★
Unusually for a village, both a primary and its own secondary (The Downs School), plus downland countryside for children.
Cranleigh
In its favour- A large, characterful village with real amenities
- Excellent state and independent schools
- The Surrey Hills, the Weald and the Downs Link
- A strong village community
- No railway station, genuinely car-dependent
- The nearest trains and A&E are at Guildford (~8 miles)
- Detached and country homes command a strong premium
- Localised flood risk near Cranleigh Waters
Best for Families ★★★★★
Reputedly England's largest village, with a strong high street, state and independent schooling and the Surrey Hills on the doorstep.
Compton and Cranleigh, side by side
| Measure | Compton | Cranleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Average property price | £580,000 | £579,000 |
| Average detached | £650,000 | £610,000 |
| 10% deposit | £58,000 | £57,900 |
| Illustrative monthly payment | £3,052 | £3,046 |
| Band D council tax | £2,541 | £2,605 |
| Outstanding rated schools | 2 | 0 |
| Good rated schools | 0 | 2 |
Local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own figures before acting.
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