Surbiton or Harefield: Which Is Better Value?
Surbiton averages £650,000 against £625,000 in Harefield, a gap of £25,000 or 4%. You would need £2,500 more deposit and about £132 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Harefield charges £563 less council tax at Band D.
Surbiton averages £650,000 against £625,000 in Harefield, a gap of £25,000 or 4%. You would need £2,500 more deposit and about £132 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Harefield charges £563 less council tax at Band D.
Price and deposit
The headline gap is £25,000, or 4%. On a 10% deposit that is £2,500 more cash to find before you start. Detached homes average £975,000 against £610,000.
Surbiton against Harefield
Town guides for each: Mortgage advice in Surbiton and Mortgage advice in Harefield.
Schools and families
Harefield holds its own on schools, with 2 graded Outstanding at their last graded Ofsted inspection (before September 2024) against 0 in Surbiton. Counting last graded Ofsted inspections (before September 2024), Surbiton has 3 schools and Harefield has 4 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 £2,608 in Surbiton and £2,045 in Harefield, a difference of £563 a year.
The honest verdict
Harefield is cheaper to buy on these figures. Surbiton carries the higher price and, on this data, not the stronger school profile.
Neither is right in the abstract. If the deposit is your constraint, the £2,500 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.
Surbiton
In its favour- A leafy, affluent Victorian suburb
- Some of the fastest South Western Railway trains to Waterloo
- Grand villa-lined avenues & period character
- A lively village-style centre & the Cornerhouse
- A premium suburb at London prices
- No Underground station
- Period villas & flats need survey & lease checks
- Conservation rules limit alterations on the avenues
Best for Commuters ★★★★★
A landmark Art Deco station with some of the fastest South Western Railway trains into Waterloo (often ~18 to 22 min) makes Surbiton a classic, top-tier commuter base, though there is no Underground station.
Harefield
In its favour- A genuinely rural Hillingdon village
- Green belt, the Colne Valley, the canal & lakes
- More house & garden for the money
- The world-famous Harefield Hospital & ANZAC heritage
- No railway or Underground station in the village
- Life leans heavily on the car
- The nearest general A&E is a drive away (Uxbridge)
- Harefield Hospital is specialist, not an A&E
Best for Families ★★★★☆
A Good primary (Harefield Infant and Junior), the village secondary (Harefield School) and Outstanding schools a short drive away in Ickenham (Breakspear and Vyners), plus green belt, the Colne Valley, Bayhurst Wood and space to roam, a strong rural family village, though you drive to a wider choice of schools and the station.
Surbiton and Harefield, side by side
| Measure | Surbiton | Harefield |
|---|---|---|
| Average property price | £650,000 | £625,000 |
| Average detached | £975,000 | £610,000 |
| 10% deposit | £65,000 | £62,500 |
| Illustrative monthly payment | £3,420 | £3,288 |
| Band D council tax | £2,608 | £2,045 |
| Outstanding rated schools | 0 | 2 |
| Good rated schools | 3 | 2 |
Local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own figures before acting.
Ask about Surbiton
Three details is all we need. You are told before anything is passed to a partner firm.
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
Check broadband before you make an offer in Surbiton or Harefield
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in Surbiton or Harefield, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.
We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.
Questions people ask
Is Surbiton or Harefield cheaper?
Which has better schools?
Which is cheaper to run?
How do I check broadband speed at a property in Surbiton or Harefield?
Read next
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.