Surrey is a county of contrasts. It is home to just over a million and a half people, spread across 69 postcode districts, and its largest towns include Domewood, West End, Outwood, Warwick Wold, Wasp Green, and Bletchingley. These are not the places that usually make the headlines, but they are the quiet backbone of a region that sits just beyond the London commuter belt. The average home here costs £573,915, which is 64% more expensive than the England and Wales average. That is a significant premium, and it sets the stage for a county that is both prosperous and deeply divided.
At a Glance
Surrey is a county of about 1,571,252 people. It has 69 postcode districts. Its largest towns include Domewood, West End, Outwood, Warwick Wold, Wasp Green, and Bletchingley. The average sale price of a home is £573,915, which is 64% above the England and Wales average. The most expensive district is KT11 (Cobham), where the average price hits £1,155,919. The cheapest is GU12 (Aldershot) at £378,611, a gap of about 3.1 times. The average Index of Multiple Deprivation decile is 7.8 out of 10, where 1 is most deprived and 10 is least. This ranges from 3 to 10 across its districts. Of 422 Ofsted rated schools, 16.8% hold the top grade Outstanding.
Surrey at a glance
- Population: about 1,571,252
- Postcode districts: 69
- Average sale price: £573,915 (+64% vs the England and Wales average)
- Schools rated Outstanding: 16.8% (71 of 422)
The Property Divide
The property market in Surrey is not one story but many. The headline figure of £573,915 is a composite, and it hides a remarkable spread. The most expensive district, KT11 in Cobham, averages £1,155,919. The cheapest, GU12 in Aldershot, averages £378,611. That is a gap of about 3.1 times. You could buy three homes in Aldershot for the price of one in Cobham, and still have change for a decent garden.
This divide is not just about money. It is about geography and history. Cobham sits in the green and wealthy commuter belt, with its large houses and private schools. Aldershot, by contrast, is a military town with a different character and a more modest housing stock. The gap between them, roughly threefold, is a reminder that even within a single county, the postcode can determine your entire relationship with the property market.
| Postcode district | Average price | |
|---|---|---|
| Most expensive district | KT11 (Cobham) | £1,155,919 |
| Least expensive district | GU12 (Aldershot) | £378,611 |
Rich and Poor
Surrey is generally a wealthy county, but its wealth is not evenly spread. The average Index of Multiple Deprivation decile is 7.8 out of 10, which places it well towards the least deprived end of the scale. But this average masks a range from 3 to 10 across its districts. That means some parts of Surrey are among the most affluent in England, while others sit in the middle of the pack, and a few are notably more deprived.
The least deprived districts, scoring a 10, are the ones you might expect: the leafy villages and commuter towns with large houses, good schools, and low crime. The most deprived, at a 3, are more likely to be the towns with a higher proportion of social housing, lower incomes, and fewer amenities. The gap is real, and it is a reminder that even a county as famously prosperous as Surrey has its pockets of struggle.
Schools
Schools are a big part of the reason people move to Surrey. Of the 422 schools rated by Ofsted, 16.8% hold the top grade of Outstanding. That is a strong showing, and it reflects the county's reputation for high-quality education. But it also means that more than four in five schools are not outstanding, which is a reminder that even here, the system is not perfect.
The mix of schools is typical of a prosperous area: a good number of outstanding institutions, a solid core of good ones, and a few that need improvement. The figures are for England only, so they do not include the small number of Welsh schools that might fall under different ratings. But for most families, the picture is clear: Surrey is a good place to be educated, but you need to do your homework.
The Bottom Line
Surrey is a county of numbers that tell a story. Its population of about 1,571,252 is spread across 69 postcode districts, from the expensive enclaves of Cobham to the more modest streets of Aldershot. The average house price of £573,915 is 64% above the national average, but that average hides a gap of more than three times between the dearest and cheapest districts. The county is generally affluent, with an average deprivation score of 7.8 out of 10, but it has its less privileged corners, scoring as low as 3. And its schools, with 16.8% rated outstanding, are a solid asset but not a guarantee.
For the price of a home in Surrey, you are buying more than just bricks and mortar. You are buying a postcode, a set of statistics, and a place in a story that is both richer and more complex than the headline suggests.