Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 33 min4:45 am – 9:19 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 55 min8:01 am – 3:56 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People7,869 residentsin the Balcombe & Handcross census areaMedian age 44.73,185 households68% of homes owner-occupied33% owned outright11% social rented, 19% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.2% unemployment rate65% of adults are economically active, 4,007 in work, 22% retiredMain industries: health and social work 11%, retail and wholesale 11%, education 10%Getting to work: 46% work from home, 46% go by car, 3% take public transport, 4% walk or cycle46% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages41% of adults hold a degree or higher11% have no qualifications, 5% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 97%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 22°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 2°C871 mm of rain a year, 25 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November46 days of air frost, 16 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Parks and green spacesStaplefield Commonpark · under a mile · 3 haUpper Staplefield Commonpark · under a mileCuckfield Golf Coursegolf course · 1.5 mi · 40 haTilgate Parkpark · 3.6 mi · 93 haBeech Farm Fieldplaying field · 1.8 mi · 6 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes19 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19702 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 27 Feb 20199 mi away, Newdigate, SurreyMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 18 Jan 202437 mi away, English ChannelSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 6.1 · PM2.5 6.4 · PM10 10 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband56% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband95% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.2% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)3,828 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation67 m220 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 50 to 128 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalAshdown Nuffield Hospital3.8 miGP surgeryOuse Valley Practice1.8 miPharmacyCuckfield Chemist2.7 miDentistDumbledore Primary Care Centre1.8 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi4 schools2 primary, 1 independent, 1 specialPrimarySt. Mark's CofE Primary Schoolages 4-11, 100 pupilsunder a milePrimaryHandcross Primary Schoolages 2-11, 238 pupils1.8 miSecondaryWarden Park Secondary Academyages 11-16, 1,541 pupils3.1 miCollegePlumpton College10.4 miUniversityUniversity of Sussex12.6 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Gatwick Airport LGW7.7 miRailway stationBalcombe2.3 miBus stationBus StationCrawley5.2 miFerryNewhaven Harbour Ferry Terminal20 miBus stops13 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the RH17 postcode district.
