Rottingdean & Saltdean
Brighton and Hove 033 · 6 sub-areas · 10,736 residents
Brighton and Hove 033 is a residential stretch of Brighton and Hove with around 10,700 people and a notably older, owner-occupier demographic that sets it apart from most of the city. A typical two-bedroom flat runs about £1,530 a month — slightly above the national median but reflecting an area where nearly four in five households own their home.
Rottingdean & Saltdean is a green, lower-density part of Brighton and Hove — parks within walking distance of most addresses, a slower weekday rhythm, and a population skewed toward longer-tenure households rather than transient renters. The population skews older, with a long-settled feel and a high share of retirees; most homes are owner-occupied, so turnover is low and many residents have been here a long time.
Overview
What's it like to live in Rottingdean & Saltdean?
Greenspace is on the doorstep — a park or playing field is within walking distance of most homes; The streets feel safe by national standards — police-recorded crime is well below the country-wide median; Transport links are limited — a car or e-bike is a practical assumption for most regular trips; rents sit firmly in the upper bracket nationally, with a typical home letting at around £1,826 a month; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 6 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Rottingdean & Saltdean in Brighton and Hove
Living in Rottingdean & Saltdean
This part of Brighton and Hove skews significantly older and more settled than the city's reputation might suggest. Nearly 29% of residents are aged 65 or over, and a further 24% are in the 50–64 bracket — making this one of the more mature stretches of the city, more akin to a quieter coastal suburb than the young, rental-heavy centre. That demographic profile shapes everything from the pace of the streets to the services you'll find nearby.
Rents here are moderate by Brighton and Hove standards. A one-bedroom home averages around £1,200 a month and a two-bedroom around £1,530 — the latter broadly in line with what you'd pay across much of the south-east coast but well below central London rates. The median property sale price is around £555,000, so buying is a significant commitment; the average first-time buyer would take roughly 8 years to save a deposit. Owner-occupation runs at 78%, which is unusually high for any urban area in this city.
With 42% of residents working from home, this neighbourhood draws people who need space and quiet more than a fast rail commute. The nearest mainline rail station is roughly 5.5 km away in a straight line, so most people drive or cycle. About 40% of residents commute by car. The public transport share is low at around 8%, which is worth factoring in if you're car-free.
Greenspace is a genuine asset: around 58% of residents are within walkable distance of green space, and the average distance to the nearest park or open space is under 300 metres. The area's IMD score puts it in roughly the top 30% least deprived nationally — comfortable, but not the wealthiest corner of the city. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on specific pockets within this neighbourhood.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Brighton and Hove 033 a nice place to live?
- It's a quiet, settled part of Brighton and Hove that suits older residents and families better than young renters. Greenspace is close — most residents are within a short walk of a park — crime is well below the national average, and nearly four in five households own their home. The trade-off is that school ratings locally are below the national average, and the nearest rail station requires a car or bus to reach.
- What is the rent in Brighton and Hove 033?
- A one-bedroom averages around £1,200 a month, a two-bedroom around £1,530, and a three-bedroom around £1,810. These are estimates scaled from city-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose around 0.9% over the past year — a slower pace than much of the south-east.
- Is Brighton and Hove 033 safe?
- Yes, relatively. Crime runs at around 43 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, which is roughly half the UK national rate. The settled, older, owner-occupier character of the area tends to correlate with lower crime across most categories, and this is one of the calmer parts of Brighton and Hove.
- What's the commute from Brighton and Hove 033 to the city centre?
- The nearest mainline rail station is around 5.5 km away — most residents drive or cycle to reach it rather than walking. About 42% of residents work from home, which is by far the most common 'commute' in the area. Public transport use is low at around 8%, so if you're car-free, factor that into your planning.
- Who lives in Brighton and Hove 033?
- Predominantly older, owner-occupying residents. Nearly 53% of the population is aged 50 or over, and 78% own their home. It's one of the more demographically settled corners of Brighton and Hove — lower turnover, fewer renters, and a quieter day-to-day character than much of the city.
- What schools are near Brighton and Hove 033?
- There are 20 schools within 2 km of most residents, but only around a third are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted — well below the national share of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is about 12.5 km away. Families with school-age children should check current Ofsted ratings carefully before committing to this area.
- Is Brighton and Hove 033 affordable to buy in?
- It's not cheap. The median sale price is around £555,000, and the average first-time buyer would take roughly 8 years to save a deposit. Brighton and Hove as a whole is one of the more expensive cities outside London, and this part of it reflects that — though the owner-occupation rate suggests plenty of people do commit to buying here long-term.