What it's like to live in West Durrington

Worthing is a town of homeowners. Across the council area, 67.5 per cent of homes are owned and 22 per cent are privately rented, leaving social renting at 9.8 per cent, well below the England figure of 17.1 per cent. Most of that is housing association rather than council stock. That makes mutual exchange a particularly useful route in.

The main social landlords are Worthing Homes Limited, with around 2,944 homes, followed by Southern Housing, Saxon Weald, Clarion and Sanctuary Housing Association. Average weekly social rents for 2025/26 are roughly £110 for a one bed, £129 for two beds and £144 for three. The council's housing register held 2,106 households at March 2025, with 122 social homes let in 2024-25; a register isn't a simple queue, but it shows how tightly held social housing is here.

The age profile leans a little older than England overall: 22.4 per cent are 65 or over, against 18.4 per cent nationally, with 17 per cent under 16. Expect a mix of retired neighbours and working families.

Families are well served for schools. The Laurels Primary School and Hawthorns Primary School are both roughly a third of a mile away, with Palatine Primary School and English Martyrs Catholic Primary School around 0.6 miles. Bright Star is also within a mile, so there's a reasonable choice of primaries without a long school run. Check admissions directly, as catchments and places change each year.

For older children, Oak Grove College and Durrington High School are both under a mile. St Oscar Romero Catholic School, Worthing High School and Bohunt School Worthing are all within just over two miles, which gives families a decent spread of options as children move up.

Outside school, there's plenty on the doorstep. Central Green, Longcroft Park, Palatine Park and Blue Park are all within a mile for run-arounds and football. Durrington Library runs the usual borrowing and children's offer, and Durrington Community Centre is barely a minute away for groups and parties. Worthing Hospital and Goring Hall Hospital cover healthcare, with pharmacies very close by.

Trains are the strong point. Durrington-on-Sea and Goring-by-Sea stations are each about 1.1 miles away, with West Worthing at 1.6 miles and Worthing itself at 2.2 miles. Having four stations within easy reach gives you choice if one line or route doesn't suit, and it means a car isn't the only way to get along the coast.

By car, the A27 gives access east towards Brighton and west towards Chichester, while local roads link the estate into central Worthing. Parking is generally easier here than in the town centre, though that varies street by street.

On foot, the area works well for short trips. The nearest supermarket is around a quarter of a mile, the community centre is a couple of minutes away, and Central Green and Longcroft Park are both walkable. Durrington Library is about 0.7 miles. Buses serve Worthing and the surrounding villages, which matters for journeys to the hospital, 2.7 miles away, or the Guildbourne Centre in town. Pavements are wide on most of the newer roads, though the hills towards Salvington and the Downs are steeper going north.

Most of what you'll use week to week is close. The parks nearby, Central Green, Longcroft, Palatine and Blue Park, cover dog walks and kickabouts, and the Downs rise just north of the town for longer walks. Three libraries, Durrington, Goring and Findon Valley, sit within a mile and a half.

For eating and drinking, this is a neighbourhood of locals rather than a restaurant strip. Park View, The Coach & Horses, the Sussex Yeoman, North Star and Swallows' Return are all within a mile, and Worthing town centre adds more choice a short trip away.

For bigger nights out and culture, head into Worthing. The Ritz Digital Cinema and The Dome are both under three miles, and Studio 27 and Jungle Nightclub cover late nights. The Guildbourne Centre, 2.7 miles away, is the main indoor shopping. Gyms include One and PW Physique and Fitness, both within a mile and a half, with more further into town. And of course, the seafront is within easy reach for a change of scene.

The figures here cover the Worthing council area rather than West Durrington alone, but they paint a steady picture. Fifty-eight per cent of adults are in work, just above the England average of 57.4 per cent, and unemployment sits at 3 per cent against 3.5 per cent nationally. Benefit claimant figures for August 2026 show 3.3 per cent of 16 to 64 year olds, below the England figure of 4 per cent.

Locally, health and education are visible employers, with Worthing Hospital, Goring Hall Hospital, Swandean and Salvington Lodge nearby, plus a cluster of schools and colleges. Retail adds jobs too, from the big Tesco Extra close to home to the Guildbourne Centre in town.

Commuting is realistic from here. With Durrington-on-Sea and Goring-by-Sea both close, and the A27 for road journeys, plenty of residents work along the coast towards Brighton or west towards Chichester rather than in Worthing itself. That widens the job options considerably if you're willing to travel.