Surrey’s Population Boom: Where Residents Are Moving in 2025
Waverley’s Housing Boom: Why Godalming and Farnham Are Attracting Newcomers
Fresh data from the Office of National Statistics paints a striking picture of Surrey’s shifting population landscape. Waverley borough—home to picturesque towns including Godalming, Farnham, and Haslemere—is experiencing unprecedented internal migration, with 2,424 more residents moving in than out between mid-2024 and mid-2025. That’s nearly double any other Surrey region and accounts for almost half of the county’s total net internal migration.
Local estate agents and property developers are working overtime to meet demand. The influx reflects why these areas matter to families and professionals seeking Surrey living: excellent schools, thriving high streets, access to countryside, and surprisingly, more affordable housing than traditional commuter belts. Guilford builders and similar contractors across the region are seeing unprecedented requests for loft conversion and loft refurbishment projects as residents maximize existing homes rather than relocate. For communities like Godalming, this growth means thriving local businesses, fuller classrooms, and busier town centres—though it also raises questions about infrastructure capacity and green space preservation that residents are watching closely.
Guildford’s Steady Rise and Reigate’s Crown: What the Numbers Mean
Surrey’s county town of Guildford, long considered the population heavyweight, experienced a respectable 5.6 per cent population increase since 2021—third highest in the county. Yet it lost its crown to Reigate & Banstead, which remains Surrey’s most populous borough with over 150,000 residents. That shift, cemented in the 2021 Census, reflects broader demographic changes affecting established urban centres.
For Guildford residents, this means the town is still growing but at a measured pace. Property investors and homeowners are increasingly turning to space-saving solutions; loft conversion projects have become standard practice rather than luxury additions. Local builders report steady work adapting existing properties to accommodate rising demand without sprawling outward. Reigate & Banstead’s continued dominance highlights how eastern Surrey’s proximity to London, transport links, and established infrastructure continue attracting residents. However, both boroughs face the challenge of managing growth sustainably—balancing newcomers’ needs with existing residents’ quality of life, school places, and NHS services. Community groups across both areas are engaging councils on housing strategies and infrastructure investment.
Woking’s Exodus and What Residents Should Know Moving Forward
Not every Surrey borough is thriving. Woking stands alone as the county’s only region experiencing net internal migration decline, with 399 more residents leaving than arriving. This follows the council’s 2023 bankruptcy, a financial crisis that shook confidence in the borough’s leadership and future planning. For Woking residents, the data reflects real anxieties about local services, council stability, and neighbourhood prospects.
The contrast is stark: while Waverley welcomes thousands, Woking residents are voting with their feet. Surrey Heath follows more positively with 652 new arrivals, and Runnymede achieved the second-largest growth rate at 5.9 per cent. These patterns matter because they signal where investment, business confidence, and community optimism are concentrating. For Woking, recovery depends on visible council improvements, infrastructure investment, and regeneration projects that convince residents—and potential newcomers—that the borough’s future is secure. Across all boroughs, the broader context matters: Surrey’s overall population has swelled from one million in the 1970s to 1.25 million today. This continued growth pressures housing, schools, and transport. Residents should engage with local consultations on housing policies, infrastructure spending, and how their neighbourhood adapts to change. Watch for council announcements on regeneration schemes and development planning in your area.
Source: How Surrey’s population grew in 2025 and the areas which saw a decline
