Ewell, Epsom, Cheam: what are they like? Looking for info on these areas as considering buying a house

[DogLover20]

DH and I had a quick drive through Ewell and Epsom recently but haven't yet had the chance to visit Cheam. We are FTB with a relatively limited budget, we'd be looking for a spacious 2 bed house in good condition and I saw you can get something in these areas with half a million, which would be our budget, roughly.
We both work full time, I commute 3-4 days a week, DH drives into West London mostly but sometimes also takes a train to central London and we have a DC so need to be mindful of pick up and drop off etc (I can do flexi time so can leave early when in the office).
We quite liked Ewell, has a villagey feel, although my worry is that there isn't much going on and we'd continuously be driving somewhere else. Epsom has more going on, although I can't say I was impressed with the array of shops in the town centre. The more residential streets we saw were really nice though.
I am also not sure about trains, especially from Ewell West as there aren't many so I only have 1 or maybe 2 options I can catch in order to be at work on time. Can anyone advise on any of these areas? Which ones you recommend, streets/areas to avoid, schools, are they safe etc?
I heard good things about Cheam but I know Sutton is quite rough and ugly (sorry) and not sure I want to live there?

Thanks in advance!

Anyone living in these areas?

Are you planning kids?

Maybe look around Worcester Park or New Malden?

@proppy we have a DC as I mentioned in the post. New Malden is out of budget. Re Worcester Park, I was reading crime rate is higher than the locations I mentioned above, also less secondary schools.
Is there a reason why you'd recommend WP?

Sorry, missed that!

I mentioned those areas as I think they have a bit more going on re high street.

Re WP I have a friend there & there is some special provision for a secondary in Cheam & another one in Sutton (can't remember the names). She is targeting grammars though. Her dc are at excellent primary. I don't know about crime as she has never mentioned it, I thought Sutton was one of the safest boroughs. I think some of WP is in Ewell borough so you can access those schools, there is a good option called Glynn I think.

Cheam village is nice - also have a friend there. Her dc were already in a secondary when she moved. Does your budget get you Cheam or North Cheam?

If crossrail 2 ever goes ahead, Ewell, NM & WP are on the route whereas Cheam isn't.

I heard good things about Cheam but I know Sutton is quite rough and ugly (sorry) and not sure I want to live there?

Are you talking about Sutton centre or the whole borough? Pretty sure Sutton has low crime but it's not a "cool" place to live but that's reflected in the prices. I think some areas will get more expensive.

Cheam School IS nice, but is it really a reflection of modern day England? You’ll see one or two non white faces there at best, and it does have this closeted almost “living in a bubble” feel about it. How well are kids prepared for wondering the streets of London, or having to live side by side working class people in grotty student accommodation - a right of passage for most normal people?
Plus, it does have a lot of non working mums whose husbands are working all the hours God sends to pay for fees, and whose SUV’s fill the carpark very quickly! 🤣

You are talking about a completely different cheam, in another county.

Yes that Cheam where I think the King went before Gordonstoun. There are one or two other very exclusive prep schools which moved out of the London area years ago but confusingly kept the name of their original locality.