With only a relatively small number of jobs available in the immediate vicinity, mostly in the agricultural or service sector, many residents work remotely or commute daily via road or rail to London, Brighton, Crawley or Gatwick Airport.

[3] The first element of the place-name Haywards Heath is derived from the Old English hege + worð, meaning hedge enclosure, with the later addition of hǣð.

[6][7] Haywards Heath's Muster Green was the site of the Battle of Muster Green, a minor battle that took place in early December 1642 during the First English Civil War between a Royalist army under Edward Ford, High Sheriff of Sussex, and a smaller (but more disciplined) Parliamentarian army under Herbert Morley.

[3] Other noted historical events in the town's history include: In the 1960s and 1970s, two light industrial estates were built.

The Priory of Our Lady of Good Counsel on Franklynn Road was built in 1886 and is Grade II listed.

As of the 2023 local elections, the council is run by the Liberal Democrats, with seats held as follows: The current mayor of Haywards Heath is Stéphanie Inglesfield.

[14] Housing in Haywards Heath expanded significantly in the first decade of the 21st century due to the creation of Bolnore Village, located to the southwest of the existing town.

Construction work on the relief road commenced in 2012; on its completion in August 2014, the previous A272 route through Haywards Heath was renumbered the B2272.

The first one is on the northern end of Penland Road and south of Hanlye Lane and started development in 2017.

Haywards Heath has trains terminating at: London Victoria, Bedford, Cambridge, Brighton, Eastbourne and Littlehampton.

Following the A272 to the west, it joins the A23 trunk road which runs both to Brighton to the south and London to the north via the M23.

[20] Haywards Heath is twinned with: The section of the A272 that runs south beside Bolnore Village has been named Traunstein Way and there is a German postbox outside the Town Hall to commemorate the link.

Haywards Heath is home to No5 (Haywards Heath) Detachment, C Company of the Sussex Army Cadet Force,[21] a volunteer youth organisation, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, which accepts cadets aged between 12 and 18 years of age.

They both play their home games at The Triangle leisure centre in Burgess Hill and have a shared clubhouse based in Haywards Heath.

Managed by Places Leisure, amenities include a swimming pool, sports halls, gymnasium and park.