Town Pop. 6,787

Living in Ashley Heath: Liveability Score 42/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Ashley Heath scores 42/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 23/100 against a town median of 60/100. Among the 6 scored places sharing the BH24 postcode district, Ashley Heath ranks 5th.

The BH24 district averages 47/100, putting Ashley Heath 5 points below its own postcode area. That is 8 points below the national benchmark of 50, the middle half of all UK towns and villages. Safety (91) also clears 80/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: BH24 postcode district.

42
OUT OF 100
Below Avg
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Ashley Heath scores 42 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Ashley Heath.
Or compare:
BH24 1AB BH24 2AA BH24 3AA BH24 4AA BH24 9ED BH24

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
91
51.3 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 131 crimes
↓ 42% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 62 crimes
↓ 40% below national average
Vehicle crime 42 crimes
↑ 29% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 29 crimes
↓ 37% below national average
Other theft 28 crimes
↓ 34% below national average
other 56 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Garden-Lane 21 crimes
  2. 2 Park/Open Space 20 crimes
  3. 3 Petrol Station 17 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
69
Air Quality NO₂ 7.3 · PM2.5 6 · PM10 9.4 µg/m³
75
Green Space 54
Parks Ample 6
Sports Pitches Adequate 3
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Adequate 4
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
19
1 school in area · 6 within 4km
1Outstanding
  • St Ives Primary & Nursery SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Outstanding

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
10
A&E departmentsRoyal Bournemouth Hospital4.5 mi
Poole General Hospital7.8 mi
Salisbury District Hospital13.8 mi
Hospital waitsUniversity Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust1.5 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks67.5%
A&E seen within 4 hrs67.7%
Nearest GP surgeryRingwood Medical Practice at Ringwood Medical Centre2.1 mi
GP capacity1,088 patients per GP
0dentists1pharmacy

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
23
Full fibre (FTTP)70.9%
available across Dorset
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
55.3%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
55.3%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
94.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 197 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
77
Employment rate44.6%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed44.6%Unemployed1.6%Retired44.2%Student2.3%Other inactive7.4%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial48.6%Skilled & technical35.4%Routine & elementary16%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications16.4%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.8%Level 3 (A levels)15.4%Level 4+ (degree & above)34%Apprenticeship7.1%Other (incl. vocational)3.2%
Home ownership88%
Among the least-deprived 22% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
25
Council tax Dorset · 2026-27
A £1,843
B £2,151
C £2,458
D £2,765
E £3,379
F £3,994
G £4,608
H £5,530
Energy South West England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Wessex Water
Average bill regional £581/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
32
Christchurch 6.8 mi
Pokesdown 7 mi
Bournemouth 7.5 mi
J1 M27 11.9 mi
J1 M27 12.5 mi
J2 M27 15 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
23
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 2
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 2
Retail Shopping Some 1
Takeaways Some 1
Fitness Ample 17

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £680,000 35
Detached £685,000 33
5-year monthly trend
All Detached
£613k £665k £718k £769k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Matchams 0 1.9 mi away ⇄
West Moors 54 2.3 mi away ⇄
Three Legged Cross 42 2.3 mi away ⇄
Ringwood 51 2.5 mi away ⇄
Hightown (New Forest) 44 3.2 mi away ⇄
Verwood 50 3.5 mi away ⇄
Merritown 42 3.5 mi away ⇄
Ferndown 55 3.5 mi away ⇄
Hangersley 43 3.7 mi away ⇄
West Parley 55 4.1 mi away ⇄
Longham 44 4.8 mi away ⇄
Whitmore 44 4.9 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Ashley Heath a nice place to live?

Ashley Heath has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Ashley Heath is 42/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Ashley Heath?

Ashley Heath is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 91/100. There were 348 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Ashley Heath?

Among the top-rated schools in Ashley Heath is St Ives Primary & Nursery School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Ashley Heath in total.

What are house prices like in Ashley Heath?

The current median house price in Ashley Heath is £680,000, around 139% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £685,000. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 3%. There were 35 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Ashley Heath in context

See where Ashley Heath ranks among the best places to live in Dorset

Postcode districts in Ashley Heath

BH24 47 ⇄

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