Town Pop. 661

Living in Cerne Abbas: Liveability Score 42/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Cerne Abbas comes out at 42/100 on the 8 categories we can score here. Measured against other towns, environment stands out most: 79/100 where the typical UK town scores 64/100. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 33/100 against a town median of 60/100.

That makes it the 5th highest-scoring of the 22 places in the DT2 postcode district. Its categories are unusually uneven: 91 points separate safety (94) from transport (3), a wider spread than about nine in ten UK towns. The DT2 district averages 36/100, putting Cerne Abbas 6 points above its own postcode area. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the DT2 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.

Loading map…

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.

Cerne Abbas scores 42 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Cerne Abbas.
Or compare:
DT2 0AA DT2 7AA DT2 8AA DT2 9AA DT2

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
94
127.1 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 48 crimes
↑ 118% above national average
Public order 8 crimes
↑ 86% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 8 crimes
↑ 78% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 7 crimes
↓ 30% below national average
Other theft 5 crimes
↑ 23% above national average
other 8 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Bockhampton Lane 12 crimes
  2. 2 Church Lane 10 crimes
  3. 3 Mulberry Gardens 8 crimes

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

Environment
79
Air Quality NO₂ 3.5 · PM2.5 5.4 · PM10 9.3 µg/m³
79
Green Space 78
Parks None
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
—
1 school in area
1Good
  • Cerne Abbas CofE VC First SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsYeovil Hospital11.2 mi
Poole General Hospital22.5 mi
Royal Bournemouth Hospital28.7 mi
Hospital waitsDorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust4.1 mi
Routine referral (median)12 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62.7%
A&E seen within 4 hrs61.2%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,486 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

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
33
Full fibre (FTTP)70.9%
available across Dorset
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
63.3%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
63.3%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
96.4%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 28 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
82
Employment rate51.7%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed51.7%Unemployed2.2%Retired35.4%Student2.9%Other inactive7.8%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial47.9%Skilled & technical33.4%Routine & elementary18.7%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications12.3%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.2%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.9%Level 3 (A levels)16.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)41.3%Apprenticeship4.6%Other (incl. vocational)2.9%
Home ownership76.7%
Among the least-deprived 36% 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
3
Maiden Newton 4.5 mi
Chetnole 5.7 mi
Dorchester West 7 mi
J25 M5 29.3 mi
J25 M5 29.3 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
4
Pubs & Bars Adequate 4
Restaurants & Cafes Some 1
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness None

Places like Cerne Abbas Pro

Pick the categories you want to beat. Pro members see the most similar settlements that score higher in all of them.

Find somewhere like Cerne Abbas, but with a higher score in …

ProSimilar settlements is a Pro featureUpgrade to Pro

House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Cerne Abbas in the last 12 months, which isn't enough for a reliable median. Smaller villages often fall below this in any given year. Figures come from HM Land Registry Price Paid data and are updated monthly, so this may fill in later.

Nearby places

Sydling St Nicholas 35 2.2 mi away ⇄
Piddletrenthide 42 2.7 mi away ⇄
Batcombe (Dorset) 0 2.8 mi away ⇄
Charlton Down 42 4.1 mi away ⇄
Piddlehinton 37 4.3 mi away ⇄
Maiden Newton 34 4.6 mi away ⇄
Charminster 41 5.2 mi away ⇄
Leigh (Dorset) 37 5.3 mi away ⇄
Chetnole 38 5.7 mi away ⇄
Cheselbourne 40 6.1 mi away ⇄
Holwell (Dorset) 45 6.6 mi away ⇄
Dorchester (Dorset) 58 7.0 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Cerne Abbas a nice place to live?

Cerne Abbas has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Cerne Abbas 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 Cerne Abbas?

Cerne Abbas is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 94/100. There were 84 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Cerne Abbas?

Among the top-rated schools in Cerne Abbas is Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Cerne Abbas in total.

Cerne Abbas in context

See the best places to live in Dorset, ranked

Postcode districts in Cerne Abbas

DT2 36 ⇄

Check your exact postcode

Get a personalised score for any UK postcode, tailored to what matters most to you.

Score my postcode