Town Pop. 314

Living in Dunster: Liveability Score 32/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Dunster scores 32/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, environment stands out most: 83/100 where the typical UK town scores 64/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 18/100 versus a median of 60/100.

Among the 7 scored places sharing the TA24 postcode district, Dunster ranks 4th. The TA24 district averages 38/100, putting Dunster 6 points below its own postcode area. That is 18 points below the national benchmark of 50, the bottom 10% of all UK towns and villages. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the TA24 postcode district.

32
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.

Dunster scores 32 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Dunster.
Or compare:
TA24 5AA TA24 6AA TA24 7AA TA24 8AB TA24 9DA TA24

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
74
379 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 63 crimes
↑ 502% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 21 crimes
↑ 340% above national average
Other theft 13 crimes
↑ 568% above national average
Public order 9 crimes
↑ 342% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 5 crimes
↑ 134% above national average
other 8 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Elscombe Lane 12 crimes
  2. 2 Meadow Close 11 crimes
  3. 3 Vicarage Court 9 crimes

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

Environment
83
Air Quality NO₂ 3.017 · PM2.5 4.574 · PM10 8.37 µg/m³
82
Green Space 85
Parks Adequate 3
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
17
1 school in area · 6 within 4km
1Good
  • Dunster First SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

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

Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsMusgrove Park Hospital18.3 mi
Weston General Hospital22.4 mi
North Devon District Hospital26.8 mi
Hospital waitsSomerset NHS Foundation Trust1.4 mi
Routine referral (median)10 wks
Treated within 18 weeks65.4%
A&E seen within 4 hrs72.8%
1 GP surgery in area 2 within 4km best 'Outstanding'
GP capacity21,081 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
18
Full fibre (FTTP)73.5%
available across Somerset
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
30.1%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
30.1%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 22 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
52
Employment rate48.9%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed48.9%Unemployed1.5%Retired38.9%Student1.7%Other inactive9%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial33.5%Skilled & technical43.9%Routine & elementary22.6%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications17.3%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.5%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.8%Level 3 (A levels)16.3%Level 4+ (degree & above)30.5%Apprenticeship6.9%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%
Home ownership69.1%
Among the most-deprived 35% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
33
Council tax Somerset · 2026-27
A £1,707
B £1,992
C £2,276
D £2,561
E £3,130
F £3,699
G £4,268
H £5,122
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
Rhoose Cardiff International Airport 14.7 mi
Llantwit Major 15.7 mi
Barry Island 16.3 mi
J26 M5 18.2 mi
J26 M5 18.4 mi
J27 M5 18.6 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
5
Pubs & Bars Adequate 3
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 11
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping Adequate 8
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Dunster 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

Carhampton 31 1.3 mi away ⇄
Minehead 38 1.8 mi away ⇄
Blue Anchor 30 2.0 mi away ⇄
Wootton Courtenay 31 3.2 mi away ⇄
Washford 32 3.9 mi away ⇄
Watchet 30 5.1 mi away ⇄
Williton 33 5.8 mi away ⇄
Porlock 37 6.6 mi away ⇄
West Quantoxhead 39 7.4 mi away ⇄
Stogumber 42 7.8 mi away ⇄
Bicknoller 47 7.9 mi away ⇄
Exford 35 9.0 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Dunster a nice place to live?

Dunster has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Dunster is 32/100, 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 Dunster?

Dunster has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 74/100. There were 119 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Dunster?

Among the top-rated schools in Dunster is Dunster First School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Dunster in total.

Dunster in context

See the best places to live in Somerset, ranked

Postcode districts in Dunster

TA24 38 ⇄

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