Town Pop. 10,029

Living in Gillingham (Dorset): Liveability Score 45/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Gillingham (Dorset) comes out at 45/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Lifestyle is where Gillingham (Dorset) most outperforms the national norm: 37/100 against a median of 21/100 across UK towns. The biggest shortfall against other towns is bills: 25/100 versus a median of 47/100.

No other settlement in the SP8 postcode district scores higher. Gillingham (Dorset) leads all 8. Safety (91) also clears 80/100. Below 30/100: transport (12), schools (26) and healthcare (27). Wider context for the surrounding area: SP8 postcode district.

45
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.

Gillingham (Dorset) scores 45 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Gillingham (Dorset).
Or compare:
SP8 4AA SP8 5AA SP8 9AL SP8

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
91
53.3 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 198 crimes
↓ 41% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 113 crimes
↓ 26% below national average
Other theft 50 crimes
↓ 19% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 40 crimes
↓ 41% below national average
Burglary 35 crimes
≈ similar to national average
other 99 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Paris Court 27 crimes
  2. 2 Supermarket 27 crimes
  3. 3 South Street 17 crimes

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

Environment
65
Air Quality NO₂ 4.7 · PM2.5 5.8 · PM10 9.7 µg/m³
77
Green Space 37
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches Ample 5
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Adequate 4
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Ample 14

Services

Schools
26
5 schools in area
3Good1Requires Improvement1Ungraded
  • Gillingham SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Wyke Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Requires Improvement
  • Gillingham Primary SchoolPrimary
    Ungraded

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Healthcare
27
A&E departmentsYeovil Hospital16.1 mi
Salisbury District Hospital20.3 mi
Royal United Hospital24 mi
Hospital waitsOxleas NHS Foundation Trust4.3 mi
Routine referral (median)13 wks
Treated within 18 weeks55.7%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity2,822 patients per GP
2dentists2pharmacies

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
46
Full fibre (FTTP)70.9%
available across Dorset
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
84.4%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
84.4%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.9%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 300 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
60
Employment rate55.9%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed55.9%Unemployed2%Retired30.8%Student2.8%Other inactive8.5%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial33.3%Skilled & technical37.8%Routine & elementary28.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications17.6%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.3%Level 3 (A levels)18.4%Level 4+ (degree & above)27.4%Apprenticeship6.5%Other (incl. vocational)2.8%
Home ownership71.5%
Among the least-deprived 38% 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 Southern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band C
Water Wessex Water
Average bill regional £581/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
12
Gillingham 0.3 mi
Templecombe 6.7 mi
Tisbury 8.7 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
37
Pubs & Bars Adequate 5
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 8
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 9
Retail Shopping Ample 76
Takeaways Adequate 9
Fitness Adequate 3

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £267,500 120
Detached £365,000 47
Semi-detached £260,000 27
Terraced £218,000 35
Flat / Maisonette £135,000 11
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£114k £213k £314k £412k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Milton on Stour 43 1.2 mi away ⇄
East Stour 40 2.1 mi away ⇄
Motcombe 42 2.7 mi away ⇄
West Stour 40 2.8 mi away ⇄
Bourton (Dorset) 41 3.3 mi away ⇄
Buckhorn Weston 40 3.4 mi away ⇄
Kington Magna 40 3.5 mi away ⇄
Stour Row 41 3.5 mi away ⇄
Mere (Wiltshire) 36 3.5 mi away ⇄
Zeals 40 3.6 mi away ⇄
Shaftesbury 37 4.3 mi away ⇄
Marnhull 38 5.0 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Gillingham (Dorset) a nice place to live?

Gillingham (Dorset) has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Gillingham (Dorset) is 45/100, 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 Gillingham (Dorset)?

Gillingham (Dorset) is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 91/100. There were 535 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Gillingham (Dorset)?

Among the top-rated schools in Gillingham (Dorset) are Gillingham School, Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary School and St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 5 rated schools in Gillingham (Dorset) in total.

What are house prices like in Gillingham (Dorset)?

The current median house price in Gillingham (Dorset) is £267,500, around 6% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £365,000, semi-detached £260,000, terraced £218,000, flat £135,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 16%. There were 120 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Gillingham (Dorset) in context

See where Gillingham (Dorset) ranks among the best places to live in Dorset

Postcode districts in Gillingham (Dorset)

SP8 45 ⇄

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