Town Pop. 4,210

Living in Merley: Liveability Score 54/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Merley scores 54/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is transport: 49/100 against a national town median of 21/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 37/100 versus a median of 60/100.

That makes it the 4th highest-scoring of the 15 places in the BH21 postcode district. On transport specifically, Merley sits 13 points above the BH21 district figure of 36/100. Safety (94) and economic health (87) also clear 80/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: BH21 postcode district.

54
OUT OF 100
Average
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.

Merley scores 54 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Merley.
Or compare:
BH21 1AA BH21 2AA BH21 3AA BH21 4AA BH21 5AA BH21 6FA BH21 7AA BH21 8AB BH21

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
94
41.1 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 72 crimes
↓ 49% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 38 crimes
↓ 41% below national average
Shoplifting 14 crimes
↓ 58% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 10 crimes
↓ 65% below national average
Burglary 9 crimes
↓ 40% below national average
other 30 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Selkirk Close 15 crimes
  2. 2 Shopping Area 14 crimes
  3. 3 Moortown Drive 13 crimes

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

Environment
66
Air Quality NO₂ 6.8 · PM2.5 5.7 · PM10 8.8 µg/m³
77
Green Space 41
Parks Ample 14
Sports Pitches Adequate 3
Allotments None
Golf Courses Ample 4
Tennis Courts Adequate 6
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 2

Services

Schools
34
1 school in area · 24 within 4km
1Good
  • Merley First SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good

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

Healthcare
32
A&E departmentsPoole General Hospital3.4 mi
Royal Bournemouth Hospital5.9 mi
Salisbury District Hospital18.9 mi
Hospital waitsSomerset NHS Foundation Trust2 mi
Routine referral (median)10 wks
Treated within 18 weeks65.4%
A&E seen within 4 hrs72.8%
Nearest GP surgeryThe Quarter Jack Surgery1.5 mi
GP capacity1,666 patients per GP
2dentists1pharmacy

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
37
Full fibre (FTTP)79.4%
available across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
72.9%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
72.9%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
93.3%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 99 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
87
Employment rate49.1%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed49.1%Unemployed1.9%Retired36.4%Student7.1%Other inactive5.5%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial48.4%Skilled & technical32.3%Routine & elementary19.3%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications12.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.2%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)17.4%Level 3 (A levels)16.4%Level 4+ (degree & above)35.7%Apprenticeship6.7%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%
Home ownership87.3%
Among the least-deprived 11% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
46
Council tax Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · 2026-27
A £1,624
B £1,895
C £2,165
D £2,436
E £2,977
F £3,519
G £4,060
H £4,872
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
49
Parkstone 4.1 mi
Branksome 4.3 mi
Poole 4.4 mi
J1 M27 18.7 mi
J1 M27 19.3 mi
J2 M27 21.8 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
35
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping Some 1
Takeaways None
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £420,000 29
Detached £455,000 21
5-year monthly trend
All Detached
£420k £452k £484k £516k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Wimborne Minster 52 1.5 mi away ⇄
Bearwood 63 1.6 mi away ⇄
Stone (Dorset) 37 2.3 mi away ⇄
Longham 44 2.4 mi away ⇄
Corfe Mullen 55 2.5 mi away ⇄
Furzehill 50 2.6 mi away ⇄
Broom Hill 0 3.0 mi away ⇄
Ferndown 55 3.3 mi away ⇄
Poole 67 3.4 mi away ⇄
West Parley 55 3.5 mi away ⇄
Holt (Dorset) 46 3.5 mi away ⇄
Beacon Hill 0 4.2 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Merley a nice place to live?

Merley is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Merley is 54/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Merley?

Merley is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 94/100. There were 173 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Merley?

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

What are house prices like in Merley?

The current median house price in Merley is £420,000, around 47% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £455,000. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 11%. There were 29 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Merley in context

See where Merley ranks among the best places to live in Dorset

Postcode districts in Merley

BH21 50 ⇄

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