Town Pop. 5,372

Living in Shaftesbury: Liveability Score 37/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Shaftesbury comes out at 37/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Furthest below the national norm is bills, at 25/100 against a town median of 47/100. Among the 6 scored places sharing the SP7 postcode district, Shaftesbury ranks 5th.

That sits 13 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the bottom quarter of the towns and villages we score. Below 30/100: healthcare (3), transport (6), schools (27) and lifestyle (28). For the surrounding area, see SP7 postcode district.

37
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.

Shaftesbury scores 37 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Shaftesbury.
Or compare:
SP7 0AA SP7 7AH SP7 8AA SP7 9AB SP7

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
70
133.7 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 245 crimes
↑ 37% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 112 crimes
↑ 37% above national average
Burglary 64 crimes
↑ 240% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 63 crimes
↑ 72% above national average
Shoplifting 58 crimes
↑ 38% above national average
other 176 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 St Annes Close 99 crimes
  2. 2 Theatre/Concert Hall 40 crimes
  3. 3 Supermarket 31 crimes

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

Environment
69
Air Quality NO₂ 4.8 · PM2.5 5.8 · PM10 9.9 µg/m³
77
Green Space 49
Parks Adequate 4
Sports Pitches Ample 6
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Ample 10
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Ample 9

Services

Schools
27
3 schools in area · 5 within 4km
3Good
  • Shaftesbury Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Shaftesbury SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, ShaftesburyPrimary · inspected 2022
    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 departmentsSalisbury District Hospital16.7 mi
Yeovil Hospital18.7 mi
Poole General Hospital21 mi
Hospital waitsOxleas NHS Foundation Trust2.1 mi
Routine referral (median)13 wks
Treated within 18 weeks55.7%
Nearest GP surgeryGillingham Medical Practice4.2 mi
GP capacity1,651 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
44
Full fibre (FTTP)70.9%
available across Dorset
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
88.5%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
88.5%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.6%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 243 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
68
Employment rate52.2%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed52.2%Unemployed2.1%Retired31.5%Student3.4%Other inactive10.8%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial38.4%Skilled & technical37.8%Routine & elementary23.8%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.3%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.5%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.9%Level 3 (A levels)18%Level 4+ (degree & above)33.4%Apprenticeship6.4%Other (incl. vocational)2.5%
Home ownership69.4%
Around the England average for deprivation
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
6
Gillingham 4 mi
Tisbury 6.2 mi
Templecombe 9.8 mi
J1 M27 26.8 mi
J1 M27 27.2 mi
J2 M27 28.9 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
28
Pubs & Bars Adequate 5
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 7
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 7
Retail Shopping Ample 32
Takeaways Adequate 6
Fitness Some 1

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £274,345 99
Detached £405,000 31
Semi-detached £280,000 17
Terraced £240,000 39
Flat / Maisonette £136,250 12
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£110k £251k £397k £538k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Higher Coombe 0 1.2 mi away ⇄
Motcombe 42 1.7 mi away ⇄
Donhead St Mary 42 2.5 mi away ⇄
Stour Row 41 3.0 mi away ⇄
Fontmell Magna 36 3.9 mi away ⇄
East Stour 40 4.1 mi away ⇄
Gillingham (Dorset) 45 4.3 mi away ⇄
Ashmore 41 4.4 mi away ⇄
East Knoyle 42 4.6 mi away ⇄
Berwick St John 41 4.9 mi away ⇄
West Stour 40 5.0 mi away ⇄
Milton on Stour 43 5.3 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Shaftesbury a nice place to live?

Shaftesbury has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Shaftesbury is 37/100, 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 Shaftesbury?

Shaftesbury has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 70/100. There were 718 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Shaftesbury?

Among the top-rated schools in Shaftesbury are Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School, Shaftesbury School and The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 3 rated schools in Shaftesbury in total.

What are house prices like in Shaftesbury?

The current median house price in Shaftesbury is £274,345, in line with the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £405,000, semi-detached £280,000, terraced £240,000, flat £136,250. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 2%. There were 99 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Shaftesbury in context

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

Postcode districts in Shaftesbury

SP7 37 ⇄

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