Town Pop. 1,770

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

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Southwell (Dorset) is 45/100, built from 9 categories. Furthest below the national norm is bills, at 25/100 against a town median of 47/100. That is the highest score of the 4 places in the DT5 postcode district.

Safety (94) sits at 80/100 or above. Healthcare (18), lifestyle (18), schools (23) and transport (26) all fall below 30/100. On the national picture that lands Southwell (Dorset) in the middle half of all the places we score. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the DT5 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.

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

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Southwell (Dorset).
Or compare:
DT5 1AA DT5 2AA DT5 9AL DT5

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
94
31.1 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 37 crimes
↓ 37% below national average
Other theft 8 crimes
↓ 27% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 5 crimes
↓ 82% below national average
Public order 3 crimes
↓ 74% below national average
Burglary 1 crimes
↓ 83% below national average
other 1 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 South Way 14 crimes
  2. 2 Church Lane 5 crimes
  3. 3 Portland Bill Road 4 crimes

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

Environment
72
Air Quality NO₂ 3.5 · PM2.5 5.1 · PM10 9.5 µg/m³
80
Green Space 52
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches Adequate 2
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Adequate 3

Services

Schools
23
2 schools in area
2Good
  • Atlantic Academy PortlandSecondary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • St George's Foundation Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
    Good
Healthcare
18
A&E departmentsPoole General Hospital24.3 mi
Yeovil Hospital29.4 mi
Royal Bournemouth Hospital30.9 mi
Hospital waitsOxleas NHS Foundation Trust1.8 mi
Routine referral (median)13 wks
Treated within 18 weeks55.7%
Nearest GP surgeryRoyal Manor Health Care1.1 mi
GP capacity3,327 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
48
Full fibre (FTTP)70.9%
available across Dorset
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
76.6%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
76.6%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.1%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 39 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
53
Employment rate50.7%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed50.7%Unemployed1.9%Retired37%Student2.3%Other inactive8.2%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial33.8%Skilled & technical37.8%Routine & elementary28.4%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.9%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.6%Level 3 (A levels)19.5%Level 4+ (degree & above)25%Apprenticeship8.7%Other (incl. vocational)3.5%
Home ownership81.9%
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 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
26
Weymouth 5.9 mi
Upwey 8.2 mi
Dorchester South 12.4 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
18
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 1
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
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 £268,000 18
5-year monthly trend
All
£259k £275k £292k £308k 2022 2023 2024 2025

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

Nearby places

Weston (Dorset) 45 1.0 mi away ⇄
Grove (Dorset) 40 1.7 mi away ⇄
Fortuneswell 36 2.3 mi away ⇄
Weymouth 48 6.4 mi away ⇄
Chickerell 49 6.8 mi away ⇄
Osmington 35 8.4 mi away ⇄
Broadmayne 41 10 mi away ⇄
Owermoigne 32 11 mi away ⇄
Portesham 40 11 mi away ⇄
West Lulworth 33 11 mi away ⇄
West Knighton 42 11 mi away ⇄
Abbotsbury 40 12 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Southwell (Dorset) a nice place to live?

Southwell (Dorset) has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Southwell (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 Southwell (Dorset)?

Southwell (Dorset) is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 94/100. There were 55 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Southwell (Dorset)?

Among the top-rated schools in Southwell (Dorset) are Atlantic Academy Portland and St George's Foundation Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 2 rated schools in Southwell (Dorset) in total.

What are house prices like in Southwell (Dorset)?

The current median house price in Southwell (Dorset) is £268,000, around 6% below the England and Wales average. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 2%.

Southwell (Dorset) in context

See the best places to live in Dorset, ranked

Postcode districts in Southwell (Dorset)

DT5 41 ⇄

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