City Pop. 11,195

Living in Wells: Liveability Score 43/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Wells comes out at 43/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is healthcare: 46/100 against a national town median of 18/100. Safety falls furthest short: 49/100 where the typical UK town reaches 88/100.

That is the highest score of the 10 places in the BA5 postcode district. Its healthcare score runs 14 points above the BA5 district's 32/100. On the national picture that lands Wells in the middle half of all the places we score. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the BA5 postcode district.

43
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.

Wells scores 43 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Wells.
Or compare:
BA5 1AF BA5 2AA BA5 3AA BA5 9AS BA5

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
49
104.3 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 456 crimes
↑ 22% above national average
Shoplifting 173 crimes
↑ 99% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 153 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Public order 111 crimes
↑ 52% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 78 crimes
≈ similar to national average
other 197 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 High Street 124 crimes
  2. 2 Supermarket 84 crimes
  3. 3 Parking Area 54 crimes

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

Environment
64
Air Quality NO₂ 5.1 · PM2.5 5.5 · PM10 9.1 µg/m³
78
Green Space 31
Parks Adequate 4
Sports Pitches Ample 8
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Ample 10
Bowling Greens Adequate 2
Playgrounds Adequate 6

Services

Schools
35
5 schools in area · 8 within 4km
4Good1Ungraded
  • St Cuthbert's Church of England Academy Infants and Pre-SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Cuthbert's Church of England Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Stoberry Park SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • The Blue SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Joseph and St Teresa Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded

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

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

Healthcare
46
A&E departmentsWeston General Hospital14.7 mi
Royal United Hospital15.7 mi
Bristol Royal Infirmary16.7 mi
Hospital waitsSomerset NHS Foundation Trust0.6 mi
Routine referral (median)10 wks
Treated within 18 weeks65.4%
A&E seen within 4 hrs72.8%
2 GP surgeries in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,133 patients per GP
5dentists3pharmacies

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
34
Full fibre (FTTP)73.5%
available across Somerset
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
71.8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
73.9%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.1%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 399 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
55
Employment rate51.1%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed51.1%Unemployed2.1%Retired33.7%Student3.9%Other inactive9.1%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial42.7%Skilled & technical32.5%Routine & elementary24.8%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications14.5%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.2%Level 3 (A levels)15.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)39%Apprenticeship5.3%Other (incl. vocational)2.3%
Home ownership68.6%
Among the least-deprived 39% 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
31
Castle Cary 9.5 mi
Bruton 11.2 mi
Highbridge and Burnham 13.9 mi
J22 M5 12.8 mi
J22 M5 13 mi
J23 M5 14.5 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
37
Pubs & Bars Ample 15
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 16
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 7
Retail Shopping Ample 29
Takeaways Some 3
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 £347,000 111
Detached £530,000 25
Semi-detached £330,000 35
Terraced £330,250 30
Flat / Maisonette £185,000 21
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£163k £292k £426k £556k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Wookey Hole 37 1.4 mi away ⇄
Upper Coxley and Coxley Wick 35 1.6 mi away ⇄
Wookey 41 1.8 mi away ⇄
South Horrington 35 1.8 mi away ⇄
Coxley (Mendip) 37 2.0 mi away ⇄
Easton (Mendip) 36 2.5 mi away ⇄
Croscombe 31 2.9 mi away ⇄
Henton 33 3.2 mi away ⇄
Westbury-sub-Mendip 36 3.4 mi away ⇄
Pilton 26 4.3 mi away ⇄
West Pennard 33 4.7 mi away ⇄
Shepton Mallet 45 4.9 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Wells a nice place to live?

Wells has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Wells is 43/100, 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 Wells?

Wells has crime levels around the national average. Our safety score is 49/100. There were 1,168 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Wells?

Among the top-rated schools in Wells are St Cuthbert's Church of England Academy Infants and Pre-School, St Cuthbert's Church of England Junior School and Stoberry Park School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 5 rated schools in Wells in total.

What are house prices like in Wells?

The current median house price in Wells is £347,000, around 22% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £530,000, semi-detached £330,000, terraced £330,250, flat £185,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 20%. There were 111 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Wells in context

See where Wells ranks among the best places to live in Somerset

Postcode districts in Wells

BA5 41 ⇄

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