Area guide · Dorset

Living in Merley

A snapshot of life in Merley, South West — house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more, drawn straight from official UK datasets.

At a glance

Merley is a village in Dorset, South West with a population of 5,489. The average house price is £446,910 and the overall crime rate is 57.0 per 1,000 residents.

Where Merley ranks

Population

5,489

Avg House Price

£446,910

Crime Rate

57.0/1k

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

100%

Avg Download Speed

380 Mbps

EPC Rating

Median Income

£29,961

Median Age

48.3

House Prices (2025)

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Merley's detached homes (£510,888) command roughly 2.7× the price of a flat (£192,000).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Merley prices have risen 24% over the last 9 years (£359,469 → £446,910).

Property Type	Average	Median	Sales Count
Detached	£510,888	£490,000	29
Semi-Detached	£349,482	£347,500	11
Terraced	£310,000	£310,000	2
Flat	£192,000	£192,000	2

Crime & safety

The overall crime rate in Merley is 57.0 per 1,000 residents.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Most common offence in Merley: violent crime (39% of all recorded crimes).

Schools & Education

School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

School Details

Total Schools	1
Primary	1
Secondary	0
% Top two bands	100%

Schools in this area

School	Phase	Rating
Merley First School	Primary	Good

Broadband & Connectivity

Merley averages 380 Mbps — 280% above the typical UK download speed.

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Most Merley homes sit at band C on the EPC scale. 59.5% of homes reach band C or above.

Average EPC Rating	C
Average EPC Score	69
% Rated C or Above	59.5%
Avg Energy Cost (per year)	£1,246

Demographics & Economy

Population	5,489
Median Age	48.3
Median Household Income	£29,961
Employment Rate	53.8%
Owner Occupied	66.6%
Degree-Level Qualified	31.8%

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the average house price in Merley?

The average house price in Merley is £446,910 based on Land Registry sales in 2025.

What is the cheapest type of property to buy in Merley?

The most affordable entry point in Merley is a flat, with an average price of £192,000.

Is Merley a safe place to live?

Merley has a recorded crime rate of 57.0 per 1,000 residents. Whether that feels "safe" depends on the comparison — see how it stacks up against nearby towns in the rankings below.

How are the schools in Merley?

Merley has 1 school in total, with 100% rated in the top two inspection bands by the relevant inspectorate.

What broadband speeds are available in Merley?

Average broadband download speeds in Merley are around 380 Mbps. Superfast (30 Mbps+) coverage reaches 91.7% of premises.

How big is Merley?

Merley is a settlement in Dorset with a population of approximately 5,489.

Most compared with

How does Merley stack up against its neighbours?

Ashley Heath

Merley

House price: £704,532 · £446,910
Crime rate: 44.8 · 57
Distance: 6.8 mi

Ashley (New Forest)

Merley

House price: £559,657 · £446,910
Crime rate: 54.6 · 57
Distance: 14.7 mi

Barton on Sea

Merley

House price: £479,998 · £446,910
Crime rate: 54.4 · 57
Distance: 13.5 mi

Bearwood

Merley

House price: £292,602 · £446,910
Crime rate: 56.6 · 57
Distance: 1.8 mi

Blandford Forum

Merley

House price: £364,063 · £446,910
Crime rate: 44.9 · 57
Distance: 9.9 mi

Bournemouth

Merley

House price: £347,991 · £446,910
Crime rate: 56.9 · 57
Distance: 5.5 mi

Looking for somewhere different? Browse all towns in South West or start a fresh comparison from the homepage.