Swanage — a view of a beach with houses on a hill in the background

Area guide · Dorset

Living in Swanage

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

Swanage: Photo by BEN ELLIOTT on Unsplash

At a glance

Swanage is a village in Dorset, South West with a population of 9,115. The average house price is £404,468 and the overall crime rate is 39.7 per 1,000 residents.

Where Swanage ranks

Population

9,115

Avg House Price

£404,468

Crime Rate

39.7/1k

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

100%

Avg Download Speed

319 Mbps

EPC Rating

Median Income

£29,709

Median Age

51.1

House Prices (2025)

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Swanage's detached homes (£646,400) command roughly 2.3× the price of a flat (£278,951).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Swanage prices have risen 19% over the last 9 years (£339,608 → £404,468).

Property Type	Average	Median	Sales Count
Detached	£646,400	£575,000	45
Semi-Detached	£361,642	£357,500	24
Terraced	£362,537	£345,000	45
Flat	£278,951	£251,875	72

Crime & safety

The overall crime rate in Swanage is 39.7 per 1,000 residents.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Most common offence in Swanage: violent crime (28% of all recorded crimes).

Schools & Education

School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

School Details

Total Schools	4
Primary	3
Secondary	1
% Top two bands	100%

Schools in this area

School	Phase	Rating
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage	Primary	Good
Swanage Primary School	Primary	Good
Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary School	Primary	Good
The Swanage School	Secondary	Good

Broadband & Connectivity

Swanage averages 319 Mbps — 219% above the typical UK download speed.

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Most Swanage homes sit at band C on the EPC scale. 56% of homes reach band C or above.

Average EPC Rating	C
Average EPC Score	68.3
% Rated C or Above	56%
Avg Energy Cost (per year)	£1,375

Demographics & Economy

Population	9,115
Median Age	51.1
Median Household Income	£29,709
Employment Rate	52.1%
Owner Occupied	70.4%
Degree-Level Qualified	31.5%

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the average house price in Swanage?

The average house price in Swanage is £404,468 based on Land Registry sales in 2025.

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

The most affordable entry point in Swanage is a flat, with an average price of £278,951.

Is Swanage a safe place to live?

Swanage has a recorded crime rate of 39.7 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 Swanage?

Swanage has 4 schools in total, with 100% rated in the top two inspection bands by the relevant inspectorate.

What broadband speeds are available in Swanage?

Average broadband download speeds in Swanage are around 319 Mbps. Superfast (30 Mbps+) coverage reaches 95% of premises.

How big is Swanage?

Swanage is a settlement in Dorset with a population of approximately 9,115.

Most compared with

How does Swanage stack up against its neighbours?

Bearwood

Swanage

House price: £292,602 · £404,468
Crime rate: 56.6 · 39.7
Distance: 11.0 mi

Bournemouth

Swanage

House price: £347,991 · £404,468
Crime rate: 56.9 · 39.7
Distance: 9.7 mi

Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)

Swanage

House price: £455,038 · £404,468
Crime rate: 56.9 · 39.7
Distance: 12.7 mi

Corfe Mullen

Swanage

House price: £399,363 · £404,468
Crime rate: 51.8 · 39.7
Distance: 11.3 mi

Ferndown

Swanage

House price: £417,956 · £404,468
Crime rate: 44.8 · 39.7
Distance: 13.8 mi

Lytchett Matravers

Swanage

House price: £522,830 · £404,468
Crime rate: 45.2 · 39.7
Distance: 11.3 mi

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