Blandford Forum vs Gillingham (Dorset)

Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.3 miles apart.

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The verdict

Overall, Gillingham (dorset) offers lower property prices by roughly 4%. Gillingham (dorset) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Blandford Forum edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

Blandford Forum

£364,063

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Gillingham (Dorset)

£349,487

Crime Rate

Blandford Forum

44.9

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Gillingham (Dorset)

29.2

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

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Blandford Forum

100.0%

Gillingham (Dorset)

66.7%

Avg Download Speed

Blandford Forum

386.8

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Gillingham (Dorset)

404.2

EPC Rating

Blandford Forum

68.3

Gillingham (Dorset)

68.3

Median Income

Blandford Forum

£29,709

Gillingham (Dorset)

£29,709

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in South West

Buyers will find Gillingham (dorset) more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £349,487 versus £364,063 in Blandford Forum. The most affordable entry point in Blandford Forum is a flat at £154,100, while in Gillingham (dorset) it is a flat at £144,339.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 25% pricier in Blandford Forum (£361,692 vs £288,697).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Gillingham (dorset) prices grew faster — 31% vs 20%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in South West

Crime is lower in Gillingham (dorset) (29.2 per 1,000) compared to Blandford Forum (44.9 per 1,000), a 54% difference. The most common crime category in Blandford Forum is violent-crime, while in Gillingham (dorset) it is violent-crime.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.

Schools & Education

Best for schools in South West

School quality favours Blandford Forum: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 66.7% in Gillingham (dorset).

Blandford Forum School Inspection Breakdown

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

Gillingham (Dorset) School Inspection Breakdown

66.7% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Metric	Blandford Forum	Gillingham (Dorset)
Total Schools	4	4
Primary	3	3
Secondary	1	1
% Top two bands	100%	66.7%

Broadband & Connectivity

Internet users in Gillingham (dorset) enjoy 404.2 Mbps on average, while Blandford Forum lags behind at 386.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.4% of premises in Blandford Forum and 93.5% in Gillingham (dorset). Gigabit availability stands at 73.1% in Blandford Forum and 78.1% in Gillingham (dorset).

Gillingham (dorset) is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (404 vs 387 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

The average EPC rating in Blandford Forum is band C (score 68.3), ahead of Gillingham (dorset)'s band C (score 68.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,375 in Blandford Forum and £1,375 in Gillingham (dorset). 56% of homes in Blandford Forum have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56% in Gillingham (dorset).

Blandford Forum has more energy-efficient housing — 56% reach band C or above, vs 56% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Blandford Forum has a population of 11,805 while Gillingham (dorset) has 11,009. Median household income is £29,709 in Blandford Forum and £29,709 in Gillingham (dorset). The median age is 51.1 in Blandford Forum and 51.1 in Gillingham (dorset). Employment rates stand at 52.1% in Blandford Forum and 52.1% in Gillingham (dorset).

Indicator	Blandford Forum	Gillingham (Dorset)
Population	11,805	11,009
Median Age	51.1	51.1
Median Household Income	£29,709	£29,709
Employment Rate	52.1%	52.1%
Owner Occupied	70.4%	70.4%
Degree-Level Qualified	31.5%	31.5%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Blandford Forum and Gillingham (dorset)?

Blandford Forum and Gillingham (dorset) are approximately 13.3 miles apart as the crow flies.

Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Blandford Forum or Gillingham (dorset)?

Gillingham (dorset) is cheaper, with an average house price of £349,487.

Is Blandford Forum or Gillingham (dorset) safer?

Gillingham (dorset) has the lower crime rate at 29.2 per 1,000 residents.

Which has better schools, Blandford Forum or Gillingham (dorset)?

Blandford Forum has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.

Which has faster broadband, Blandford Forum or Gillingham (dorset)?

Gillingham (dorset) has faster average broadband at 404.2 Mbps.

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