Castle Cary vs Frome
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Castle Cary is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 4% lower. Frome has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Frome edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Castle Cary
£368,586
Frome
£383,713
Crime Rate
Castle Cary
83.5
Frome
83.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Castle Cary
0.0%
Frome
70.0%
Avg Download Speed
Castle Cary
430.6
Frome
389.2
EPC Rating
Castle Cary
68.4
Frome
68.6
Median Income
Castle Cary
£28,807
Frome
£28,887
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestProperty in Frome commands an average of £383,713, compared with £368,586 in Castle Cary – a difference of 4%. The most affordable entry point in Castle Cary is a flat at £242,000, while in Frome it is a flat at £181,071.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 34% pricier in Castle Cary (£242,000 vs £181,071).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Castle Cary prices grew faster — 47% vs 42%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestFrome has a crime rate of 83.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Castle Cary at 83.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Castle Cary is violent-crime, while in Frome 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 WestFamilies may prefer Frome, where 70% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 0% in Castle Cary. There are 2 schools in Castle Cary and 10 in Frome.
Castle Cary School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Frome School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 10 schools (7 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Castle Cary | Frome |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 10 |
| Primary | 1 | 7 |
| Secondary | 1 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 70% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 430.6 Mbps in Castle Cary and 389.2 Mbps in Frome. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Castle Cary and 82.6% in Frome. Gigabit availability stands at 83.7% in Castle Cary and 75.8% in Frome.
Castle Cary is the faster of the two by 11% on average download speed (431 vs 389 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Frome, scoring 68.6 on average (band C) compared to 68.4 (band C) in Castle Cary. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Castle Cary and £1,350 in Frome. 57.9% of homes in Castle Cary have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.3% in Frome.
Frome has more energy-efficient housing — 58.3% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,887.4 in Frome and £28,807 in Castle Cary. The median age is 47.3 in Castle Cary and 47 in Frome. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Castle Cary and 57.5% in Frome. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Castle Cary versus 67.4% in Frome. Castle Cary has a population of 3,451 and Frome has 27,904.
| Indicator | Castle Cary | Frome |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,451 | 27,904 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 47 |
| Median Household Income | £28,807 | £28,887.4 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 57.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 67.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.5% | 31.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Castle Cary and Frome?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Castle Cary or Frome?
Is Castle Cary or Frome safer?
Which has better schools, Castle Cary or Frome?
Which has faster broadband, Castle Cary or Frome?
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