Castle Cary vs Gillingham (Dorset)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Gillingham (dorset) is about 5% cheaper on average. Gillingham (dorset) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Gillingham (dorset) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Castle Cary
£368,586
Gillingham (Dorset)
£349,487
Crime Rate
Castle Cary
83.5
Gillingham (Dorset)
29.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Castle Cary
0.0%
Gillingham (Dorset)
66.7%
Avg Download Speed
Castle Cary
430.6
Gillingham (Dorset)
404.2
EPC Rating
Castle Cary
68.4
Gillingham (Dorset)
68.3
Median Income
Castle Cary
£28,807
Gillingham (Dorset)
£29,709
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Gillingham (dorset) is £349,487, which is 5% less than Castle Cary at £368,586. The most affordable entry point in Castle Cary is a flat at £242,000, while in Gillingham (dorset) it is a flat at £144,339.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 68% pricier in Castle Cary (£242,000 vs £144,339).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Castle Cary prices grew faster — 47% vs 31%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Gillingham (dorset) (29.2 per 1,000) compared to Castle Cary (83.5 per 1,000), a 186% difference. The most common crime category in Castle Cary 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 WestGillingham (dorset) has 66.7% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 0% in Castle Cary. Castle Cary has 2 schools in total, while Gillingham (dorset) has 4.
Castle Cary School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (1 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 | Castle Cary | Gillingham (Dorset) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 4 |
| Primary | 1 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 66.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Castle Cary offers faster average downloads at 430.6 Mbps, compared to 404.2 Mbps in Gillingham (dorset). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Castle Cary and 93.5% in Gillingham (dorset). Gigabit availability stands at 83.7% in Castle Cary and 78.1% in Gillingham (dorset).
Castle Cary is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (431 vs 404 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Castle Cary are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 68.4 (band C) versus 68.3 (band C) in Gillingham (dorset). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Castle Cary and £1,375 in Gillingham (dorset). 57.9% of homes in Castle Cary have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56% in Gillingham (dorset).
Castle Cary has more energy-efficient housing — 57.9% reach band C or above, vs 56% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,709 in Gillingham (dorset) and £28,807 in Castle Cary. The median age is 47.3 in Castle Cary and 51.1 in Gillingham (dorset). Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Castle Cary and 52.1% in Gillingham (dorset). Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Castle Cary versus 70.4% in Gillingham (dorset).
| Indicator | Castle Cary | Gillingham (Dorset) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,451 | 11,009 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 51.1 |
| Median Household Income | £28,807 | £29,709 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 52.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 70.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.5% | 31.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Castle Cary and Gillingham (dorset)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Castle Cary or Gillingham (dorset)?
Is Castle Cary or Gillingham (dorset) safer?
Which has better schools, Castle Cary or Gillingham (dorset)?
Which has faster broadband, Castle Cary or Gillingham (dorset)?
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