Castle Cary vs Midsomer Norton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.6 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Midsomer Norton wins on house prices with a 12% gap. Midsomer Norton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Midsomer Norton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Castle Cary
£368,586
Midsomer Norton
£328,420
Crime Rate
Castle Cary
83.5
Midsomer Norton
78.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Castle Cary
0.0%
Midsomer Norton
85.7%
Avg Download Speed
Castle Cary
430.6
Midsomer Norton
355.1
EPC Rating
Castle Cary
68.4
Midsomer Norton
68.6
Median Income
Castle Cary
£28,807
Midsomer Norton
£29,497
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestAt £328,420, Midsomer Norton undercuts Castle Cary (£368,586) by around 12% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Castle Cary is a flat at £242,000, while in Midsomer Norton it is a flat at £154,562.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 57% pricier in Castle Cary (£242,000 vs £154,562).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Castle Cary prices grew faster — 47% vs 40%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestResidents of Midsomer Norton experience less crime overall, with a rate of 78.8 per 1,000 versus 83.5 per 1,000 in Castle Cary. The most common crime category in Castle Cary is violent-crime, while in Midsomer Norton 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 WestOf the 2 schools in Castle Cary, 0% are in the top two inspection bands. In Midsomer Norton, which has 8 schools, the figure is 85.7%.
Castle Cary School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Midsomer Norton School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Castle Cary | Midsomer Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 8 |
| Primary | 1 | 6 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 85.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Castle Cary averages 430.6 Mbps – ahead of Midsomer Norton's 355.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Castle Cary and 87.4% in Midsomer Norton. Gigabit availability stands at 83.7% in Castle Cary and 65.3% in Midsomer Norton.
Castle Cary is the faster of the two by 21% on average download speed (431 vs 355 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Midsomer Norton leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 68.6 (C), while Castle Cary averages 68.4 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Castle Cary and £1,342 in Midsomer Norton. 57.9% of homes in Castle Cary have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.4% in Midsomer Norton.
Midsomer Norton has more energy-efficient housing — 58.4% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,496.6 in Midsomer Norton and £28,807 in Castle Cary. The median age is 47.3 in Castle Cary and 46.5 in Midsomer Norton. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Castle Cary versus 67.1% in Midsomer Norton. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Castle Cary and 56.5% in Midsomer Norton.
| Indicator | Castle Cary | Midsomer Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,451 | 13,749 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 46.5 |
| Median Household Income | £28,807 | £29,496.6 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 56.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 67.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.5% | 32.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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