Castle Cary vs Paulton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Paulton is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 21% lower. Paulton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Paulton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Castle Cary
£368,586
Paulton
£304,316
Crime Rate
Castle Cary
83.5
Paulton
78.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Castle Cary
0.0%
Paulton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Castle Cary
430.6
Paulton
373.9
EPC Rating
Castle Cary
68.4
Paulton
68.6
Median Income
Castle Cary
£28,807
Paulton
£29,497
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestProperty in Castle Cary commands an average of £368,586, compared with £304,316 in Paulton – a difference of 21%. The most affordable entry point in Castle Cary is a flat at £242,000, while in Paulton it is a flat at £173,411.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 40% pricier in Castle Cary (£242,000 vs £173,411).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Castle Cary prices grew faster — 47% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestPaulton has a crime rate of 78.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 6% lower than Castle Cary at 83.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Castle Cary is violent-crime, while in Paulton 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 Paulton, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 0% in Castle Cary. There are 2 schools in Castle Cary and 2 in Paulton.
Castle Cary School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Paulton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Castle Cary | Paulton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 430.6 Mbps in Castle Cary and 373.9 Mbps in Paulton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Castle Cary and 93.6% in Paulton. Gigabit availability stands at 83.7% in Castle Cary and 67.6% in Paulton.
Castle Cary is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (431 vs 374 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Paulton 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 Paulton. 57.9% of homes in Castle Cary have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.4% in Paulton.
Paulton 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 Paulton and £28,807 in Castle Cary. The median age is 47.3 in Castle Cary and 46.5 in Paulton. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Castle Cary versus 67.1% in Paulton. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Castle Cary and 56.5% in Paulton.
| Indicator | Castle Cary | Paulton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,451 | 6,502 |
| 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
How far apart are Castle Cary and Paulton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Castle Cary or Paulton?
Is Castle Cary or Paulton safer?
Which has better schools, Castle Cary or Paulton?
Which has faster broadband, Castle Cary or Paulton?
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