Castle Cary vs Shepton Mallet
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Shepton Mallet is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 1% lower. Castle Cary has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Shepton Mallet edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Castle Cary
£368,586
Shepton Mallet
£365,778
Crime Rate
Castle Cary
83.5
Shepton Mallet
106.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Castle Cary
0.0%
Shepton Mallet
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Castle Cary
430.6
Shepton Mallet
283.7
EPC Rating
Castle Cary
68.4
Shepton Mallet
68.4
Median Income
Castle Cary
£28,807
Shepton Mallet
£28,807
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestAt £365,778, Shepton Mallet undercuts Castle Cary (£368,586) by around 1% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Castle Cary is a flat at £242,000, while in Shepton Mallet it is a flat at £167,409.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 45% pricier in Castle Cary (£242,000 vs £167,409).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Castle Cary prices grew faster — 47% vs 10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCastle Cary has a crime rate of 83.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 28% lower than Shepton Mallet at 106.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Castle Cary is violent-crime, while in Shepton Mallet 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 Shepton Mallet, which has 4 schools, the figure is 100%.
Castle Cary School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Shepton Mallet School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Castle Cary | Shepton Mallet |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 4 |
| Primary | 1 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Castle Cary averages 430.6 Mbps – ahead of Shepton Mallet's 283.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Castle Cary and 74% in Shepton Mallet. Gigabit availability stands at 83.7% in Castle Cary and 49.6% in Shepton Mallet.
Castle Cary is the faster of the two by 52% on average download speed (431 vs 284 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Castle Cary leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 68.4 (C), while Shepton Mallet averages 68.4 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Castle Cary and £1,363 in Shepton Mallet. 57.9% of homes in Castle Cary have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.9% in Shepton Mallet.
Castle Cary has more energy-efficient housing — 57.9% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,807 in Castle Cary and £28,807 in Shepton Mallet. The median age is 47.3 in Castle Cary and 47.3 in Shepton Mallet. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Castle Cary versus 67.6% in Shepton Mallet. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Castle Cary and 56.8% in Shepton Mallet.
| Indicator | Castle Cary | Shepton Mallet |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,451 | 10,102 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 47.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,807 | £28,807 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.5% | 30.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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