Castle Cary vs Sturminster Newton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Sturminster Newton is about 0% cheaper on average. Sturminster Newton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Sturminster Newton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Castle Cary
£368,586
Sturminster Newton
£367,600
Crime Rate
Castle Cary
83.5
Sturminster Newton
45.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Castle Cary
0.0%
Sturminster Newton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Castle Cary
430.6
Sturminster Newton
388.5
EPC Rating
Castle Cary
68.4
Sturminster Newton
68.4
Median Income
Castle Cary
£28,807
Sturminster Newton
£28,987
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Sturminster Newton is £367,600, which is 0% less than Castle Cary at £368,586. The most affordable entry point in Castle Cary is a flat at £242,000, while in Sturminster Newton it is a flat at £117,750.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 106% pricier in Castle Cary (£242,000 vs £117,750).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Castle Cary prices grew faster — 47% vs 18%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Sturminster Newton (45.2 per 1,000) compared to Castle Cary (83.5 per 1,000), a 85% difference. The most common crime category in Castle Cary is violent-crime, while in Sturminster Newton 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 WestSturminster Newton has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 0% in Castle Cary. Castle Cary has 2 schools in total, while Sturminster Newton has 2.
Castle Cary School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sturminster Newton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Castle Cary | Sturminster Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Castle Cary offers faster average downloads at 430.6 Mbps, compared to 388.5 Mbps in Sturminster Newton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Castle Cary and 93.4% in Sturminster Newton. Gigabit availability stands at 83.7% in Castle Cary and 74.5% in Sturminster Newton.
Castle Cary is the faster of the two by 11% on average download speed (431 vs 389 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 68.4 (band C) in Sturminster Newton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Castle Cary and £1,366 in Sturminster Newton. 57.9% of homes in Castle Cary have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.5% in Sturminster Newton.
Castle Cary has more energy-efficient housing — 57.9% reach band C or above, vs 57.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,987.4 in Sturminster Newton and £28,807 in Castle Cary. The median age is 47.3 in Castle Cary and 48.1 in Sturminster Newton. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Castle Cary and 55.8% in Sturminster Newton. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Castle Cary versus 68.1% in Sturminster Newton.
| Indicator | Castle Cary | Sturminster Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,451 | 3,565 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £28,807 | £28,987.4 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 68.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.5% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Castle Cary and Sturminster Newton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Castle Cary or Sturminster Newton?
Is Castle Cary or Sturminster Newton safer?
Which has better schools, Castle Cary or Sturminster Newton?
Which has faster broadband, Castle Cary or Sturminster Newton?
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