Castle Cary vs Wincanton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 5.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Castle Cary is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 17% lower. Wincanton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Wincanton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Castle Cary
£368,586
Wincanton
£444,538
Crime Rate
Castle Cary
83.5
Wincanton
82.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Castle Cary
0.0%
Wincanton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Castle Cary
430.6
Wincanton
435.8
EPC Rating
Castle Cary
68.4
Wincanton
68.4
Median Income
Castle Cary
£28,807
Wincanton
£28,807
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestProperty in Wincanton commands an average of £444,538, compared with £368,586 in Castle Cary – a difference of 17%. The most affordable entry point in Castle Cary is a flat at £242,000, while in Wincanton it is a flat at £128,464.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 88% pricier in Castle Cary (£242,000 vs £128,464).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Wincanton prices grew faster — 88% vs 47%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWincanton has a crime rate of 82.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 1% lower than Castle Cary at 83.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Castle Cary is violent-crime, while in Wincanton 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 Wincanton, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 0% in Castle Cary. There are 2 schools in Castle Cary and 3 in Wincanton.
Castle Cary School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wincanton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Castle Cary | Wincanton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 3 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 435.8 Mbps in Wincanton and 430.6 Mbps in Castle Cary. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Castle Cary and 94.4% in Wincanton. Gigabit availability stands at 83.7% in Castle Cary and 85.6% in Wincanton.
Wincanton is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (436 vs 431 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Castle Cary leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 68.4 (C), while Wincanton averages 68.4 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Castle Cary and £1,363 in Wincanton. 57.9% of homes in Castle Cary have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.9% in Wincanton.
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 Wincanton. The median age is 47.3 in Castle Cary and 47.3 in Wincanton. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Castle Cary versus 67.6% in Wincanton. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Castle Cary and 56.8% in Wincanton.
| Indicator | Castle Cary | Wincanton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,451 | 6,744 |
| 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
How far apart are Castle Cary and Wincanton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Castle Cary or Wincanton?
Is Castle Cary or Wincanton safer?
Which has better schools, Castle Cary or Wincanton?
Which has faster broadband, Castle Cary or Wincanton?
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