Frome vs Shepton Mallet
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Shepton Mallet is about 5% cheaper on average. Frome has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Shepton Mallet edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Frome
£383,713
Shepton Mallet
£365,778
Crime Rate
Frome
83.1
Shepton Mallet
106.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Frome
70.0%
Shepton Mallet
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Frome
389.2
Shepton Mallet
283.7
EPC Rating
Frome
68.6
Shepton Mallet
68.4
Median Income
Frome
£28,887
Shepton Mallet
£28,807
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Shepton Mallet more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £365,778 versus £383,713 in Frome. The most affordable entry point in Frome is a flat at £181,071, while in Shepton Mallet it is a flat at £167,409.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 27% pricier in Frome (£355,848 vs £279,295).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Frome prices grew faster — 42% vs 10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Frome (83.1 per 1,000) compared to Shepton Mallet (106.6 per 1,000), a 28% difference. The most common crime category in Frome 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 WestSchool quality favours Shepton Mallet: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 70% in Frome.
Frome School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 10 schools (7 primary, 3 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 | Frome | Shepton Mallet |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 4 |
| Primary | 7 | 3 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Frome enjoy 389.2 Mbps on average, while Shepton Mallet lags behind at 283.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 82.6% of premises in Frome and 74% in Shepton Mallet. Gigabit availability stands at 75.8% in Frome and 49.6% in Shepton Mallet.
Frome is the faster of the two by 37% on average download speed (389 vs 284 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Frome is band C (score 68.6), ahead of Shepton Mallet's band C (score 68.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,350 in Frome and £1,363 in Shepton Mallet. 58.3% of homes in Frome have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.9% in Shepton Mallet.
Frome has more energy-efficient housing — 58.3% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Frome has a population of 27,904 while Shepton Mallet has 10,102. Median household income is £28,887.4 in Frome and £28,807 in Shepton Mallet. The median age is 47 in Frome and 47.3 in Shepton Mallet. Employment rates stand at 57.5% in Frome and 56.8% in Shepton Mallet.
| Indicator | Frome | Shepton Mallet |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,904 | 10,102 |
| Median Age | 47 | 47.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,887.4 | £28,807 |
| Employment Rate | 57.5% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.3% | 30.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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