Milborne Port vs Shaftesbury
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Milborne Port is about 27% cheaper on average. Milborne Port has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Milborne Port edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Milborne Port
£298,574
Shaftesbury
£409,278
Crime Rate
Milborne Port
82.9
Shaftesbury
94.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Milborne Port
100.0%
Shaftesbury
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Milborne Port
341.1
Shaftesbury
387.6
EPC Rating
Milborne Port
68.4
Shaftesbury
68.8
Median Income
Milborne Port
£28,987
Shaftesbury
£29,459
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Milborne Port more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £298,574 versus £409,278 in Shaftesbury. The most affordable entry point in Milborne Port is a flat at £141,000, while in Shaftesbury it is a flat at £171,922.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 28% pricier in Shaftesbury (£536,550 vs £385,781).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Shaftesbury prices grew faster — 51% vs 20%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 82.9 offences per 1,000 people, Milborne Port is the safer of the two – 14% lower than Shaftesbury's 94.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Milborne Port is violent-crime, while in Shaftesbury 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 Milborne Port: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Shaftesbury.
Milborne Port School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Shaftesbury School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Milborne Port | Shaftesbury |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 3 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Shaftesbury enjoy 387.6 Mbps on average, while Milborne Port lags behind at 341.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.2% of premises in Milborne Port and 91.3% in Shaftesbury. Gigabit availability stands at 63.1% in Milborne Port and 74.4% in Shaftesbury.
Shaftesbury is the faster of the two by 14% on average download speed (388 vs 341 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Shaftesbury is band C (score 68.8), ahead of Milborne Port's band C (score 68.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,366 in Milborne Port and £1,336 in Shaftesbury. 57.5% of homes in Milborne Port have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58% in Shaftesbury.
Shaftesbury has more energy-efficient housing — 58% reach band C or above, vs 57.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Milborne Port has a population of 3,207 while Shaftesbury has 9,163. Median household income is £29,459 in Shaftesbury and £28,987.4 in Milborne Port. The median age is 48.1 in Milborne Port and 48.3 in Shaftesbury. Employment rates stand at 55.8% in Milborne Port and 56.2% in Shaftesbury.
| Indicator | Milborne Port | Shaftesbury |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,207 | 9,163 |
| Median Age | 48.1 | 48.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,987.4 | £29,459 |
| Employment Rate | 55.8% | 56.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.1% | 68.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 32.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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