Paulton vs Shepton Mallet
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Paulton is about 17% cheaper on average. Paulton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Paulton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Paulton
£304,316
Shepton Mallet
£365,778
Crime Rate
Paulton
78.6
Shepton Mallet
106.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Paulton
100.0%
Shepton Mallet
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Paulton
373.9
Shepton Mallet
283.7
EPC Rating
Paulton
68.6
Shepton Mallet
68.4
Median Income
Paulton
£29,497
Shepton Mallet
£28,807
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Paulton more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £304,316 versus £365,778 in Shepton Mallet. The most affordable entry point in Paulton is a flat at £173,411, while in Shepton Mallet it is a flat at £167,409.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 28% pricier in Shepton Mallet (£549,432 vs £398,167).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Paulton prices grew faster — 36% vs 10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Paulton (78.6 per 1,000) compared to Shepton Mallet (106.6 per 1,000), a 36% difference. The most common crime category in Paulton 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 Paulton: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Shepton Mallet.
Paulton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) 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 | Paulton | Shepton Mallet |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 4 |
| Primary | 2 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Paulton enjoy 373.9 Mbps on average, while Shepton Mallet lags behind at 283.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.6% of premises in Paulton and 74% in Shepton Mallet. Gigabit availability stands at 67.6% in Paulton and 49.6% in Shepton Mallet.
Paulton is the faster of the two by 32% on average download speed (374 vs 284 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Paulton is band C (score 68.6), ahead of Shepton Mallet's band C (score 68.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,342 in Paulton and £1,363 in Shepton Mallet. 58.4% of homes in Paulton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.9% in Shepton Mallet.
Paulton has more energy-efficient housing — 58.4% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Paulton has a population of 6,502 while Shepton Mallet has 10,102. Median household income is £29,496.6 in Paulton and £28,807 in Shepton Mallet. The median age is 46.5 in Paulton and 47.3 in Shepton Mallet. Employment rates stand at 56.5% in Paulton and 56.8% in Shepton Mallet.
| Indicator | Paulton | Shepton Mallet |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,502 | 10,102 |
| Median Age | 46.5 | 47.3 |
| Median Household Income | £29,496.6 | £28,807 |
| Employment Rate | 56.5% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.1% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.4% | 30.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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