Town comparison
Shaftesbury vs Sherborne
Which is better to live in? 14.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Shaftesbury offers lower property prices by roughly 3%. Sherborne has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Shaftesbury edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Shaftesbury
£409,278
Sherborne
£421,772
Crime Rate
Shaftesbury
94.1
Sherborne
21.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Shaftesbury
100.0%
Sherborne
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Shaftesbury
387.6
Sherborne
341.1
EPC Rating
Shaftesbury
68.8
Sherborne
68.4
Median Income
Shaftesbury
£29,459
Sherborne
£28,987
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Shaftesbury more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £409,278 versus £421,772 in Sherborne. The most affordable entry point in Shaftesbury is a flat at £171,922, while in Sherborne it is a flat at £205,019.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Sherborne (£205,019 vs £171,922).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Shaftesbury prices grew faster — 51% vs 44%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Sherborne (21.5 per 1,000) compared to Shaftesbury (94.1 per 1,000), a 338% difference. The most common crime category in Shaftesbury is violent-crime, while in Sherborne it is anti-social-behaviour.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Shaftesbury's most common crime is violent crime; in Sherborne it's anti-social behaviour.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South WestSchool quality favours Shaftesbury: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Sherborne.
Shaftesbury School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sherborne School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Shaftesbury | Sherborne |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 3 |
| Primary | 2 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Shaftesbury enjoy 387.6 Mbps on average, while Sherborne lags behind at 341.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Shaftesbury and 93.2% in Sherborne. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Shaftesbury and 63.1% in Sherborne.
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 Sherborne's band C (score 68.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,336 in Shaftesbury and £1,366 in Sherborne. 58% of homes in Shaftesbury have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.5% in Sherborne.
Shaftesbury has more energy-efficient housing — 58% reach band C or above, vs 57.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Shaftesbury has a population of 9,163 while Sherborne has 10,359. Median household income is £29,459 in Shaftesbury and £28,987.4 in Sherborne. The median age is 48.3 in Shaftesbury and 48.1 in Sherborne. Employment rates stand at 56.2% in Shaftesbury and 55.8% in Sherborne.
| Indicator | Shaftesbury | Sherborne |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,163 | 10,359 |
| Median Age | 48.3 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,459 | £28,987.4 |
| Employment Rate | 56.2% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.6% | 68.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.9% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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