Shaftesbury vs Sturminster Newton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Sturminster Newton offers lower property prices by roughly 11%. Sturminster Newton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Shaftesbury edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Shaftesbury
£409,278
Sturminster Newton
£367,600
Crime Rate
Shaftesbury
94.1
Sturminster Newton
45.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Shaftesbury
100.0%
Sturminster Newton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Shaftesbury
387.6
Sturminster Newton
388.5
EPC Rating
Shaftesbury
68.8
Sturminster Newton
68.4
Median Income
Shaftesbury
£29,459
Sturminster Newton
£28,987
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Sturminster Newton is £367,600, which is 11% less than Shaftesbury at £409,278. The most affordable entry point in Shaftesbury is a flat at £171,922, while in Sturminster Newton it is a flat at £117,750.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 46% pricier in Shaftesbury (£171,922 vs £117,750).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Shaftesbury prices grew faster — 51% vs 18%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 45.2 offences per 1,000 people, Sturminster Newton is the safer of the two – 108% lower than Shaftesbury's 94.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Shaftesbury is violent-crime, while in Sturminster Newton 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 WestShaftesbury has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Sturminster Newton. Shaftesbury has 3 schools in total, while Sturminster Newton has 2.
Shaftesbury School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sturminster Newton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Shaftesbury | Sturminster Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Sturminster Newton offers faster average downloads at 388.5 Mbps, compared to 387.6 Mbps in Shaftesbury. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Shaftesbury and 93.4% in Sturminster Newton. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Shaftesbury and 74.5% in Sturminster Newton.
Sturminster Newton is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (389 vs 388 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Shaftesbury are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 68.8 (band C) versus 68.4 (band C) in Sturminster Newton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,336 in Shaftesbury and £1,366 in Sturminster Newton. 58% of homes in Shaftesbury have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.5% in Sturminster Newton.
Shaftesbury has more energy-efficient housing — 58% reach band C or above, vs 57.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,459 in Shaftesbury and £28,987.4 in Sturminster Newton. The median age is 48.3 in Shaftesbury and 48.1 in Sturminster Newton. Employment rates stand at 56.2% in Shaftesbury and 55.8% in Sturminster Newton. Owner-occupancy is 68.6% in Shaftesbury versus 68.1% in Sturminster Newton.
| Indicator | Shaftesbury | Sturminster Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,163 | 3,565 |
| 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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