Shaftesbury vs Warminster
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Warminster is about 17% cheaper on average. Warminster has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Shaftesbury edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Shaftesbury
£409,278
Warminster
£349,487
Crime Rate
Shaftesbury
94.1
Warminster
48.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Shaftesbury
100.0%
Warminster
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Shaftesbury
387.6
Warminster
266.8
EPC Rating
Shaftesbury
68.8
Warminster
69.2
Median Income
Shaftesbury
£29,459
Warminster
£29,209
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Warminster more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £349,487 versus £409,278 in Shaftesbury. The most affordable entry point in Shaftesbury is a flat at £171,922, while in Warminster it is a flat at £144,339.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 19% pricier in Shaftesbury (£171,922 vs £144,339).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Shaftesbury prices grew faster — 51% vs 31%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 48.8 offences per 1,000 people, Warminster is the safer of the two – 93% lower than Shaftesbury's 94.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Shaftesbury is violent-crime, while in Warminster 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 Shaftesbury: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 87.5% in Warminster.
Shaftesbury School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Warminster School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Shaftesbury | Warminster |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 8 |
| Primary | 2 | 7 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Shaftesbury enjoy 387.6 Mbps on average, while Warminster lags behind at 266.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Shaftesbury and 88.1% in Warminster. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Shaftesbury and 46.2% in Warminster.
Shaftesbury is the faster of the two by 45% on average download speed (388 vs 267 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Warminster is band C (score 69.2), ahead of Shaftesbury's band C (score 68.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,336 in Shaftesbury and £1,297 in Warminster. 58% of homes in Shaftesbury have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.1% in Warminster.
Warminster has more energy-efficient housing — 60.1% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Shaftesbury has a population of 9,163 while Warminster has 18,018. Median household income is £29,459 in Shaftesbury and £29,209 in Warminster. The median age is 48.3 in Shaftesbury and 45.5 in Warminster. Employment rates stand at 56.2% in Shaftesbury and 60.2% in Warminster.
| Indicator | Shaftesbury | Warminster |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,163 | 18,018 |
| Median Age | 48.3 | 45.5 |
| Median Household Income | £29,459 | £29,209 |
| Employment Rate | 56.2% | 60.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.6% | 66.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.9% | 34.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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