Dorset, in numbers

Your area

Dorset council area. Every figure carries its own date.

Neighbourhood differences

Homes rented privately

7.2% to 50.3%

Homes rented privately ranged from 7.2% in St Leonards & St Ives to 50.3% in Melcombe Regis — a gap of 43.1 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 52 of 52 current wards with comparable figures.

A larger private-rented sector changes the mix of housing advice, enforcement and tenant support needed. It does not tell us whether individual homes are affordable or safe.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

Homes rented privately · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
St Leonards & St Ives	7.2%	250	3,477
West Parley	8.2%	131	1,603
Colehill & Wimborne Minster East	8.3%	305	3,655
West Moors & Three Legged Cross	9.3%	381	4,114
Corfe Mullen	10.3%	442	4,299
Ferndown South	10.5%	396	3,780
Verwood	10.8%	630	5,808
Stalbridge & Marnhull	11.4%	268	2,359
Ferndown North	11.7%	489	4,178
Blackmore Vale	12%	236	1,973
Lyme & Charmouth	12.1%	303	2,512
Winterborne North	12.1%	225	1,852
Chickerell	13.2%	456	3,443
Upwey & Broadwey	13.4%	269	2,010
Crossways	13.4%	219	1,636
Littlemoor & Preston	13.6%	627	4,627
Beacon	13.7%	272	1,990
Charminster St Mary's	13.9%	313	2,245
Wareham	14%	621	4,438
Lytchett Matravers & Upton	14.2%	759	5,334
Marshwood Vale	14.4%	296	2,062
Beaminster	15.6%	318	2,045
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants	15.8%	302	1,917
Winterborne & Broadmayne	16.2%	304	1,880
Bridport	16.4%	1,176	7,192
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne	16.4%	383	2,342
Dorchester East	16.6%	631	3,802
Blandford	16.7%	797	4,767
Dorchester Poundbury	16.9%	339	2,003
Gillingham	17%	1,183	6,963
Chesil Bank	17.3%	319	1,845
Westham	17.4%	735	4,229
Swanage	17.5%	791	4,513
Stour & Allen Vale	17.6%	351	1,996
Cranborne & Alderholt	18.1%	372	2,050
Chalk Valleys	18.3%	387	2,111
Yetminster	18.3%	397	2,164
Wimborne Minster	18.8%	733	3,900
Eggardon	18.9%	436	2,312
Rodwell & Wyke	18.9%	1,195	6,317
Shaftesbury Town	19%	786	4,136
Dorchester West	19%	799	4,196
Sturminster Newton	19%	397	2,084
Sherborne West	19.2%	475	2,477
Sherborne East	19.5%	433	2,217
Sherborne Rural	19.8%	432	2,186
Radipole	20.2%	880	4,351
South East Purbeck	20.4%	376	1,841
Portland	21.1%	1,207	5,722
West Purbeck	23%	924	4,022
Cranborne Chase	34.2%	643	1,878
Melcombe Regis	50.3%	1,224	2,434

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

People reporting bad or very bad health

2.6% to 8%

People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.6% in Cranborne Chase to 8% in Melcombe Regis — a gap of 5.4 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 52 of 52 current wards with comparable figures.

Residents described their own health. Differences in age matter, so this is a prompt to investigate needs, not a score for local health services.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

People reporting bad or very bad health · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
Cranborne Chase	2.6%	135	5,182
Colehill & Wimborne Minster East	3.3%	284	8,676
Beacon	3.3%	172	5,165
Stour & Allen Vale	3.6%	180	4,963
Corfe Mullen	3.8%	391	10,374
Sherborne Rural	3.9%	191	4,953
West Parley	3.9%	142	3,660
Cranborne & Alderholt	3.9%	196	5,029
Sherborne West	4.1%	242	5,971
Verwood	4.2%	573	13,710
Eggardon	4.2%	224	5,301
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants	4.3%	214	4,979
Chesil Bank	4.3%	169	3,928
Shaftesbury Town	4.3%	397	9,160
Chalk Valleys	4.3%	208	4,788
Charminster St Mary's	4.4%	225	5,166
Yetminster	4.4%	216	4,911
Winterborne & Broadmayne	4.4%	189	4,287
Beaminster	4.5%	192	4,258
Gillingham	4.6%	708	15,529
Lytchett Matravers & Upton	4.6%	582	12,537
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne	4.7%	256	5,492
St Leonards & St Ives	4.7%	370	7,903
Blackmore Vale	4.7%	211	4,502
Dorchester East	4.7%	386	8,219
Marshwood Vale	4.8%	218	4,563
West Purbeck	4.9%	478	9,844
Wimborne Minster	4.9%	399	8,099
Crossways	5%	185	3,736
Upwey & Broadwey	5%	226	4,537
Blandford	5.1%	528	10,360
South East Purbeck	5.1%	212	4,132
Lyme & Charmouth	5.2%	262	5,079
Winterborne North	5.2%	223	4,263
Stalbridge & Marnhull	5.3%	274	5,151
Wareham	5.4%	528	9,854
Dorchester Poundbury	5.5%	224	4,072
Sturminster Newton	5.5%	257	4,633
Chickerell	5.6%	439	7,817
Littlemoor & Preston	5.7%	567	9,865
Ferndown North	5.8%	503	8,692
Ferndown South	5.9%	519	8,805
Dorchester West	5.9%	538	9,067
Radipole	5.9%	580	9,769
Rodwell & Wyke	5.9%	827	13,916
Sherborne East	6%	265	4,388
Bridport	6.1%	893	14,638
Swanage	6.4%	606	9,426
Portland	6.5%	883	13,559
West Moors & Three Legged Cross	6.8%	599	8,866
Westham	7.5%	708	9,503
Melcombe Regis	8%	346	4,299

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

People aged 65 or over

20.1% to 41.1%

People aged 65 or over ranged from 20.1% in Cranborne Chase to 41.1% in Lyme & Charmouth — a gap of 21 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 52 of 52 current wards with comparable figures.

Age helps locate demand for accessible homes, transport and support. Being older does not itself mean someone needs care.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

People aged 65 or over · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
Cranborne Chase	20.1%	1,041	5,175
Westham	21.5%	2,040	9,504
Portland	22.6%	3,059	13,558
West Purbeck	23%	2,263	9,844
Shaftesbury Town	23.6%	2,160	9,162
Corfe Mullen	24.3%	2,518	10,374
Melcombe Regis	24.3%	1,044	4,298
Blandford	24.8%	2,565	10,357
Cranborne & Alderholt	25.1%	1,261	5,027
Lytchett Matravers & Upton	25.7%	3,219	12,537
Chickerell	26%	2,031	7,817
Dorchester East	26.6%	2,189	8,223
Charminster St Mary's	26.6%	1,375	5,165
Rodwell & Wyke	27.1%	3,770	13,916
Winterborne North	27.1%	1,157	4,262
Upwey & Broadwey	27.2%	1,235	4,538
Stour & Allen Vale	27.3%	1,355	4,960
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne	27.4%	1,503	5,489
Sherborne West	27.4%	1,637	5,972
Wimborne Minster	27.6%	2,238	8,099
Verwood	27.7%	3,795	13,709
Dorchester West	27.8%	2,521	9,067
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants	28.1%	1,400	4,979
Gillingham	28.2%	4,383	15,526
Colehill & Wimborne Minster East	28.4%	2,464	8,676
Crossways	29%	1,085	3,736
Sturminster Newton	29.1%	1,350	4,635
Eggardon	29.6%	1,565	5,285
Beacon	29.9%	1,545	5,169
Blackmore Vale	30.1%	1,354	4,502
Radipole	30.1%	2,944	9,771
Winterborne & Broadmayne	30.6%	1,313	4,285
Dorchester Poundbury	30.7%	1,248	4,071
Sherborne Rural	31%	1,538	4,954
Chalk Valleys	31.3%	1,496	4,786
Littlemoor & Preston	31.7%	3,133	9,868
Wareham	32%	3,153	9,855
Ferndown South	33.1%	2,916	8,805
Yetminster	33.6%	1,652	4,912
Bridport	34.1%	4,996	14,652
South East Purbeck	34.4%	1,419	4,131
Beaminster	35.1%	1,493	4,255
Swanage	35.5%	3,350	9,426
Stalbridge & Marnhull	36.3%	1,868	5,152
Marshwood Vale	37.4%	1,708	4,566
West Parley	37.5%	1,372	3,660
Sherborne East	38.3%	1,683	4,389
Chesil Bank	38.5%	1,516	3,935
St Leonards & St Ives	39.3%	3,105	7,903
West Moors & Three Legged Cross	40.8%	3,623	8,870
Ferndown North	40.9%	3,552	8,689
Lyme & Charmouth	41.1%	2,087	5,079

Source and method →

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People aged 16+ with no qualifications

10.5% to 20.9%

People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 10.5% in Dorchester Poundbury to 20.9% in West Moors & Three Legged Cross — a gap of 10.4 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 52 of 52 current wards with comparable figures.

Formal qualifications are only one part of someone's skills. Training decisions also need current vacancies, employment and residents' experience.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

People aged 16+ with no qualifications · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
Dorchester Poundbury	10.5%	359	3,403
Cranborne Chase	11%	466	4,235
Corfe Mullen	11.8%	1,018	8,595
Eggardon	11.9%	528	4,448
Colehill & Wimborne Minster East	12%	861	7,169
Beacon	12.1%	539	4,442
Chalk Valleys	12.7%	521	4,108
Chesil Bank	12.9%	453	3,512
Stour & Allen Vale	13.1%	549	4,196
Yetminster	13.1%	561	4,272
Charminster St Mary's	13.2%	572	4,317
Upwey & Broadwey	13.4%	515	3,849
Sherborne Rural	13.4%	567	4,220
Verwood	13.5%	1,550	11,449
Dorchester East	13.7%	946	6,906
Winterborne & Broadmayne	13.8%	507	3,672
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants	14%	574	4,088
Cranborne & Alderholt	14.2%	597	4,218
Lyme & Charmouth	14.4%	648	4,505
South East Purbeck	14.6%	536	3,663
Blackmore Vale	14.7%	573	3,903
West Purbeck	14.8%	1,195	8,094
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne	14.8%	689	4,662
Sherborne West	14.9%	706	4,725
Wimborne Minster	15.1%	1,021	6,749
Dorchester West	15.3%	1,179	7,681
Marshwood Vale	15.6%	631	4,048
West Parley	15.6%	505	3,238
Winterborne North	15.7%	567	3,612
Shaftesbury Town	15.7%	1,178	7,494
Beaminster	15.8%	580	3,681
Radipole	16%	1,341	8,390
Sherborne East	16.1%	613	3,814
Crossways	16.1%	506	3,147
Rodwell & Wyke	16.4%	1,933	11,775
St Leonards & St Ives	16.4%	1,142	6,947
Lytchett Matravers & Upton	16.9%	1,756	10,365
Gillingham	17%	2,216	13,021
Littlemoor & Preston	17.1%	1,438	8,417
Portland	17.2%	1,954	11,386
Swanage	17.3%	1,427	8,250
Ferndown South	17.5%	1,291	7,395
Blandford	17.5%	1,485	8,489
Bridport	17.9%	2,268	12,670
Chickerell	17.9%	1,172	6,536
Wareham	18.1%	1,527	8,423
Stalbridge & Marnhull	18.5%	825	4,458
Sturminster Newton	19.1%	750	3,926
Ferndown North	19.3%	1,489	7,727
Melcombe Regis	19.4%	740	3,814
Westham	20.4%	1,620	7,924
West Moors & Three Legged Cross	20.9%	1,645	7,854

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

People aged 16+ with a degree or equivalent

22% to 41.1%

People aged 16+ with a degree or equivalent ranged from 22% in Westham to 41.1% in Dorchester Poundbury — a gap of 19.1 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 52 of 52 current wards with comparable figures.

Qualifications show local skills, not whether people have secure jobs or use those skills at work.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

People aged 16+ with a degree or equivalent · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
Westham	22%	1,741	7,924
Portland	24%	2,732	11,386
Chickerell	24.7%	1,617	6,536
West Moors & Three Legged Cross	25.4%	1,994	7,854
Ferndown North	26.3%	2,034	7,727
Melcombe Regis	27.2%	1,037	3,814
Lytchett Matravers & Upton	27.4%	2,842	10,365
Sturminster Newton	27.6%	1,084	3,926
Blandford	27.8%	2,364	8,489
Rodwell & Wyke	27.9%	3,283	11,775
Shaftesbury Town	28.2%	2,117	7,494
Gillingham	28.4%	3,697	13,021
Ferndown South	28.6%	2,115	7,395
Radipole	29%	2,432	8,390
Verwood	30%	3,438	11,449
West Purbeck	30%	2,431	8,094
Wareham	30%	2,531	8,423
Crossways	30.1%	947	3,147
Littlemoor & Preston	30.4%	2,560	8,417
Stalbridge & Marnhull	30.6%	1,366	4,458
Winterborne North	30.7%	1,110	3,612
West Parley	30.8%	998	3,238
Bridport	31.4%	3,973	12,670
Corfe Mullen	31.5%	2,709	8,595
Swanage	31.6%	2,606	8,250
Upwey & Broadwey	32.6%	1,255	3,849
Cranborne & Alderholt	33.1%	1,398	4,218
Blackmore Vale	33.2%	1,294	3,903
Beaminster	33.5%	1,234	3,681
St Leonards & St Ives	34%	2,362	6,947
Sherborne West	34.1%	1,609	4,725
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne	34.4%	1,603	4,662
Cranborne Chase	34.5%	1,459	4,235
Dorchester West	34.7%	2,666	7,681
Marshwood Vale	34.8%	1,410	4,048
Wimborne Minster	35.3%	2,383	6,749
Winterborne & Broadmayne	35.6%	1,308	3,672
Stour & Allen Vale	36.1%	1,513	4,196
South East Purbeck	36.7%	1,344	3,663
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants	36.9%	1,508	4,088
Sherborne East	37.2%	1,420	3,814
Sherborne Rural	37.3%	1,574	4,220
Dorchester East	37.8%	2,613	6,906
Charminster St Mary's	37.9%	1,638	4,317
Eggardon	38.1%	1,695	4,448
Beacon	38.1%	1,694	4,442
Lyme & Charmouth	38.2%	1,719	4,505
Colehill & Wimborne Minster East	38.3%	2,746	7,169
Yetminster	38.9%	1,662	4,272
Chesil Bank	39.7%	1,395	3,512
Chalk Valleys	40%	1,643	4,108
Dorchester Poundbury	41.1%	1,399	3,403

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages

9.2% to 26.1%

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 9.2% in Beacon to 26.1% in Westham — a gap of 16.9 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 52 of 52 current wards with comparable figures.

These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
Beacon	9.2%	183	1,992
Colehill & Wimborne Minster East	9.9%	363	3,657
West Parley	10.1%	162	1,602
Yetminster	10.3%	222	2,163
Sherborne Rural	10.4%	227	2,183
St Leonards & St Ives	10.6%	368	3,477
Cranborne Chase	10.9%	204	1,880
Chalk Valleys	11.1%	235	2,113
Stour & Allen Vale	11.2%	224	1,995
Eggardon	11.4%	262	2,301
Winterborne & Broadmayne	11.9%	224	1,879
Cranborne & Alderholt	12%	245	2,050
Chesil Bank	12%	221	1,849
Corfe Mullen	12.2%	522	4,296
Verwood	12.2%	710	5,809
Charminster St Mary's	12.6%	282	2,242
South East Purbeck	12.8%	235	1,839
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants	13.1%	252	1,923
Crossways	13.5%	221	1,638
Marshwood Vale	13.6%	281	2,064
Lyme & Charmouth	13.6%	342	2,510
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne	13.9%	326	2,342
Upwey & Broadwey	13.9%	280	2,011
Blackmore Vale	13.9%	275	1,974
Dorchester Poundbury	14.1%	282	2,002
Gillingham	14.3%	994	6,964
Sturminster Newton	14.3%	298	2,085
Dorchester East	14.5%	553	3,804
Sherborne East	14.7%	326	2,217
Winterborne North	14.9%	275	1,851
Sherborne West	14.9%	370	2,477
Shaftesbury Town	15%	619	4,135
Stalbridge & Marnhull	15%	354	2,360
Beaminster	15.1%	308	2,042
West Purbeck	15.4%	620	4,024
Ferndown South	15.5%	585	3,779
Lytchett Matravers & Upton	15.6%	831	5,335
Wareham	15.7%	697	4,437
Dorchester West	15.8%	662	4,196
Chickerell	16%	550	3,445
Ferndown North	16.1%	674	4,175
Swanage	16.6%	747	4,511
Wimborne Minster	16.6%	647	3,899
Radipole	16.6%	723	4,351
Bridport	17%	1,223	7,193
Littlemoor & Preston	17.2%	794	4,624
West Moors & Three Legged Cross	17.7%	729	4,114
Blandford	17.9%	851	4,767
Rodwell & Wyke	18.3%	1,157	6,319
Portland	19.2%	1,098	5,722
Melcombe Regis	26%	632	2,433
Westham	26.1%	1,103	4,229

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

Homes rented from a council or housing association

0.9% to 24.2%

Homes rented from a council or housing association ranged from 0.9% in West Parley to 24.2% in Westham — a gap of 23.3 percentage points.

21 March 2021 · 52 of 52 current wards with comparable figures.

The share of social housing describes the homes already here. It does not show the current waiting list or whether enough suitable homes are available.

See each ward and the workings

These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.

Homes rented from a council or housing association · 21 March 2021
Ward	Share	Count	Population or households covered
West Parley	0.9%	14	1,603
St Leonards & St Ives	3.5%	122	3,477
Ferndown North	5.6%	234	4,178
Verwood	6.2%	358	5,808
Colehill & Wimborne Minster East	6.3%	230	3,655
Melcombe Regis	6.4%	155	2,434
Beacon	6.8%	136	1,990
Corfe Mullen	7%	301	4,299
Yetminster	7.5%	162	2,164
Upwey & Broadwey	7.6%	152	2,010
Radipole	7.9%	344	4,351
Cranborne & Alderholt	8.3%	170	2,050
Winterborne & Broadmayne	8.5%	159	1,880
Marshwood Vale	8.7%	179	2,062
Sherborne Rural	8.9%	195	2,186
Lytchett Matravers & Upton	9%	482	5,334
Chalk Valleys	9.2%	194	2,111
Chesil Bank	9.4%	173	1,845
Gillingham	9.6%	667	6,963
West Moors & Three Legged Cross	9.6%	395	4,114
Eggardon	9.6%	223	2,312
Stour & Allen Vale	9.7%	194	1,996
Cranborne Chase	10.2%	191	1,878
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants	11.3%	216	1,917
Ferndown South	11.7%	441	3,780
South East Purbeck	11.7%	215	1,841
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne	11.9%	279	2,342
Crossways	12%	197	1,636
Swanage	12.1%	547	4,513
Portland	12.8%	734	5,722
Chickerell	12.9%	444	3,443
Stalbridge & Marnhull	13.1%	309	2,359
Blackmore Vale	13.1%	259	1,973
Charminster St Mary's	13.3%	298	2,245
Rodwell & Wyke	13.6%	858	6,317
Wareham	14.8%	657	4,438
Littlemoor & Preston	15.2%	703	4,627
Dorchester East	15.3%	583	3,802
Winterborne North	15.5%	287	1,852
Shaftesbury Town	16%	661	4,136
Sturminster Newton	16%	334	2,084
Lyme & Charmouth	16%	403	2,512
Beaminster	16.2%	332	2,045
West Purbeck	16.3%	654	4,022
Bridport	16.4%	1,178	7,192
Sherborne East	16.9%	374	2,217
Dorchester West	18.2%	763	4,196
Blandford	18.6%	885	4,767
Sherborne West	20.9%	518	2,477
Dorchester Poundbury	21%	420	2,003
Wimborne Minster	21.7%	845	3,900
Westham	24.2%	1,023	4,229

Source and method →

What could respond to this pattern →

52 mapped electoral wards · May 2026. The same wards are available in the named list below. These are council boundaries, not police neighbourhoods.

Choose a ward

These are electoral wards or the explicitly labelled statistical equivalents. They do not necessarily match villages, parishes or police neighbourhoods.