Local servicesHospitalDorset County Hospitalunder a mileGP surgeryAtrium Health Centre5 surgeries within 2 milesunder a milePharmacyBoots6 pharmacies within 2 milesunder a mileDentistAspen House Dental Practiceunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi10 schools5 primary, 4 secondary, 1 independentPrimarySt Mary's Church of England First School, Charminsterages 4-9, 148 pupilsunder a mileIndependentSunninghill Preparatory Schoolages 0-13, 167 pupilsunder a mileSecondaryDorchester Middle Schoolages 9-13, 527 pupils1.1 miCollegeCoastland College7.0 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportBournemouth Airport BOH27 miMajor airportBristol Airport BRS47 miRailway stationDorchester Westunder a mileBus stationBus StationBridport14 miFerryWeymouth Ferry Terminal8.0 miBus stops52 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DT2 postcode district.
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Local Information
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DT2 postcode district.
Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 30 min4:56 am – 9:26 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 58 min8:09 am – 4:06 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People12,206 residentsin the Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas & Puddletown census areaMedian age 52.45,342 households72% of homes owner-occupied46% owned outright11% social rented, 16% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.2% unemployment rate57% of adults are economically active, 5,734 in work, 32% retiredMain industries: health and social work 16%, retail and wholesale 12%, education 10%Getting to work: 35% work from home, 57% go by car, 6% walk or cycle43% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages39% of adults hold a degree or higher13% have no qualifications, 6% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 21°C, lows 12°CColdest month February: highs 8°C, lows 2°C1,130 mm of rain a year, 38 days with 10 mm or morewettest month December41 days of air frost, 12 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Parks and green spacesColliton Parkpark · under a mileRiverside Nature Reservepark · under a mileBorough Gardenspark · under a mile · 2 haWolfedale Golf Coursegolf course · under a mile · 40 haGreat Fieldplaying field · under a mile · 12 haSandringham Sports Centresports ground · 1.2 mi · 3 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes18 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 5 Dec 201936 mi away, Bridgwater, SomersetMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 8 Feb 202623 mi away, Chard, SomersetSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at High risk within 500 m of the centrea 1 in 30 chance of flooding in any year, or greaterAlso medium, low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 4.8 · PM2.5 5.2 · PM10 8.8 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband56% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband95% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.4% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)5,610 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation58 m190 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 53 to 104 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
