Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 32 min4:53 am – 9:26 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 56 min8:08 am – 4:04 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People6,448 residentsin the Alderholt & Sixpenny Handley census areaMedian age 50.92,694 households71% of homes owner-occupied43% owned outright10% social rented, 19% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.6% unemployment rate60% of adults are economically active, 3,141 in work, 28% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 15%, health and social work 13%, construction 12%Getting to work: 33% work from home, 61% go by car, 5% walk or cycle35% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages34% of adults hold a degree or higher14% have no qualifications, 6% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 22°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 2°C938 mm of rain a year, 29 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November48 days of air frost, 14 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)
Nearby landmarksAckling Dykehistoric site · 2.5 miGussage Hillhill · 1.2 miKnowlton Church and Earthworkshistoric site · 3.6 miWater Lakelake · 3.5 miVeiny Cheese Pondpond · 1.5 miCrichel Lakelake · 4.0 miBugden Bottomvalley · 2.5 miNew Coppicewoodland · 1.2 miSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
Parks and green spacesFarnham Allotmentsallotments · 1.3 miRushmore Parkpark · 3.4 mi · 19 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes19 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 5 Dec 201943 mi away, Bridgwater, SomersetMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 8 Feb 202639 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 3.9 · PM2.5 5.5 · PM10 10 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband83% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband96% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.3% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,742 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation64 m210 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 59 to 107 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalBlandford Community Hospital7.1 miGP surgerySixpenny Handley2.7 miPharmacyBlandford Pharmacy7.3 miDentistColosseum Dental (Diplomat House)7.1 miPolice stationDorset PoliceBlandford Forum6.9 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Overture Maps
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeThe Bournemouth and Poole College14.1 miUniversityBournemouth University13.8 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportBournemouth Airport BOH13 miMajor airportBristol Airport BRS43 miRailway stationTisbury9.7 miBus stationBournemouth UniversityTalbot Heath14 miFerryPoole Quay Ferry Landing15 miBus stops8 within a mileEV chargingInstaVolt Charging StationBlandford Forum5.2 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DT11 postcode district.
