Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 33 min4:54 am – 9:27 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 55 min8:09 am – 4:04 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People9,158 residentsin the Shaftesbury census areaMedian age 44.24,135 households63% of homes owner-occupied38% owned outright16% social rented, 19% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting4.5% unemployment rate60% of adults are economically active, 4,308 in work, 27% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 16%, health and social work 14%, construction 12%Getting to work: 20% work from home, 63% go by car, 16% walk or cycle53% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages28% of adults hold a degree or higher16% have no qualifications, 7% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 97%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 22°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 2°C937 mm of rain a year, 29 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November48 days of air frost, 11 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 landmarksCastle Hillhill · under a mileHawker's Hillhill · under a mileLong Bottomvalley · 1.3 miWincombe Bottomvalley · 1.4 miWildernesswoodland · under a mileGardiner Forestforest · 3.0 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesThe Parkpark · within reach · 3 haRolt Millennium Greenpark · under a mileBreach Commonpark · under a mile · 7 haThe Wrightson Allotmentsallotments · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes22 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 5 Dec 201935 mi away, Bridgwater, SomersetMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 8 Feb 202633 mi away, Chard, SomersetSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 4.4 · PM2.5 5.8 · PM10 9.8 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband92% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband100% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)4,337 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation193 m633 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 105 to 232 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalWestminster Memorial Hospitalright hereGP surgeryAbbey View Medical Centre2 surgeries within 2 milesunder a milePharmacyBoots2 pharmacies within 2 milesright hereDentistShaftesbury Dental Practiceunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi6 schools3 primary, 1 secondary, 1 independent, 1 specialPrimaryThe Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesburyages 4-11, 201 pupilsunder a mileSecondaryShaftesbury Schoolages 11-18, 782 pupilsunder a milePrimaryShaftesbury Church of England Primary Schoolages 4-11, 333 pupilsunder a mileSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportBournemouth Airport BOH22 miMajor airportBristol Airport BRS34 miRailway stationGillingham (Dorset)3.8 miBus stationRegal CourtWarminster14 miFerryPoole Quay Ferry Landing22 miBus stops50 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the SP7 postcode district.
