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°C1,145 mm of rain a year, 38 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November45 days of air frost, 10 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 landmarksStrap Bottomvalley · under a milePenn Hillhill · under a mileHog Hillhill · under a mileStratton Bottomvalley · under a mileWrackleford Coppicewoodland · under a mileBrown's Coppicewoodland · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesCoade Squarepark · 2.0 miTibbs Hollow Picnic Sitepark · 2.1 miCharminster Farm Allotmentsallotments · 1.3 miCentenary Fieldpark · 2.7 mi · 5 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 201934 mi away, Bridgwater, SomersetMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 8 Feb 202621 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 4.0 · PM2.5 5.2 · PM10 9.1 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
Elevation67 m220 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 64 to 142 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalDorset County Hospital2.8 miGP surgeryPoundbury Doctors Surgery2.5 miPharmacyPoundbury Pharmacy2.5 miDentistSt John's Dental Practice2.1 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 primaryPrimarySt Mary's Church of England First School, Charminsterages 4-9, 148 pupils1.7 miSecondaryThe Thomas Hardye Schoolages 13-18, 2,014 pupils2.8 miCollegeCoastland College8.4 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportBournemouth Airport BOH29 miMajor airportBristol Airport BRS45 miRailway stationDorchester West3.0 miBus stationBus StationBridport12 miFerryWeymouth Ferry Terminal9.4 miBus stops11 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DT2 postcode district.
