Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 33 min4:53 am – 9:25 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 55 min8:08 am – 4:03 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°C919 mm of rain a year, 31 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November51 days of air frost, 13 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 spacesRushmore Parkpark · 4.1 mi · 19 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes21 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 5 Dec 201945 mi away, Bridgwater, SomersetMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 8 Feb 202642 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 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
Elevation119 m390 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 89 to 135 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalFordingbridge Hospital8.0 miGP surgerySixpenny Handley1.7 miPharmacyVerwood Pharmacy7.1 miDentistThe Lakes Dental Practice7.0 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
Getting aroundAirportBournemouth Airport BOH14 miMajor airportBristol Airport BRS43 miRailway stationTisbury8.1 miFerryPoole Quay Ferry Landing18 miBus stops6 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the SP5 postcode district.
