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Beacon
vs Sturminster Newton

Beacon has the younger population: 14% of residents are aged 15–29, against 13% in Sturminster Newton. Homes in Beacon sold for a median of £449,000, 52% above Sturminster Newton. Sturminster Newton has more green space nearby (23% within 500 m, against 20%).

Map of Dorset with Beacon highlighted
Beacon
277 postcodes
Map of Dorset with Sturminster Newton highlighted
Sturminster Newton
158 postcodes
Map of Dorset
Dorset
city average

People

Beacon has 5,169 residents in 1,989 households; Sturminster Newton has 4,633 in 2,081. The share of residents aged 65 and over is about the same in both (30% and 29%). Sturminster Newton has the higher share of people living alone: 33%, 8.5 percentage points more than Beacon (Dorset: 31%).

5,169Residents (2021)
4,633Residents (2021)
379,579Residents (2021)
1,989Households
2,081Households
169,261Households
14.2%Aged 15–29
13.2%Aged 15–29
13.5%Aged 15–29
29.8%Aged 65 and over
29.1%Aged 65 and over
29.6%Aged 65 and over
24.3%Living alone
32.8%Living alone
30.6%Living alone

Homes and prices

In both, detached houses are the most common type of home: 61% of homes in Beacon and 34% in Sturminster Newton. Beacon has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 79%, 15.5 percentage points more than Sturminster Newton (Dorset: 70%). Sturminster Newton has the higher share of private renting: 19%, 5.5 percentage points more than Beacon (Dorset: 16%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £449,000 in Beacon and £295,000 in Sturminster Newton, against £345,000 across Dorset.

£449,000Median sale price
£295,000Median sale price
£345,000Median sale price
79.4%Owner-occupied
63.9%Owner-occupied
70.4%Owner-occupied
13.5%Private renting
19.0%Private renting
16.3%Private renting
6.8%Social renting
16.0%Social renting
12.3%Social renting
60.9%Detached houses
33.9%Detached houses
40.6%Detached houses
26.4%Semi-detached houses
31.0%Semi-detached houses
23.4%Semi-detached houses
10.1%Terraced houses
18.6%Terraced houses
19.3%Terraced houses
0.3%Flats
13.8%Flats
11.6%Flats

Surroundings

Sturminster Newton has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 23%, 3.3 percentage points more than Beacon (Dorset: 26%). A typical postcode has 5 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Beacon, and 54 in Sturminster Newton. The typical postcode is 2,231 m from the nearest school in Beacon and 517 m in Sturminster Newton. The typical postcode is 9,795 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Beacon and 10,133 m in Sturminster Newton. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 90% of premises in Beacon and 80% in Sturminster Newton.

19.7%Green space within 500 m
23.0%Green space within 500 m
26.4%Green space within 500 m
5Services within 15 min (median)
54Services within 15 min (median)
23Services within 15 min (median)
2.2 kmNearest school (median)
517 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
9.8 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
10.1 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
22Postcodes in flood risk areas
6Postcodes in flood risk areas
1,586Postcodes in flood risk areas
89.9%Gigabit broadband (premises)
80.4%Gigabit broadband (premises)
72.3%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 41 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Beacon and 68 in Sturminster Newton, against 56 across Dorset. Police.uk records crimes by approximate location, not by where victims or offenders live. Busy streets, shops, stations and nightlife record more. Figures are counts, not a measure of personal risk.

41Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
68Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
56Recorded crime per 1,000 residents

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS) · HM Land Registry Price Paid Data · official school registers · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Environment Agency · data.police.uk, 12 months to Aug 2026 · Ofcom Connected Nations

In brief.

Each ward in a few lines, from its own page.

Beacon

Beacon is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 5,169 people in 1,989 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £449,000 over the past two years, 30% above the Dorset median. On average 20% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 25% below the Dorset average.

Sturminster Newton

Sturminster Newton is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 4,633 people in 2,081 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £295,000 over the past two years, 14% below the Dorset median. On average 23% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 13% below the Dorset average.

More comparisons.

Beacon and Sturminster Newton next to other wards of Dorset.

Beacon vs Shaftesbury TownBeacon vs Hill Forts & Upper TarrantsBeacon vs GillinghamSturminster Newton vs Blackmore ValeSturminster Newton vs Stalbridge & MarnhullSturminster Newton vs Hill Forts & Upper TarrantsAll wards of Dorset