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Chalk Valleys
vs Dorchester West

Dorchester West has the younger population: 15% of residents are aged 15–29, against 11% in Chalk Valleys. Homes in Chalk Valleys sold for a median of £400,000, 33% above Dorchester West. Chalk Valleys has more green space nearby (24% within 500 m, against 15%).

Map of Dorset with Chalk Valleys highlighted
Chalk Valleys
225 postcodes
Map of Dorset with Dorchester West highlighted
Dorchester West
282 postcodes
Map of Dorset
Dorset
city average

People

Chalk Valleys has 4,785 residents in 2,115 households; Dorchester West has 8,595 in 3,969. Chalk Valleys has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 32%, 4.5 percentage points more than Dorchester West (Dorset: 30%). Dorchester West has the higher share of people living alone: 37%, 10 percentage points more than Chalk Valleys (Dorset: 31%).

4,785Residents (2021)
8,595Residents (2021)
379,579Residents (2021)
2,115Households
3,969Households
169,261Households
11.2%Aged 15–29
15.1%Aged 15–29
13.5%Aged 15–29
31.5%Aged 65 and over
27.0%Aged 65 and over
29.6%Aged 65 and over
27.3%Living alone
37.3%Living alone
30.6%Living alone

Homes and prices

The most common type of home is detached houses in Chalk Valleys (50%) and terraced houses in Dorchester West (32%). Chalk Valleys has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 71%, 8.7 percentage points more than Dorchester West (Dorset: 70%). The share of private renting is about the same in both (18% and 19%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £400,000 in Chalk Valleys and £300,000 in Dorchester West, against £345,000 across Dorset.

£400,000Median sale price
£300,000Median sale price
£345,000Median sale price
71.3%Owner-occupied
62.6%Owner-occupied
70.4%Owner-occupied
18.4%Private renting
19.0%Private renting
16.3%Private renting
9.2%Social renting
17.9%Social renting
12.3%Social renting
49.5%Detached houses
14.7%Detached houses
40.6%Detached houses
31.9%Semi-detached houses
21.7%Semi-detached houses
23.4%Semi-detached houses
13.6%Terraced houses
32.1%Terraced houses
19.3%Terraced houses
1.7%Flats
23.8%Flats
11.6%Flats

Surroundings

Chalk Valleys has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 24%, 9.6 percentage points more than Dorchester West (Dorset: 26%). A typical postcode has 3 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Chalk Valleys, and 143 in Dorchester West. The typical postcode is 2,028 m from the nearest school in Chalk Valleys and 626 m in Dorchester West. The typical postcode is 9,213 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Chalk Valleys and 600 m in Dorchester West. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 67% of premises in Chalk Valleys and 89% in Dorchester West.

24.4%Green space within 500 m
14.8%Green space within 500 m
26.4%Green space within 500 m
3Services within 15 min (median)
143Services within 15 min (median)
23Services within 15 min (median)
2.0 kmNearest school (median)
626 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
9.2 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
600 mNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
63Postcodes in flood risk areas
6Postcodes in flood risk areas
1,586Postcodes in flood risk areas
67.1%Gigabit broadband (premises)
89.3%Gigabit broadband (premises)
72.3%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 17 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Chalk Valleys and 86 in Dorchester West, 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.

17Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
86Recorded 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.

Chalk Valleys

Chalk Valleys is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 4,785 people in 2,115 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £400,000 over the past two years, 16% above the Dorset median. On average 24% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 8% below the Dorset average.

Dorchester West

Dorchester West is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 8,595 people in 3,969 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £300,000 over the past two years, 13% below the Dorset median. On average 15% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 44% below the Dorset average.

More comparisons.

Chalk Valleys and Dorchester West next to other wards of Dorset.

Chalk Valleys vs Charminster St Mary'sChalk Valleys vs Puddletown & Lower WinterborneChalk Valleys vs Dorchester PoundburyDorchester West vs Dorchester EastDorchester West vs Dorchester PoundburyDorchester West vs Winterborne & BroadmayneDorchester West vs Charminster St Mary'sAll wards of Dorset