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Dorchester East
vs West Purbeck

West Purbeck has the younger population: 16% of residents are aged 15–29, against 15% in Dorchester East. Homes in West Purbeck sold for a median of £341,500, 18% above Dorchester East. West Purbeck has more green space nearby (42% within 500 m, against 13%).

Map of Dorset with Dorchester East highlighted
Dorchester East
231 postcodes
Map of Dorset with West Purbeck highlighted
West Purbeck
341 postcodes
Map of Dorset
Dorset
city average

People

Dorchester East has 8,691 residents in 4,052 households; West Purbeck has 9,852 in 4,016. Dorchester East has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 27%, 4.4 percentage points more than West Purbeck (Dorset: 30%). Dorchester East has the higher share of people living alone: 37%, 10.1 percentage points more than West Purbeck (Dorset: 31%).

8,691Residents (2021)
9,852Residents (2021)
379,579Residents (2021)
4,052Households
4,016Households
169,261Households
14.5%Aged 15–29
16.4%Aged 15–29
13.5%Aged 15–29
27.3%Aged 65 and over
22.9%Aged 65 and over
29.6%Aged 65 and over
36.6%Living alone
26.5%Living alone
30.6%Living alone

Homes and prices

The most common type of home is terraced houses in Dorchester East (29%) and semi-detached houses in West Purbeck (35%). Dorchester East has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 66%, 6.4 percentage points more than West Purbeck (Dorset: 70%). West Purbeck has the higher share of private renting: 23%, 6 percentage points more than Dorchester East (Dorset: 16%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £290,000 in Dorchester East and £341,500 in West Purbeck, against £345,000 across Dorset.

£290,000Median sale price
£341,500Median sale price
£345,000Median sale price
66.2%Owner-occupied
59.8%Owner-occupied
70.4%Owner-occupied
17.1%Private renting
23.1%Private renting
16.3%Private renting
15.8%Social renting
16.1%Social renting
12.3%Social renting
20.1%Detached houses
34.9%Detached houses
40.6%Detached houses
23.7%Semi-detached houses
35.1%Semi-detached houses
23.4%Semi-detached houses
29.4%Terraced houses
21.2%Terraced houses
19.3%Terraced houses
22.3%Flats
6.7%Flats
11.6%Flats

Surroundings

West Purbeck has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 42%, 28.4 percentage points more than Dorchester East (Dorset: 26%). A typical postcode has 124 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Dorchester East, and 14 in West Purbeck. The typical postcode is 506 m from the nearest school in Dorchester East and 971 m in West Purbeck. The typical postcode is 756 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Dorchester East and 3,962 m in West Purbeck. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 92% of premises in Dorchester East and 35% in West Purbeck.

13.4%Green space within 500 m
41.8%Green space within 500 m
26.4%Green space within 500 m
124Services within 15 min (median)
14Services within 15 min (median)
23Services within 15 min (median)
506 mNearest school (median)
971 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
756 mNearest tram or rail (median)
4.0 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
16Postcodes in flood risk areas
42Postcodes in flood risk areas
1,586Postcodes in flood risk areas
91.7%Gigabit broadband (premises)
34.6%Gigabit broadband (premises)
72.3%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 54 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Dorchester East and 56 in West Purbeck, 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.

54Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
56Recorded 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.

Dorchester East

Dorchester East is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 8,691 people in 4,052 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £290,000 over the past two years, 16% below the Dorset median. On average 13% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 49% below the Dorset average.

West Purbeck

West Purbeck is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 9,852 people in 4,016 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £341,500 over the past two years, in line with the Dorset median. On average 42% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 58% above the Dorset average.

More comparisons.

Dorchester East and West Purbeck next to other wards of Dorset.

Dorchester East vs Dorchester WestDorchester East vs Winterborne & BroadmayneDorchester East vs Dorchester PoundburyDorchester East vs Charminster St Mary'sWest Purbeck vs CrosswaysWest Purbeck vs Puddletown & Lower WinterborneWest Purbeck vs WarehamAll wards of Dorset