South East Purbeck
vs Swanage

South East Purbeck has the younger population: 12% of residents are aged 15–29, against 11% in Swanage. Homes in South East Purbeck sold for a median of £537,500, 47% above Swanage. South East Purbeck has more green space nearby (57% within 500 m, against 34%).

South East Purbeck

225 postcodes

Swanage

433 postcodes

Dorset

city average

People

South East Purbeck has 4,132 residents in 1,837 households; Swanage has 9,432 in 4,509. Swanage has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 35%, 1.1 percentage points more than South East Purbeck (Dorset: 30%). Swanage has the higher share of people living alone: 35%, 6.9 percentage points more than South East Purbeck (Dorset: 31%).

4,132Residents (2021)

9,432Residents (2021)

379,579Residents (2021)

1,837Households

4,509Households

169,261Households

11.7%Aged 15–29

11.4%Aged 15–29

13.5%Aged 15–29

34.3%Aged 65 and over

35.4%Aged 65 and over

29.6%Aged 65 and over

28.2%Living alone

35.1%Living alone

30.6%Living alone

Homes and prices

In both, detached houses are the most common type of home: 56% of homes in South East Purbeck and 34% in Swanage. Swanage has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 70%, 2.5 percentage points more than South East Purbeck (Dorset: 70%). South East Purbeck has the higher share of private renting: 20%, 2.8 percentage points more than Swanage (Dorset: 16%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £537,500 in South East Purbeck and £365,000 in Swanage, against £345,000 across Dorset.

£537,500Median sale price

£365,000Median sale price

£345,000Median sale price

67.2%Owner-occupied

69.7%Owner-occupied

70.4%Owner-occupied

20.3%Private renting

17.5%Private renting

16.3%Private renting

11.6%Social renting

12.0%Social renting

12.3%Social renting

55.7%Detached houses

33.7%Detached houses

40.6%Detached houses

23.1%Semi-detached houses

18.6%Semi-detached houses

23.4%Semi-detached houses

15.5%Terraced houses

13.9%Terraced houses

19.3%Terraced houses

1.9%Flats

20.5%Flats

11.6%Flats

Surroundings

South East Purbeck has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 57%, 23.4 percentage points more than Swanage (Dorset: 26%). A typical postcode has 8 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in South East Purbeck, and 84 in Swanage. The typical postcode is 1,953 m from the nearest school in South East Purbeck and 512 m in Swanage. The typical postcode is 1,853 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in South East Purbeck and 587 m in Swanage. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 31% of premises in South East Purbeck and 72% in Swanage.

57.0%Green space within 500 m

33.6%Green space within 500 m

26.4%Green space within 500 m

8Services within 15 min (median)

84Services within 15 min (median)

23Services within 15 min (median)

2.0 kmNearest school (median)

512 mNearest school (median)

–Nearest school (median)

1.9 kmNearest tram or rail (median)

587 mNearest tram or rail (median)

–Nearest tram or rail (median)

25Postcodes in flood risk areas

62Postcodes in flood risk areas

1,586Postcodes in flood risk areas

30.7%Gigabit broadband (premises)

71.6%Gigabit broadband (premises)

72.3%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 29 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in South East Purbeck and 51 in Swanage, 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.

29Recorded crime per 1,000 residents

51Recorded 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.

South East Purbeck

South East Purbeck is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 4,132 people in 1,837 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £537,500 over the past two years, 56% above the Dorset median. On average 57% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 116% above the Dorset average.

Swanage

Swanage is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 9,432 people in 4,509 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £365,000 over the past two years, 6% above the Dorset median. On average 34% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 27% above the Dorset average.

More comparisons.

South East Purbeck and Swanage next to other wards of Dorset.

South East Purbeck vs Wareham South East Purbeck vs Lytchett Matravers & Upton South East Purbeck vs West Purbeck Swanage vs Wareham Swanage vs Lytchett Matravers & Upton Swanage vs Corfe Mullen All wards of Dorset

South East Purbeckvs Swanage