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Swanage
vs Wareham

Wareham has the younger population: 13% of residents are aged 15–29, against 11% in Swanage. Homes in Wareham sold for a median of £375,000, in line with Swanage. Wareham has more green space nearby (42% within 500 m, against 34%).

Map of Dorset with Swanage highlighted
Swanage
433 postcodes
Map of Dorset with Wareham highlighted
Wareham
334 postcodes
Map of Dorset
Dorset
city average

People

Swanage has 9,432 residents in 4,509 households; Wareham has 9,854 in 4,437. Swanage has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 35%, 3.5 percentage points more than Wareham (Dorset: 30%). Swanage has the higher share of people living alone: 35%, 4.6 percentage points more than Wareham (Dorset: 31%).

9,432Residents (2021)
9,854Residents (2021)
379,579Residents (2021)
4,509Households
4,437Households
169,261Households
11.4%Aged 15–29
12.5%Aged 15–29
13.5%Aged 15–29
35.4%Aged 65 and over
31.9%Aged 65 and over
29.6%Aged 65 and over
35.1%Living alone
30.5%Living alone
30.6%Living alone

Homes and prices

In both, detached houses are the most common type of home: 34% of homes in Swanage and 38% in Wareham. The share of owner-occupied homes is about the same in both (70% and 71%). Swanage has the higher share of private renting: 18%, 3.5 percentage points more than Wareham (Dorset: 16%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £365,000 in Swanage and £375,000 in Wareham, against £345,000 across Dorset.

£365,000Median sale price
£375,000Median sale price
£345,000Median sale price
69.7%Owner-occupied
70.5%Owner-occupied
70.4%Owner-occupied
17.5%Private renting
14.0%Private renting
16.3%Private renting
12.0%Social renting
14.8%Social renting
12.3%Social renting
33.7%Detached houses
38.2%Detached houses
40.6%Detached houses
18.6%Semi-detached houses
26.3%Semi-detached houses
23.4%Semi-detached houses
13.9%Terraced houses
20.3%Terraced houses
19.3%Terraced houses
20.5%Flats
7.8%Flats
11.6%Flats

Surroundings

Wareham has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 42%, 8.3 percentage points more than Swanage (Dorset: 26%). A typical postcode has 84 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Swanage, and 25 in Wareham. The typical postcode is 512 m from the nearest school in Swanage and 771 m in Wareham. The typical postcode is 587 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Swanage and 928 m in Wareham. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 72% of premises in Swanage and 72% in Wareham.

33.6%Green space within 500 m
41.9%Green space within 500 m
26.4%Green space within 500 m
84Services within 15 min (median)
25Services within 15 min (median)
23Services within 15 min (median)
512 mNearest school (median)
771 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
587 mNearest tram or rail (median)
928 mNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
62Postcodes in flood risk areas
25Postcodes in flood risk areas
1,586Postcodes in flood risk areas
71.6%Gigabit broadband (premises)
71.6%Gigabit broadband (premises)
72.3%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 51 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Swanage and 58 in Wareham, 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.

51Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
58Recorded 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.

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.

Wareham

Wareham is one of 52 wards in Dorset, home to 9,854 people in 4,437 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £375,000 over the past two years, 9% above the Dorset median. On average 42% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 59% above the Dorset average.

More comparisons.

Swanage and Wareham next to other wards of Dorset.

Swanage vs South East PurbeckSwanage vs Lytchett Matravers & UptonSwanage vs Corfe MullenWareham vs Lytchett Matravers & UptonWareham vs South East PurbeckWareham vs West PurbeckWareham vs Corfe MullenAll wards of Dorset