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Wareham
vs West Purbeck

West Purbeck has the younger population: 16% of residents are aged 15–29, against 13% in Wareham. Homes in Wareham sold for a median of £375,000, 10% above West Purbeck. Wareham has more green space nearby (42% within 500 m, against 42%).

Map of Dorset with Wareham highlighted
Wareham
334 postcodes
Map of Dorset with West Purbeck highlighted
West Purbeck
341 postcodes
Map of Dorset
Dorset
city average

People

Wareham has 9,854 residents in 4,437 households; West Purbeck has 9,852 in 4,016. Wareham has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 32%, 9 percentage points more than West Purbeck (Dorset: 30%). Wareham has the higher share of people living alone: 31%, 4 percentage points more than West Purbeck (Dorset: 31%).

9,854Residents (2021)
9,852Residents (2021)
379,579Residents (2021)
4,437Households
4,016Households
169,261Households
12.5%Aged 15–29
16.4%Aged 15–29
13.5%Aged 15–29
31.9%Aged 65 and over
22.9%Aged 65 and over
29.6%Aged 65 and over
30.5%Living alone
26.5%Living alone
30.6%Living alone

Homes and prices

The most common type of home is detached houses in Wareham (38%) and semi-detached houses in West Purbeck (35%). Wareham has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 71%, 10.7 percentage points more than West Purbeck (Dorset: 70%). West Purbeck has the higher share of private renting: 23%, 9.1 percentage points more than Wareham (Dorset: 16%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £375,000 in Wareham and £341,500 in West Purbeck, against £345,000 across Dorset.

£375,000Median sale price
£341,500Median sale price
£345,000Median sale price
70.5%Owner-occupied
59.8%Owner-occupied
70.4%Owner-occupied
14.0%Private renting
23.1%Private renting
16.3%Private renting
14.8%Social renting
16.1%Social renting
12.3%Social renting
38.2%Detached houses
34.9%Detached houses
40.6%Detached houses
26.3%Semi-detached houses
35.1%Semi-detached houses
23.4%Semi-detached houses
20.3%Terraced houses
21.2%Terraced houses
19.3%Terraced houses
7.8%Flats
6.7%Flats
11.6%Flats

Surroundings

The share of land within 500 m that is green space is about the same in both (42% and 42%). A typical postcode has 25 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Wareham, and 14 in West Purbeck. The typical postcode is 771 m from the nearest school in Wareham and 971 m in West Purbeck. The typical postcode is 928 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Wareham and 3,962 m in West Purbeck. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 72% of premises in Wareham and 35% in West Purbeck.

41.9%Green space within 500 m
41.8%Green space within 500 m
26.4%Green space within 500 m
25Services within 15 min (median)
14Services within 15 min (median)
23Services within 15 min (median)
771 mNearest school (median)
971 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
928 mNearest tram or rail (median)
4.0 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
25Postcodes in flood risk areas
42Postcodes in flood risk areas
1,586Postcodes in flood risk areas
71.6%Gigabit broadband (premises)
34.6%Gigabit broadband (premises)
72.3%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

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

58Recorded 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.

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.

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.

Wareham and West Purbeck next to other wards of Dorset.

Wareham vs Lytchett Matravers & UptonWareham vs South East PurbeckWareham vs Corfe MullenWest Purbeck vs CrosswaysWest Purbeck vs Puddletown & Lower WinterborneWest Purbeck vs Dorchester EastAll wards of Dorset