AREA DECISION REPORT

Dorset area decision report

Proceed with trade-off checks

Median affordability sits at 9.3x in 2025, which reads as high-cost. Gigabit availability is 69.4% with median download at Unavailable. 4G strong coverage reaches 97.1% and 5G reaches 2.9% in the current area summary. Nearby planning activity is quiet in the current area radius. 3 featured postcodes are ready for deeper due-diligence follow-up.

Live across price, affordability, connectivity, planning, and postcode follow-upSold prices through 25 Feb 2026 · Affordability year 2025 · Broadband source year 2024 · Mobile source year 2025
Affordability: High-cost at 9.3xSchools: 39 nearby school rowsBroadband: Gigabit 69.4%Mobile: 4G 97.1% · 5G 2.9%Planning: No nearby planning
  • Median sold price, last 5 years £340,000Based on 36,454 sales · Latest sale in data: 25 Feb 2026
  • Affordability High-costMedian ratio 9.3x in 2025
  • Gigabit availability 69.4%Ofcom source year 2024
  • 4G strong coverage 97.1%Area-level mobile source year 2025
  • Nearby planning QuietCurrent applications plus recent decisions linked to the area radius

Area summary

Use this summary to decide whether this shortlist survives, then move into postcode-level due diligence where the evidence looks strongest.

Affordability and price

High-cost at 9.3x

Median house-price-to-earnings ratio is 9.3x in 2025, with a median house price of £349,000 and residence earnings of £37,462.

Broadband

Gigabit 69.4%

Gigabit availability is 69.4%, with median download at Unavailable and below-USO share at 0.3%.

Mobile

4G 97.1% · 5G 2.9%

4G strong-coverage share is 97.1%, with 5G at 2.9% in the current area-level summary.

Planning watch

No nearby matches

No nearby planning rows matched Dorset in the current live coverage yet.

Schools

39 nearby school rows

39 nearby school rows matched postcode area DT11 9FQ for Dorset. Use the schools flow to compare them in more detail.

Transport

3,606 mapped stops

Dorset currently links 3,606 mapped transport stops, including 3,553 local bus or tram access points and 29 rail or metro stops. Where NaPTAN status is present, 2,958 stops are marked active and 648 inactive. Top localities include Dorchester (100), Blandford (75), Sherborne (64).

Local business

Score 100/100

Dorset currently links 1,747 mapped local businesses across 8 tracked categories. Top amenity groups include 610 food and drink, 383 nightlife, 266 grocery. The current amenity availability signal scores 100/100.

Postcode follow-up

3 featured postcodes

3 featured postcodes are ready for deeper due-diligence follow-up under Dorset.

Crime

Latest month 1,448

Dorset recorded 1,448 crimes in Feb 2026. Rolling twelve month context shows 19,193, with no comparable prior twelve month baseline yet and violence and sexual offences as the top recorded type. Dorset Police contributes the largest matched force share in the latest month.

Local business

This area-level OSM snapshot shows the amenity mix currently mapped around Dorset, so you can judge everyday convenience before you spend more time on postcode-level checks.

Amenity availability

Convenience score 100/100

Basis: nearest matching geography. Area local-business counts use postcode tags first and nearest-postcode fallback when the OSM record has no usable postcode tag.

Amenity group

Food and drink

610 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by cafe (283), fast food (166), restaurant (161).

Amenity group

Nightlife

383 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by pub (361), bar (22).

Amenity group

Grocery

266 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by convenience (157), supermarket (63), bakery (24).

Amenity group

Retail

155 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by clothes (80), mobile phone (18), hardware (15).

Compare against another area

Keep at least one alternative area in view while you weigh cost, connectivity, planning pressure, and postcode follow-up coverage.

Featured area

Birmingham

Birmingham has 64,699 recorded sales with a median sold price of £220,000.

Open area research

Featured area

Leeds

Leeds has 62,603 recorded sales with a median sold price of £222,000.

Open area research

Featured area

North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire has 62,345 recorded sales with a median sold price of £260,000.

Open area research

Postcodes worth checking next

These are the best current postcode follow-up routes from the live area brief, so use them to move from early shortlist thinking into deeper due diligence.

Featured postcode

DT11 9FQ

DT11 9FQ has 58 recorded sales with a median sold price of £349,000.

Open postcode research

Featured postcode

BH21 2GF

BH21 2GF has 56 recorded sales with a median sold price of £385,000.

Open postcode research

Featured postcode

DT5 1FZ

DT5 1FZ has 56 recorded sales with a median sold price of £241,250.

Open postcode research

School comparison

Compare nearby schools

Open side-by-side school comparison for Dorset before you shortlist homes.

Open school comparison

Recommended tool

Check sold prices

Use the sold price comparator to pressure-test what local sales mean for your budget.

Open sold price comparator

Recommended tool

Check affordability

Use the affordability checker to see whether Dorset still fits your income and deposit.

Open affordability checker

Recommended tool

Check planning nearby

Open planning watch for a faster view of live nearby applications and recent decisions.

Open planning watch

Recommended guide

Read area guides

Open move guides that help you compare neighbourhoods, trade-offs, and local risks.

Browse area guides

Recommended guide

Use area planners and templates

Open planners and templates like the area comparison sheet, school visit checklist, and before you move checklist while you narrow your shortlist.

Open planners and templates

Follow up action

Ask vetted agents

We can route your enquiry to vetted partner estate agents covering Dorset.