Alderholt’s story
No listed buildings inside Alderholt’s built-up area
7% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
AlderholtDorset
In Dorset, South West, this town has 2,868 residents.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Clive Perrin · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,868
Census 2021 · Dorset council
Median home
£390K
117 sales in 3 years
Median age
50.4
25% are 65+ · Dorset 25%
Degree level
34%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
6%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
B
#7 of 30 in Dorset
Is Alderholt a good place to live?
Real strengths, and real weak spots. Health is its strong suit — men here can expect to live to 83.5, women to 89.4. It is strong on safety as well (A−) — 9.9 violent and sexual offences and 10.3 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. The catch is cost of living: homes sell for a median £390,000, about 7.4 times local household income. Walkability is weaker too: 6% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Put together, the subjects come to a B overall, ranking #7 of 30 in Dorset. Nationally, it does better than 63% of UK towns. Its other grades sit near the middle: B− for schools and B for jobs & income.
Figures: life expectancy and income, ONS · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021 · claimants, DWP.
What makes Alderholt stand out
The 3 things Alderholt does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
6% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
89%of UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Safety
of UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Life expectancy, against UK towns
Health
89.4 and 83.5 years
Life expectancy at birth, women and men: longer than in 97% of UK towns
OHID Fingertips, 2019–23.
How Alderholt grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Alderholt is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
WalkabilityIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedD−Open →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesDOpen →HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA−Open →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentBOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 47% of towns in EnglandB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History0 listed buildingsD−Open →Outdoors43% live within 400 m of a park; 31% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeCOpen →Civic life4.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Alderholt.
History
Alderholt has fewer old homes than Dorset’s towns or England’s towns: 7% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Historic England’s list has no building inside Alderholt’s built-up area.
0listed buildingsD−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II0
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
7%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
0
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
SchoolsB−
Alderholt’s schools fall behind 53% of towns in England on results
Key Stage 2 results at the one primary school within 3 km: 61% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Its only school is listed below.
B−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, AlderholtLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 125 | – |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Long commutes are the norm in Alderholt: just 26% travel under 5 km, below Dorset’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 31% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
1.8% of people aged 16 to 64 were on unemployment benefits in 2026. The car took 92% of commuters, above Dorset’s towns (76%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. Income per household averages £61K a year, before tax.
6%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving92%
On foot5%
Bicycle1%
26%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
31%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£61K
mean household income, before tax
1.8%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D−
Walkability: more walkable than 4% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
HousingCost of living grade D
Most households in Alderholt own their home: 86%, more than in Dorset’s towns or across England’s towns
9% rent privately, below Dorset’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (21%) alike. Social renters account for 5% of households. Private rents average £1,056 a month across the Dorset council area.
£390Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Alderholt£390K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £465,000 | 69 |
| Semi-detached | £324,500 | 28 |
| Terraced | £272,500 | 10 |
| Flat or maisonette | £171,000 | 10 |
86%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,056
average private rent a month, Dorset council area
£2,708
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
Lifespans in Alderholt run longer than in 97% of UK towns
The nearest A&E to Alderholt is Salisbury District Hospital, 9.3 miles away. At the census, 3.9% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, below Dorset’s towns (5.3%) and England’s towns (5.2%) alike. The town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 2.1 miles away. Self-reported good health: 85% of the town’s residents.
85%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 85%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Alderholt | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 85% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.9% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 19% | 17% |
83.5
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
89.4
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These answers aren’t adjusted for age, so young towns look healthier; the Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
Safety
Among the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people, Alderholt records less crime per resident than 89% of them
A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 60 offences in Alderholt and 24 cases of nuisance behaviour. 38% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences. There were 5.9 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), lower than both Dorset’s towns (9.8) and England’s towns (7.8).
9.9violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 89% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual23
Damage & arson12
Other theft9
Burglary7
Public order5
Vehicle crime3
Weapons1
Shoplifting0
Anti-social24
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
9.9
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
10.3
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.9
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
60
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
Who lives here
Few people in Alderholt are 15 to 24: 9.6%, fewer than in Dorset’s towns and England’s towns
Typical age in Alderholt: 50.4, the median. People 65 and over make up 25% of the town, close to Dorset’s towns (25%) and above England’s towns (18%). Graduates make up just over a third of adults.
50.4median age
AlderholtDorsetEngland
Ages · share of residents
25%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications13%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level34%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Alderholt | Dorset | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.6% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 19% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 25% | 25% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.5% | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 34% | 31% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Dorset and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Rockbourne Roman Villa and 6 more in and around Alderholt
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Alderholt. Best known first.
MuseumRockbourne Roman Villa3.7 km outside town, to the north
Historic houseSomerley4 km outside town, to the south
Historic houseEdmondsham House4.7 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumFordingbridge Museum2.5 km outside town, to the northeastWater parkWater parkNew Forest Water Park2.7 km outside town, to the eastAttractionAttractionDorset Heavy Horse Centre3.5 km outside town, to the westPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- Rockbourne Roman Villa: Nigel Freeman, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Somerley: Somerley_House.JPG: Wulfrunian1 derivative work: Pasicles, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Edmondsham House: Mike Searle, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Alderholt
14pages on Alderholt
The big questions
SafetyA−9.9 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingDMedian home £390K · rent £1,056 a monthHousing32 sold in 12 months · busiest street Marlow CloseSchoolsB−1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 83.5 (men), 89.4 (women)Work & commuteB52% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Alderholt’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
SandleheathFordingbridgeVerwoodThree Legged CrossRingwoodAshley HeathHightownAlderholt
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alderholt | 2,868 | — | B | D | A− | A |
| Sandleheath | 1,546 | 1.6 | — | D | A | A− |
| Fordingbridge | 4,947 | 2.2 | C+ | C− | C | B+ |
| Verwood | 13,706 | 3.1 | A− | D | A | A− |
| Three Legged Cross | 1,129 | 4.7 | — | D | C− | B− |
| Ringwood | 12,789 | 4.9 | B− | C− | C | B+ |
| Ashley Heath | 7,151 | 5.3 | B | D− | A− | A |
| Hightown | 1,296 | 5.6 | — | D | A+ | A |
Sandleheath, Three Legged Cross and Hightown have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Alderholt
How much is council tax in Alderholt?
Band D council tax in Alderholt is £2,708 for 2026–27, more than in 96% of UK towns (council, county, police and fire, plus the parish or town council). Your own bill depends on your home’s band; check it on GOV.UK.
Is Alderholt expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £390,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £171,000, terraced houses £272,500, semi-detached houses £324,500 and detached houses £465,000.
About Alderholt
Town in Dorset, England
Alderholt is a built-up area of 2,868 people, in the Dorset council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 2,868 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Dorset
- County
- Dorset
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006420
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.