Ferndown’s story
1 listed building
Historic England lists them inside Ferndown’s built-up area, along with 2 scheduled monuments.
3% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
FerndownDorset
A town of 13,267 in Dorset, South West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Chris Downer · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
13,267
Census 2021 · Dorset council
Median home
£400K
789 sales in 3 years
Median age
58.6
40% are 65+ · Dorset 25%
Degree level
28%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
B−
#8 of 30 in Dorset
Is Ferndown a good place to live?
Ferndown grades B− overall against UK towns: better than 52% of UK towns, and #8 of 30 in Dorset. Its strongest subject is hazard risk (A): 0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Its weakest is cost of living (D−): median sale £400,000, 7.6 years of area income; rent £1,056 a month.
What makes Ferndown stand out
The 3 things Ferndown does most differently from other towns.
98%of UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people
Safety
of UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
40% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
How Ferndown grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Ferndown is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Cost of livingD−Open →Hazard riskAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 19% of towns in England; secondary results beat 28% of towns in EnglandC−Open →SafetyA−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £52,226B+Open →HealthLife expectancy 80.7 for men, 85.6 for womenB+Open →WalkabilityC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History1 listed buildingD−Open →Outdoors13% live within 400 m of a park; 0.7 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsCOpen →Civic life2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 47% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ferndown.
Who lives here
An older town: 40% of people in Ferndown are 65 or over, more than in Dorset’s towns and across England’s towns
Among adults, 28% have a degree. 7.1% of residents are 15 to 24, below Dorset’s towns (11%) and England’s towns (12%) alike. Ages in Ferndown split evenly at 58.6: half are older, half younger.
58.6median age
FerndownDorsetEngland
Ages · share of residents
40%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications18%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level28%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 90 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.
| Ferndown | Dorset | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 11% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7.1% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 16% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 25% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 40% | 25% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 8.1% | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 28% | 31% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Dorset and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsC−
Ferndown’s schools fall behind 82% of towns in England on results
Two of its 3 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed. Key Stage 2 results at the 6 primary schools within 3 km: 55% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). GCSE results at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km: 38% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 43.1.
C−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndown First SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 348 | – |
| Ferndown Upper SchoolLargest secondary schoolSecondary | Secondary | 1,134 | B− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 3 schools →
HousingCost of living grade D−
Ferndown is a town of owners: 83% of households own their home, above Dorset’s towns and England’s towns
11% rent privately, lower than both Dorset’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (21%). Council and housing-body homes hold 5% of households. Behind the median of £400,000: 789 standard sales inside Ferndown’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026.
£400Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Ferndown£400K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £500,000 | 444 |
| Semi-detached | £343,500 | 88 |
| Terraced | £320,000 | 37 |
| Flat or maisonette | £225,000 | 220 |
83%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,056
average private rent a month, Dorset council area
£2,754
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
History
Ferndown’s one listed building is Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Homes from before 1919 make up 3% of the total, lower than both Dorset’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (16%). 2 scheduled monuments lie in Ferndown.
1listed buildingsD−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II1
2
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
3%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
1
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Safety
Among the 645 UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people, Ferndown records less crime per resident than 98% of them
Police recorded 389 crimes inside Ferndown’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 152 reports of anti-social behaviour. Per 1,000 residents, 13.8 violent crimes are recorded each year. Of all the crimes, 45% were violence and sexual offences.
13.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 98% of the 645 UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual175
Other theft44
Damage & arson40
Shoplifting39
Burglary26
Public order25
Vehicle crime22
Drugs8
Anti-social152
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.
13.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.2
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
10
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
389
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.
Health
More people in Ferndown live with a disability than in Dorset’s towns or across England’s towns: 21%
At the census, nearly four fifths of people in Ferndown called their health good or very good, below Dorset’s towns (81%) and England’s towns (82%) alike. 2 GP practices serve the town; nine in ten patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. Men in Ferndown can expect to live to 80.7, women to 85.6 (2019–23).
79%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 79%Fair 16%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Ferndown | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 79% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 21% | 19% | 17% |
80.7
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.6
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · No age adjustment applies to these census answers, which flatter younger towns; the Health Grade’s measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them, do allow for age.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Ferndown than in Dorset’s towns or England’s towns: 12%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 33% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The car took 86% of commuters, above both Dorset’s towns (76%) and England’s towns (70%). 32% of commuters travelled under 5 km to work. In 2026, 1.9% of 16 to 64s were claiming unemployment benefits.
12%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving86%
On foot8%
Bicycle3%
Bus1%
32%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
33%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£52K
mean household income, before tax
1.9%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 39% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Bournemouth Aviation Museum and 4 more in and around Ferndown
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Ferndown. Best known first.
MuseumBournemouth Aviation Museum3.1 km outside town, to the southeast
Theme parkAdventure Wonderland2.9 km outside town, to the southeast
MuseumMuseum of East Dorset4.2 km outside town, to the westAttractionAttractionWalford Mill Crafts4.2 km outside town, to the westAttractionAttractionHoneyBrook Farm4.8 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)
- Bournemouth Aviation Museum: Nimbus227, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Adventure Wonderland: Mike Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Museum of East Dorset: Mike Searle, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ferndown
14pages on Ferndown
The big questions
SafetyA−13.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingD−Median home £400K · rent £1,056 a monthHousing229 sold in 12 months · busiest street Ringwood RoadSchoolsC−3 state schoolsHealthB+Life expectancy 80.7 (men), 85.6 (women)Work & commuteB+54% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Ferndown’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
West ParleyWest MoorsBearwoodWimborne MinsterAshley HeathMerleyThree Legged CrossFerndown
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndown | 13,267 | — | B− | D− | A− | B+ |
| West Parley | 3,665 | 1.1 | A | D− | A | A |
| West Moors | 10,432 | 1.3 | C− | D | B+ | B− |
| Bearwood | 4,134 | 3 | C | D | C+ | C |
| Wimborne Minster | 16,629 | 3.3 | C+ | D− | B− | A− |
| Ashley Heath | 7,151 | 3.4 | B | D− | A− | A |
| Merley | 5,489 | 3.5 | A | D− | A+ | A |
| Three Legged Cross | 1,129 | 3.5 | — | D | C− | B− |
Three Legged Cross has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Ferndown
How much is council tax in Ferndown?
Band D council tax in Ferndown is £2,754 for 2026–27, more than in 98% 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.
Are schools in Ferndown good?
GCSE results trail 72% of towns in England, and primary results trail 81% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). Ferndown has 3 state schools; places are handled by Dorset council.
About Ferndown
Town in Dorset, England
Ferndown is a built-up area of 13,267 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
- 13,267 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Dorset
- County
- Dorset
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006612
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.