Motcombe’s story
19 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Motcombe’s built-up area.
29% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
MotcombeDorset
A village of 1,366 in Dorset, South West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Chris Downer · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,366
Census 2021 · Dorset council
Median home
£424K
60 sales in 3 years
Median age
52.7
28% are 65+ · Dorset 25%
Degree level
39%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Motcombe a good place to live?
Motcombe has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is safety (A+): 3.2 violent and sexual offences and 2.7 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Its weakest is cost of living (D−): median sale £423,750, 8.1 years of area income; rent £1,056 a month.
What makes Motcombe stand out
The 3 things Motcombe does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade II*, including Church of St Mary; 5.7 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
100%of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Safety
Less crime than 100%
of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
39% of commuters travel under 5 km.
How Motcombe grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Motcombe is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SafetyA+Open →Cost of livingD−Open →HealthLife expectancy 82.4 for men, 86.1 for womenAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 11% of towns in England; secondary results beat 35% of towns in EnglandC−Open →Hazard risk2.1% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £55,398; 1.3% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsB+Open →WalkabilityC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History29% of homes built before 1919A−Open →Outdoors74% live within 400 m of a park; 25% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeBOpen →Civic life3.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Motcombe.
Safety
Motcombe has less crime per resident than 100% of UK towns
Violent crime ran at 3.2 per 1,000 residents a year, below both Dorset’s towns (16.9) and England’s towns (22). Police recorded 13 crimes inside Motcombe’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 2 reports of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences were 38% of the crimes; the police category includes harassment and stalking.
3.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 100% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual5
Burglary3
Damage & arson2
Other theft2
Public order1
Shoplifting0
Drugs0
Vehicle crime0
Anti-social2
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.
3.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
13
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL
SchoolsC−
Results at Motcombe’s schools trail 83% of towns in England
Its one school is below.
C−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motcombe CofE Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 146 | C− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade D−
Motcombe is a town of owners: 80% of households own their home, above Dorset’s towns and England’s towns
For Motcombe, that is above both Dorset’s towns (66%) and England’s towns (61%). Social housing holds 4% of households.
£424Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Motcombe£424K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £497,500 | 30 |
| Semi-detached | £385,000 | 17 |
| Terraced | £280,000 | 7 |
| Flat or maisonette | £241,000 | 6 |
80%
of households own their home · England 61%
14%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,056
average private rent a month, Dorset council area
£2,696
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
Just 2.1% of people in Motcombe say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in Dorset’s towns and England’s towns
Motcombe sits below both Dorset’s towns (5.3%) and England’s towns (5.2%) on this measure. Women here live to 86.1 on average and men to 82.4 (2019–23). 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.
86%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 86%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2021 | Motcombe | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 86% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.1% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 14% | 19% | 17% |
82.4
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86.1
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL
History
Motcombe keeps more of its old housing than Dorset or England’s towns: 29% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
That puts Motcombe above both Dorset’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (16%). Motcombe has 139 listed buildings for every 10,000 residents. Motcombe has 19 listed buildings on Historic England’s list: 0 Grade I, 1 Grade II*.
19listed buildingsA−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II18
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of St Mary Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
29%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
139
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Fewer commuters in Motcombe walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in Dorset’s towns or England’s towns: 12%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 29% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
On this, Motcombe is below both Dorset’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (27%). 85% of commuters drove to work at the census.
12%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving85%
On foot9%
Bus1%
Bicycle1%
Train1%
39%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
£55K
mean household income, before tax
1.3%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 40% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Motcombe has fewer young adults than Dorset’s towns or England’s towns: 7.9% are 15 to 24
In the comparison, Motcombe comes below both Dorset’s towns (11%) and England’s towns (12%). Over-65s are 28% of the population. The median resident of Motcombe is 52.7 years old.
52.7median age
MotcombeDorsetEngland
Ages · share of residents
28%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications11%
Apprenticeship5%
A levels or similar20%
Degree level39%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 92 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.
| Motcombe | Dorset | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7.9% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 16% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 28% | 25% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 11% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.3% | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 20% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 39% | 31% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Dorset and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Shaftsbury Abbey Museum and 2 more in and around Motcombe
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Motcombe. Best known first.
Abbey or prioryShaftsbury Abbey Museum1.6 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumGold Hill1.7 km outside town, to the southeastMuseumMuseumGillingham Museum3.4 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 (1)
- Shaftsbury Abbey Museum: Chris Downer, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Motcombe
14pages on Motcombe
The big questions
SafetyA+3.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingD−Median home £424K · rent £1,056 a monthHousing9 sold in 12 months · busiest street The StreetSchoolsC−1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 82.4 (men), 86.1 (women)Work & commuteB+51% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC−2.1% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Motcombe’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
ShaftesburyGillinghamMereMarnhullTisburySturminster NewtonChild OkefordMotcombe
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motcombe | 1,366 | — | — | D− | A+ | A |
| Shaftesbury | 9,163 | 2.1 | C− | C− | C+ | B |
| Gillingham | 11,009 | 2.8 | C+ | C− | B | B |
| Mere | 2,808 | 4.7 | A− | B | B | A− |
| Marnhull | 1,466 | 5.9 | — | D | A− | B |
| Tisbury | 2,274 | 6.2 | — | B | C+ | A |
| Sturminster Newton | 3,565 | 7.8 | C− | C− | C+ | B− |
| Child Okeford | 1,159 | 8.1 | — | D | A | A |
Marnhull, Tisbury and Child Okeford have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Motcombe
How many listed buildings are there in Motcombe?
That is 5.7 times the typical UK town for its size.
How much is council tax in Motcombe?
Band D council tax in Motcombe is £2,696 for 2026–27, more than in 95% 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 Motcombe good?
GCSE results trail 65% of towns in England, and primary results trail 89% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Dorset council.
About Motcombe
Village in Dorset, England
Motcombe is a built-up area of 1,366 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
- 1,366 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Dorset
- County
- Dorset
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006148
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.