Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 30 min4:55 am – 9:26 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 57 min8:08 am – 4:06 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People12,206 residentsin the Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas & Puddletown census areaMedian age 52.45,342 households72% of homes owner-occupied46% owned outright11% social rented, 16% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.2% unemployment rate57% of adults are economically active, 5,734 in work, 32% retiredMain industries: health and social work 16%, retail and wholesale 12%, education 10%Getting to work: 35% work from home, 57% go by car, 6% walk or cycle43% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages39% of adults hold a degree or higher13% have no qualifications, 6% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 22°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 9°C, lows 3°C1,044 mm of rain a year, 35 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November43 days of air frost, 11 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksAthelhampton House and Gardenshistoric site · under a mileHill Barnhill · 1.1 miNT Hardy's Cottagehistoric site · 3.5 miWarren Hillhill · 1.5 miPuddletown Forestforest · 2.6 miThe Broadlake · 3.5 miHigh Woodwoodland · under a milePallington Lakeswater · 1.9 miSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
Parks and green spacesOrchard Meadowplaying field · 1.1 miMays Woodpark · 3.6 mi · 48 haSouls Moor and Bere Stream Nature Reservepark · 4.0 mi · 3 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes18 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 5 Dec 201939 mi away, Bridgwater, SomersetMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 8 Feb 202628 mi away, Chard, SomersetSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at High risk within 500 m of the centrea 1 in 30 chance of flooding in any year, or greaterAlso medium, low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 4.2 · PM2.5 5.3 · PM10 9.5 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband56% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband95% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.4% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)5,610 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation50 m164 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 45 to 99 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalDorset County Hospital6.2 miGP surgeryPuddletown Surgery2 surgeries within 2 miles1.1 miPharmacyAutomeds Pharmacy LTD3.7 miDentistBere Regis Dental Practice4.3 miPolice stationDorset PoliceWareham5.6 miCash machineShell Bere Regis (581), A 354.5 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Overture Maps
SchoolsWithin 2 mi2 schools1 primary, 1 secondaryPrimaryPuddletown Church of England First Schoolages 4-9, 134 pupils1.1 miSecondarySt Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletownages 9-13, 441 pupils1.4 miCollegeCoastland College10.4 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportBournemouth Airport BOH21 miMajor airportBristol Airport BRS47 miRailway stationMoreton (Dorset)3.2 miBus stationBus StationPoole15 miFerryWeymouth Ferry Terminal11 miBus stops10 within a mileEV chargingRoam Charging StationDorchester3.2 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DT2 postcode district.
