Socio-economic statistics for Dorchester, Dorset

Socio-economic statistics for Dorchester, Dorset

Is Dorchester in Dorset a nice place to live or is it a bit rough? We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics and demographics from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Dorchester older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Dorchester and Dorset? What is the claimant count in Dorchester and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

Dorchester Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Dorchester residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

  • Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
  • Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
  • Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
  • Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Dorchester to the national average for England.
LevelDorchester WestEngland
No Qualifications15.35%18.08%
Level 19.76%9.69%
Level 213.93%13.32%
Apprenticeship6.17%5.32%
Level 317.12%16.92%
Level 434.71%33.92%

Dorchester & Dorset Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Dorchester in the Dorset local area district.

AreaBorn in UKBorn outside UK
Dorchester West90.02%9.98%
Dorset93.49%6.51%
South West89.8%10.2%
England82.65%17.35%

Dorchester compared to other wards in Dorset

#WardBorn in UKBorn outside UK
1Melcombe Regis85.46%14.54%
2Cranborne Chase86.53%13.47%
3Sturminster Newton87.83%12.17%
4Dorchester Poundbury89.34%10.66%
5Dorchester West90.02%9.98%
6Sherborne East90.56%9.44%
7Beacon90.75%9.25%
8Sherborne West91.26%8.74%
9Shaftesbury Town91.52%8.48%
10Dorchester East92.01%7.99%
11West Purbeck92.38%7.62%
12Blandford92.47%7.53%
13Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants92.63%7.37%
14Swanage92.72%7.28%
15St Leonards & St Ives92.77%7.23%
16Gillingham92.86%7.14%
17Ferndown South93.29%6.71%
18Ferndown North93.32%6.68%
19Yetminster93.38%6.62%
20Crossways93.5%6.5%
21Wimborne Minster93.67%6.33%
22Westham93.75%6.25%
23Chalk Valleys93.78%6.22%
24Chesil Bank93.84%6.16%
25Radipole93.86%6.14%
26Lyme & Charmouth93.91%6.09%
27South East Purbeck93.98%6.02%
28Bridport94.05%5.95%
29Sherborne Rural94.17%5.83%
30West Parley94.21%5.79%
31Beaminster94.27%5.73%
32West Moors & Three Legged Cross94.34%5.66%
33Charminster St Mary's94.4%5.6%
34Eggardon94.45%5.55%
35Blackmore Vale94.65%5.35%
36Wareham94.72%5.28%
37Lytchett Matravers & Upton94.78%5.22%
38Littlemoor & Preston94.78%5.22%
39Verwood94.84%5.16%
40Corfe Mullen94.85%5.15%
41Rodwell & Wyke94.86%5.14%
42Portland94.87%5.13%
43Colehill & Wimborne Minster East94.95%5.05%
44Upwey & Broadwey95%5%
45Winterborne North95.12%4.88%
46Stalbridge & Marnhull95.23%4.77%
47Marshwood Vale95.29%4.71%
48Chickerell95.34%4.66%
49Puddletown & Lower Winterborne95.41%4.59%
50Cranborne & Alderholt95.67%4.33%
51Winterborne & Broadmayne95.71%4.29%
52Stour & Allen Vale95.85%4.15%
';Dorchester is ranked 5 out of 52 wards in Dorset for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

What are the occupations of the residents of Dorchester?

The largest employment sector in Dorchester is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
SectorProportion
Professional Occupations23.05%
Caring, leisure & Other Services11.97%
Skilled Trades11.27%
Associate Professional & Technical11.1%
Elementary Occupations10.94%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials10.79%
Administrative & Secretarial8.18%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives5.13%

Dorchester Health Statistics

Dorchester West has a significantly lower proportion of residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
AreaVGGFBVB
Dorchester West42.86%35.62%15.58%4.6%1.33%
Dorset44.88%35.79%14.23%4%1.1%
South West47.6%34.21%13.12%3.95%1.12%
England48.49%33.71%12.65%3.98%1.17%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Dorchester Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Dorchester West.
Age BandProportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

Dorchester Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of Dorset.
AreaUnemployedYearly Change
Dorset2.4%-0.3%
South West2.5%-0.4%
England3.8%-0.3%
UK3.7%-0.3%
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023
The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Dorchester on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Dorchester.
Economic StatusProportion
In Employment52.98%
In Part-Time Work30.73%
Unemployed3.62%
69.27% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Dorchester

How many residents own or rent their home in Dorchester and Dorset

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Dorchester either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 62.2 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 37.8 of Dorchester residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
AreaOwnedRented
Dorchester West62.2%37.8%
Dorset70.4%29.6%
South West65.88%34.12%
England61.31%38.69%

Dorchester has a higher level of home ownership than than the national average.

Dorchester compared to other wards in Dorset

#WardOwnedRented
1West Parley90.7%9.3%
2St Leonards & St Ives88.06%11.94%
3Colehill & Wimborne Minster East84.35%15.65%
4Verwood82.46%17.54%
5Corfe Mullen82.39%17.61%
6Ferndown North82.24%17.76%
7West Moors & Three Legged Cross80.75%19.25%
8Beacon (Dorset)79.25%20.75%
9Upwey & Broadwey78.41%21.59%
10Ferndown South76.96%23.04%
11Marshwood Vale76.57%23.43%
12Lytchett Matravers & Upton75.68%24.32%
13Stalbridge & Marnhull74.95%25.05%
14Winterborne & Broadmayne73.99%26.01%
15Crossways73.96%26.04%
16Blackmore Vale73.85%26.15%
17Cranborne & Alderholt73.37%26.63%
18Gillingham72.45%27.55%
19Yetminster72.41%27.59%
20Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants72.4%27.6%
21Stour & Allen Vale72.34%27.66%
22Chickerell72.09%27.91%
23Chesil Bank71.95%28.05%
24Chalk Valleys71.48%28.52%
25Charminster St Mary's71.27%28.73%
26Winterborne North71.22%28.78%
27Puddletown & Lower Winterborne70.97%29.04%
28Radipole70.83%29.17%
29Sherborne Rural70.72%29.28%
30Lyme & Charmouth70.62%29.38%
31Wareham70.5%29.5%
32Littlemoor & Preston70.5%29.5%
33Eggardon70.49%29.51%
34Swanage69.69%30.31%
35Beaminster67.34%32.67%
36South East Purbeck67.08%32.92%
37Dorchester East67.07%32.93%
38Rodwell & Wyke66.9%33.1%
39Bridport66.37%33.63%
40Portland (Dorset)64.94%35.06%
41Sturminster Newton63.96%36.04%
42Blandford63.21%36.79%
43Sherborne East63.01%36.99%
44Shaftesbury Town62.62%37.38%
45Dorchester West62.2%37.8%
46West Purbeck59.72%40.28%
47Sherborne West58.7%41.3%
48Wimborne Minster57.87%42.13%
49Westham57.44%42.56%
50Dorchester Poundbury56.32%43.68%
51Cranborne Chase55.27%44.73%
52Melcombe Regis42.6%57.4%
Dorchester is ranked 45 out of 52 wards in Dorset for the percentage of home owners.

What is the population of Dorchester and Dorset?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Dorset including Dorchester. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

WardPopulation
Dorset Total0



Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.