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Living in Dorchester

Dorchester (Dorset) is a city in the United Kingdom. Population density was 3,917.9 people per km² in 2021. Owner occupation accounted for 64.7% of homes in March 2021. The employment rate was 53.2% in March 2021. In March 2021, the foreign population was 1,990. Its population was 21,360 in March 2021. The city covered 5.5 km² in December 2022.

Higher unemployment than 69% of United Kingdom cities that publish it and cleaner air than 77% of United Kingdom cities that publish it.

Which United Kingdom-wide rules apply when you move to Dorchester?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in United KingdomNational rates and thresholds that apply in Dorchester.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

No city-level rent or cost figure is published for Dorchester yet. United Kingdom has country-level context; it is not substituted for this city.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Dwellings10,000 count21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Dorchester?

The unemployment rate is 4.4 % (2025-2026). Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk16

Unemployment across cities in United KingdomUnemployment in Dorchester is 4.4%. Of 384 cities with data, 230 have unemployment of 2 to under 4%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in United Kingdom per band9 cities: 0% to under 2%90–2230 cities: 2% to under 4%2302–4107 cities: 4% to under 6%1074–6Dorchester 4.4%30 cities: 6% to under 8%306–84 cities: 8% to under 10%48–103 cities: 10% to under 12%310–121 city: 16% to under 18%116–18

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Gigabit broadband availability88.43 %Not statedwww.ofcom.org.uk18Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Employment rate53.2 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley12Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Superfast broadband availability99.66 %Not statedwww.ofcom.org.uk18Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Median gross salary (regional)3,536 EUR/month31 Dec 2024www.ons.gov.uk17Official
Unemployment rate4.4 %country median 3.5%31 Dec 2025www.nomisweb.co.uk16Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Dorchester. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Jobcentre Plus — Public employment service

Department for Work and Pensions

Job SearchUnemployment Claim
Open official service
Open the United Kingdom service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Dorchester. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Schools8 count7 Jul 2026DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract3Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Primary School Count16 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)2Official
School Count24 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)2Official

Safety

Recorded crime across major citiesDorchester highlighted among comparable cities
Recorded crime across major cities with Dorchester highlighted14,267Manchester13,099Bristol12,409Liverpool11,700Bradford11,462Leeds11,416Birmingham11,001Leicester9,693Sheffield9,379Cardiff8,836Coventry757Glasgow549Edinburghrecorded incidents per 100k residents
MetricValuePeriodSource
Violent crime per 100,000 residents2,018 per 100,000Apr 2026data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary1Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Burglary per 100,000 residents145.1 per 100,000Apr 2026data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary1Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Airport Direct Destinations Count17 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights13Official
Nearest Major Airport Distance Km42 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports14Official
Nearest Major Airport IataBOH3 Aug 2026OurAirports14Official

Climate and air quality

Annual PM2.5 was 6.05 µg/m³ in 2025. Annual NO₂ was 5.43 µg/m³ in 2025. Annual PM10 was 10.7 µg/m³ in 2025.

Is the air quality good in Dorchester?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 6.1 µg/m³ (2025) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

  • PM2.5 — annual mean: 6.05 µg/m³ · official estimated total annual mean background concentration11
Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Dorchester average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C0°10°20°JFMAMJJASOND19°5°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Dorchester average monthly precipitation, mm0255075100745346484341374746768379JFMAMJJASONDmm
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Dorchester annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5256.1PM2.5154010.7PM1010405.4NO₂µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in United KingdomAnnual PM2.5 in Dorchester is 6.1 µg/m³. Of 104 cities with data, 52 have annual PM2.5 of 6 to under 7 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in United Kingdom per band1 city: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³14–522 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³225–652 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³526–7Dorchester 6.127 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³277–82 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³28–9

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
NO₂ — annual mean5.43 µg/m³country median 7.82025official estimated total annual mean background concentration9Official
PM10 — annual mean10.73 µg/m³country median 11.52025official estimated total annual mean background concentration10Official
PM2.5 — annual mean6.05 µg/m³country median 6.62025official estimated total annual mean background concentration11Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 8.7 · Feb 8.4 · Mar 9.7 · Apr 11.9 · May 14.5 · Jun 17 · Jul 19 · Aug 19.4 · Sep 18.1 · Oct 15 · Nov 11.9 · Dec 9.6 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station ISLE OF PORTLAND15Official · nearest-station reading
Average night-time low by monthJan 5.2 · Feb 4.7 · Mar 5.6 · Apr 7 · May 9.5 · Jun 12.2 · Jul 14.3 · Aug 14.8 · Sep 13.4 · Oct 11.1 · Nov 8.2 · Dec 6 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station ISLE OF PORTLAND15Official · nearest-station reading
Average temperature by monthJan 7 · Feb 6.6 · Mar 7.7 · Apr 9.4 · May 12 · Jun 14.6 · Jul 16.6 · Aug 17.1 · Sep 15.7 · Oct 13.1 · Nov 10.1 · Dec 7.8 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station ISLE OF PORTLAND15Official · nearest-station reading
Average precipitation by monthJan 74.1 · Feb 52.6 · Mar 46.3 · Apr 47.6 · May 42.7 · Jun 41.1 · Jul 36.9 · Aug 47.2 · Sep 46.2 · Oct 76.4 · Nov 82.6 · Dec 78.6 mm1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station ISLE OF PORTLAND15Official · nearest-station reading

Cities of a similar size in United Kingdom

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All United Kingdom cities
Hebburn21,345 residentsMarch21,345 residentsBingley21,330 residentsStaines21,325 residentsWorkington21,275 residentsKirkby in Ashfield21,270 residents

Population and city profile

How many people live in Dorchester?

The published population was 21,360 people in March 2021. Source: Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.5

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Dorchester residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport90.7%Foreign residents 9.3%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Area5.45 km²Dec 2022ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
City area5.45 km²Dec 2022Exact 2022 Built Up Area polygon area for BUA22CD in EPSG:27700, converted from square metres to km2.4Official
Foreign residents1,990 people21 Mar 2021Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts.5Official
GP practices per 10,000 residents2.34 per 10,000 people7 Jul 2026NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates6Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Schools per 10,000 residents3.75 per 10,000 people7 Jul 2026DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract3Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Population density3,918 people/km²21 Mar 2021www.ons.gov.uk5Official · built-up-area figure
Population21,360 people21 Mar 2021Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.5Official

International community in Dorchester

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Usual residents living in the individual ONS Built-up Area on Census Day 21 March 2021 · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Europe: United Kingdom19,36590.7%
Non-EU countries (including British Overseas)1,3006.1%
Europe: EU countries6903.2%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source5

Is Dorchester a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker59%strong on work, weak on safety · range 48–70%
Skilled employee64%strong on work, weak on safety · range 54–74%
Student64%strong on education, weak on safety · range 54–74%
Family64%strong on family, weak on safety · range 53–75%
Retirement60%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 47–73%
Foreign residents1,990 people21 Mar 2021Official source · Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts.
Population21,360 people21 Mar 2021Official source · Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.
Dwellings10,000 count21 Mar 2021Official source · ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
Gigabit broadband availability88.43 %Not statedIndependent source · www.ofcom.org.uk
Employment rate53.2 %21 Mar 2021Official source · ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
Superfast broadband availability99.66 %Not statedIndependent source · www.ofcom.org.uk
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-27

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Owner-occupied homes64.65 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
GP practices5 count7 Jul 2026NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates6Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Residents born abroad9.3 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
G07 Bachelors Or Higher Share Pct37.1 %31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics7Official
G09 Total Workers 16plus9,570 workers31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics7Official
Median age48 years21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Universities0 count3 Aug 2026Office for Students8Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Dorchester under the national coverage rules.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Dorchester?

The published population was 21,360 people in March 2021. Source: Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales..

Is the air quality good in Dorchester?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 6.1 µg/m³ (2025) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: official estimated total annual mean background concentration.

What is the unemployment rate in Dorchester?

The unemployment rate is 4.4 % (2025-2026). Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk.

What is the typical salary around Dorchester?

The median gross salary is 3,536 EUR/month. Source: www.ons.gov.uk.

How many foreign residents live in Dorchester?

1,990 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts..

Is Dorchester a good place to live?

Dorchester may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

How many people born in Europe: EU countries live in Dorchester?

The official country of birth distribution records 690 people (3.2%) in the source-defined population for 2021 Census. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Dorchester, United Kingdom: salary, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/dorchester/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_dorchester-united-kingdom-salary-jobs_0383f87f0289,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Dorchester, United Kingdom: salary, jobs},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/dorchester/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Dorchester, United Kingdom: salary, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/dorchester/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary data.police.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  2. Department for Education (GIAS) get-information-schools.service.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-03
  3. DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract get-information-schools.service.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  4. Exact 2022 Built Up Area polygon area for BUA22CD in EPSG:27700, converted from square metres to km2. services1.arcgis.com · checked 2026-07-15
  5. Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts. ons.gov.uk · checked 2021-03-21
  6. NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates digital.nhs.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  7. Office for National Statistics ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-07
  8. Office for Students officeforstudents.org.uk · checked 2026-08-03
  9. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
  10. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
Show 8 more sources
  1. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
  2. ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-05
  3. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
  4. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  5. WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station ISLE OF PORTLAND WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 · ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-31
  6. www.nomisweb.co.uk nomisweb.co.uk · checked 2026-08-26
  7. www.ons.gov.uk ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-27
  8. www.ofcom.org.uk ofcom.org.uk · checked 2026-07-15

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