St James Street is in Shaftesbury and in North Dorset district. SP7 8HQ is located in the Shaftesbury Town electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of North Dorset. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about St James Street, Shaftesbury, SP7 8HQ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: SP7 8HW, SP7 8HJ, SP7 8HG, SP7 8LA, SP7 8HR, SP7 8HP, SP7 8HN, SP7 8HF, SP7 8HL.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding SP7 8HQ has a female population much higher than UK average, with 56.3% of the population being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 54.8% | 56.3% | 1.5% | 51.0% | 5.3% |
| Male | 45.2% | 43.7% | -1.5% | 49.0% | -5.3% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of SP7 8HQ there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 57.2% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 15% | 16.3% | 1.3% | 37.9% | -21.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 60.4% | 57.2% | -3.2% | 44.2% | 13.0% |
| Married: Same sex | 1.1% | 0.9% | -0.2% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Civil partnership: Opposite sex | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| Separated | 1.6% | 1.4% | -0.2% | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| Divorced | 9.6% | 10.2% | 0.6% | 9.1% | 1.1% |
| Widowed | 12.3% | 13% | 0.7% | 6.1% | 6.9% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 36.7% | 40.9% | 4.2% | 48.4% | -7.5% |
| Good health | 41% | 38.5% | -2.5% | 33.6% | 4.9% |
| Fair health | 16.7% | 17.4% | 0.7% | 12.7% | 4.7% |
| Bad health | 4.3% | 3.2% | -1.1% | 4.0% | -0.8% |
| Very bad health | 1.4% | 0% | -1.4% | 1.2% | -1.2% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
This area stands out for its high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 47.5%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 16% | 12% | -4.0% | 18.2% | -6.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 9.1% | 7.8% | -1.3% | 9.6% | -1.8% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 15% | 8.8% | -6.2% | 13.4% | -4.6% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 6.9% | -0.1% | 5.3% | 1.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11.2% | 15.2% | 4.0% | 16.9% | -1.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 37.4% | 47.5% | 10.1% | 33.8% | 13.7% |
| Other | 4.3% | 1.8% | -2.5% | 2.8% | -1.0% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 97.6% identifying as such, significantly higher than the UK average of 81.4%. This indicates a lower level of ethnic diversity compared to the broader UK population.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.7% | -2.3% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
| Black African | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 2.5% | -2.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed Other | 0.5% | 0.4% | -0.1% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 97.6% | 97.6% | 0.0% | 81.4% | 16.2% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
In this area, 92.2% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is higher than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 91.4% | 92.2% | 0.8% | 83.2% | 9.0% |
| European Union | 1.4% | 3.3% | 1.9% | 6.1% | -2.8% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Africa | 1.4% | 0.4% | -1.0% | 2.7% | -2.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 3.8% | 2.5% | -1.3% | 5.6% | -3.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1.3% | -0.5% |
| Oceania | 1.4% | 0% | -1.4% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 91% | 91.8% | 0.8% | 83.2% | 8.6% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 9.8% | -3.7% |
| 5-10 Years | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 2.9% | -1.7% |
| 2-5 Years | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.2% | -1.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 9% | 0.4% | -8.6% | 1.9% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 88.6% | 76.7% | 11.9% |
| Ireland | 2.4% | 0.6% | 1.8% |
| France | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Portugal | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Other EU countries | 0.4% | 1.5% | -1.1% |
| Other Europe | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| South-East Asia | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 5.7% | 13.5% | -7.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 35.9% | 37.2% | -1.3% |
| Christian | 55.1% | 46.2% | 8.9% |
| Buddhist | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Jewish | 1.2% | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Muslim | 1.6% | 6.5% | -4.9% |
| Other religion | 1.2% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Not answered | 4.1% | 6.0% | -1.9% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around St James Street was 47.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 37.5% lower than the Shaftesbury Town average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
St James Street has the 14th lowest crime rate of 29 local areas in Shaftesbury Town and the 463rd highest crime rate of 1,293 local areas in Dorset .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 19.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -60.4%.

Households in this area have a similar level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 55% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79 St James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset Terraced, an established residential building | £397,000 | 2025-02-05 | £409,178 |
| 89 St James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset Terraced, an established residential building | £285,000 | 2024-07-10 | £294,949 |
| 75 St James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset Terraced, an established residential building | £385,000 | 2022-03-31 | £408,076 |
| Millennium Bungalow, 98B St James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset Other, an established residential building | £152,000 | 2021-09-28 | £159,301 |
| The Chantry St James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset Detached, an established residential building | £1,500,000 | 2021-09-24 | £1,691,344 |
SP7 8HQ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
The percentage of retired residents living in SP7 8HQ area is much higher than the country's average. According to Census 2011, 54% residents of this area were retired, while the average in the UK was 14%.
| Retired | 118 |
| Full-Time Employee | 53 |
| Self-Employed | 16 |
| Part-Time Employee | 15 |
| Looking after home or family | 5 |
| Unemployed | 4 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 2 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 0 |
| Education | 19 |
| Construction | 11 |
| Human health and social work activities | 9 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 4 |
| Manufacturing | 3 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 1 |
| Transport and storage | 1 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury St James's Street , SP7 8HQ | 3out of 4 | 126 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School Wincombe Lane , SP7 8PZ | 2out of 4 | 1,768 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Motcombe CofE Primary School Church Road , Motcombe SP7 9NT | 3out of 4 | 3,041 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ludwell Primary School Coronation Drive , Ludwell SP7 9ND | - not rated | 5,242 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School Pheasant Way , Shaftesbury Road SP8 4LP | 3out of 4 | 5,404 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury School Salisbury Road , SP7 8ER | 3out of 4 | 1,143 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Regis Preparatory School Motcombe Park , SP7 9QA | - not rated | 2,312 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Alfreds Kitchen | 17 High Street | 586 yd | |
| Ecco-Gelato | Gold Hill House, 21 High Street | 594 yd | |
| Toby's | 1 Bimport | 606 yd | |
| Salt Cellar | 1 - 4, Gold Hill Parade Gold Hill | 617 yd | |
| Coffee #1 | 26 High Street | 656 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Two Brewers | 24 St James Street | 349 yd | |
| The Grosvenor Arms | Grosvenor Hotel High Street | 610 yd | |
| The Mitre | 23 High Street | 654 yd | |
| Ship Inn | The Ship Inn Bleke Street | 700 yd | |
| Santonino Trattoria | 1 Mustons Lane | 785 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Coffee | Units 8-9, Gold Hill House, 21 High Street | 594 yd | |
| China Cottage | 4 Bell Street | 692 yd | |
| Golden Fish | 17 Coppice Street | 952 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisons Daily | Morrisons Daily Bell Street | 820 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury Oasis Swimming Pool Barton Hill | swimming pool | 1,009 yd |
| Shaftesbury Leisure Centre (Shaftesbury) (Closed) Salisbury Road | health and fitness suite | 1,012 yd |
| Shaftesbury School Salisbury Road | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, tennis courts | 1,017 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 40 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 153.2 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 23.8 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 115 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.