Dunster, Dulverton & Exmoor
Somerset West and Taunton 005 · 3 sub-areas · 5,526 residents
Somerset West and Taunton 005 is a quiet, predominantly residential part of Somerset, home to around 5,500 people and skewing noticeably older than most English neighbourhoods. A typical two-bedroom home lets for around £880 a month — well below the national median and a reflection of how different this corner of the South West feels from the commuter belt further east.
Dunster, Dulverton & Exmoor is a mid-density neighbourhood of Somerset in the South West region. It sits between busier and quieter parts of the local authority and isn't dominated by a single use — there's a mix of workplaces, housing and local services. The population skews older, with a long-settled feel and a high share of retirees.
Overview
What's it like to live in Dunster, Dulverton & Exmoor?
Greenspace is reachable but isn't on the immediate doorstep — most residents walk a few blocks to reach a park; there's effectively nothing within walking distance — eating out, drinking and shopping mean a drive; Crime sits around the national average — neither a notable concern nor a notable selling point; Transport links are limited — a car or e-bike is a practical assumption for most regular trips; rents are roughly in line with the national norm, at around £980 a month for a typical home; broadband infrastructure is patchy — worth checking the specific postcode.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 3 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Dunster, Dulverton & Exmoor in Somerset
Living in Dunster, Dulverton & Exmoor
This part of Somerset West and Taunton has a distinctly settled, unhurried character. Over a third of residents are aged 65 or over — one of the higher concentrations you'll find anywhere in the South West — and the area feels it: quieter streets, a high proportion of owner-occupied homes, and a pace of life that suits people who aren't chasing city amenities. Around two in three households own their home outright or with a mortgage.
Rent here is genuinely affordable by national standards. A two-bedroom home runs around £880 a month, roughly a quarter below the UK median for the same size, and a one-bedroom comes in at about £670. That said, cost in context matters: rent-to-take-home sits at around 50%, which is high for an area at this price point — a reminder that local salaries are modest, with residents earning a median of just under £30,000 a year.
The demographic picture is almost uniformly settled. Around 96% of residents were born in the UK, and the ethnic diversity index is very low at 3.3. Single-person households account for roughly one in three homes, a figure that aligns with the older age profile — many are likely retirees or older couples whose children have moved out. Families with children make up only about one in ten households.
Practically speaking, this is car country. Over half of working residents drive to work, and public transport use is negligible at under 1%. The nearest mainline rail station is around 25 km away in straight-line terms — a significant distance — so if you're reliant on trains for work or leisure, factor that in carefully. Broadband coverage, while lacking gigabit connections, meets basic usage standards. See the streets and sub-areas below for more.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Somerset West and Taunton 005 a nice place to live?
- It suits people who want a quiet, settled, affordable environment — particularly those in or near retirement. It's not the right fit if you rely on public transport, need city amenities close by, or are a young professional looking for a lively neighbourhood. Crime is low and the cost of living is reasonable by national standards, but local salaries are modest and transport links are limited.
- What is the rent in Somerset West and Taunton 005?
- A one-bedroom home runs around £670 a month, a two-bedroom about £880, and a three-bedroom roughly £1,090. These are estimates based on local sale prices scaled from county-level ONS data. Rents rose around 3% in the past year, broadly in line with wider Somerset trends.
- Is Somerset West and Taunton 005 safe?
- Yes, by national standards. The crime rate here is around 57 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, well below the UK average of roughly 80 per 1,000. The older, settled population and predominantly residential character of the area contribute to a lower crime environment.
- What's the commute from Somerset West and Taunton 005 to the nearest city?
- It's challenging. Over half of residents drive to work, and the nearest mainline rail station is around 25 km away. Public transport is very limited — fewer than 1% of residents use it to commute. Working from home is common here, with around 36% of residents doing so, which is a practical response to the connectivity constraints.
- Who lives in Somerset West and Taunton 005?
- Predominantly older, settled residents — over a third are aged 65 or above, and nearly two in three are over 50. Around two-thirds own their home. It's an overwhelmingly UK-born community with a low diversity index. Single-person households make up about a third of homes, likely reflecting older residents living alone.
- What schools are near Somerset West and Taunton 005?
- There are four schools within typical catchment distance, though none currently hold a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating — unusual against a national backdrop where roughly 89% of schools do. The nearest Outstanding school is around 33 km away. Families should check current Ofsted reports directly, as ratings change over time.
- How affordable is Somerset West and Taunton 005 compared to the rest of England?
- Rents are well below the national median — a two-bedroom here runs about £880 a month versus around £1,200 nationally. However, local salaries are modest at around £30,000 a year, and rent absorbs roughly half of a typical resident's take-home pay, so the affordability picture is more nuanced than the headline rent figures suggest.