Shepton Mallet might be a quiet market town on the surface — but dig into the data, and a more complex picture starts to emerge.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics paint a detailed portrait of the town's population, work, housing, and transport habits. And it turns out, Shepton's not just surviving — it's working hard, driving more, and holding tight to its local roots.

People, homes and families Shepton's population hit 10,500 in 2022, spread across roughly 4,600 households. That's mid-sized for Somerset, but this is no commuter outpost — 65% of households are single-family homes, and 83% are traditional houses or bungalows. The typical home has three bedrooms, and overcrowding is rare.

Most people either own outright (32.8%) or have a mortgage (31.5%), while about one in five rent privately. Just under 14% live in social housing.

Younger workers, fewer degrees Employment in Shepton is higher than average — 65% of working-age residents are in a job, compared with 57% nationally. But the kind of work is very different. There are fewer professionals and managers, and more people working with their hands: skilled trades, machine operatives, and care roles are all above average.

Only 26.7% of locals have a degree or higher-level qualification, compared with 33.9% across England. And 19.1% have no qualifications at all.

Shepton's driving habit Here's where Shepton really breaks from the national picture: transport. A massive 58.7% of people drive to work — way above the national average of 44.5% — and only 20% work from home. Just 14% of homes have no car, and nearly half own two or more.

Given the patchy public transport and rural surroundings, it's no surprise. But it does highlight the need for decent roads, parking, and transport alternatives.

Local, White, and rooted Shepton is less diverse than the national average. Just under 12% of residents were born outside the UK, compared with 17.4% nationally. Nearly 97% identify as White, and over 90% have a UK identity only. Religion is mostly split between Christian (48.8%) and no religion (42.5%).

Health, housing, and heat Most residents report being in good or very good health. Disability rates are slightly below the national average. The town recorded 114 births and 97 deaths in 2023 — a small but positive net gain.

Energy efficiency is also above average. Nearly 45% of homes are rated Band C on the EPC scale, and just 0.6% fall into the bottom categories.

The takeaway? Shepton Mallet is working hard, staying local, and driving itself forward. It's younger than many assume, with a strong employment base and solid housing stock. But it's less connected — digitally and physically — and faces challenges around access to higher education, sustainable transport, and social mobility.