A complete guide to property investment in Swanage.
Last updated: 18 September 2025
Swanage stands out for its coastal charm and a property market that leans heavily towards older residents, with the population aged 60+ sitting in the 99th percentile compared to the rest of Britain. The market here is relatively stable in terms of owner-occupation and private rentals, both hovering above the national midpoint. The average rental yield is 3.2%, while the median price per square foot is £406 per sq ft, suggesting a market where returns are modest and property values are relatively high for the region.
Recent capital growth has been mixed, with a 1-year change of -11.1% but a 3-year growth of 4.8% (annualised at 1.6%), hinting at short-term volatility but a steadier long-term trend. Liquidity is moderate, with properties spending an average of 101 days on the market and annual sales at 155. Affordability is a mixed bag: the price-to-income ratio stands at 7.1, while the rent-to-income ratio is 23.3%.
Median price per sq ft
£406 / sq ft
Average rental yield
3.2%
Capital growth (1y)
-11.1%
Sales in past year
155
* Property stats calculated for last full calendar year (2024).
Live prices in Swanage, South West
* Extreme prices clipped for legibility
Median price
£410,000
25% of properties below...
£288,712
75% of properties below...
£651,212
Most expensive property
£5,250,000
Live listings
332
Median days on market
101
Short-term investors may want to tread carefully, given the recent capital growth of -11.1% and only modest rental yields. However, those with a longer view might find comfort in the three-year annualised growth of 1.6%, which suggests some underlying resilience.
The market is likely to remain driven by older buyers and retirees, with little sign of a shift towards younger demographics. Liquidity should hold steady, with properties typically taking 101 days to sell and discounts to asking price persisting. Investors should expect slow and steady progress rather than dramatic gains in Swanage's property market.
Average yield (%)
* 2025 data for YTD
Median price per sq ft (£/sq ft)
* 2025 data for YTD
Investment properties in Swanage, South West
£130,000 - Offers Over
2 bedroom apartment for sale
Institute Road, Swanage
£179,950
1 bedroom ground floor flat for sale
Burlington Road, Swanage, Dorset, B...
£180,000
2 bedroom retirement property for sale
St Aldhems Court, De Moulham Road, ...
£850,000 - Guide Price
5 bedroom detached house for sale
Rabling Road, Swanage
£95,000
3 bedroom park home for sale
Swanage Bay View, Swanage
Asking prices are aspirational; achieved prices consistently lower.
• Median discount: £14,150
• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £20,000 below asking
• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £26,570 below asking
In percentage terms:
• Median discount of 3.1%
• 25% of properties discounted by > 5.8%
• 10% of properties discounted by > 7.1%
Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth
GeoGlider calculates property investment stats by blending official and proprietary datasets. Here's a quick overview of key sources and how we use them:
HM Land Registry: Property transaction and sold-price records for England & Wales used to calculate historical capital growth, price levels and comparables.
Office for National Statistics (ONS): Demographic and economic indicators for the UK, including Census 2021, supporting area profiling and market context.
Ordnance Survey: Authoritative UK geospatial data powering accurate boundaries, roads and terrain for mapping and spatial analysis.
GeoProp: Our proprietary AI pipeline that processes millions of property listings to extract rich features and live market signals.
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scores and property floor areas.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): Household income and employment data to understand local affordability and economic conditions.
Data is updated continuously, matched across sources and rigorously validated.