What it's like to live in Taunton

Somerset is more owner-occupied than England overall: 67.4% of homes are owned, 17.7% privately rented and 13.7% socially rented, below the England figure of 17.1%. Social housing splits roughly 5% council and 8.7% housing association, so a lot of swaps here involve association landlords.

The biggest social landlords in the area are Somerset Council with 9,682 homes, Abri Group with 9,637, LiveWest with 5,264, Aster Communities with 4,407 and Magna Housing with 2,565. Average weekly social rents in 2024/25 were £94 for a one bed, £109 for two beds and £120 for three.

The population skews older than the national picture: 24.8% of Somerset residents are 65 or over against 18.4% for England, and 16.8% are under 16. Demand for social housing is real, with 12,473 households on Somerset's register at March 2025 and 1,959 homes let through the council in 2024-25. Around 150 council homes changed hands by mutual exchange that year, which is why swapping is worth taking seriously.

Primary choice near the centre is good. Parkfield Primary School, North Town Academy, St George's Catholic School, Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School and St James Church School are all within three quarters of a mile. That is a real plus on wet mornings and school runs with more than one child.

For older children, The Castle School and Bishop Fox's School are both under a mile, with Silver Bridge School closer still. Queen's College and King's College are also nearby. Always check current admission areas with Somerset Council, as catchments move and nothing is guaranteed by distance alone.

Outside school, families have Vivary Park, Castle Green, Goodland Gardens, French Weir and Wilton Lands all within half a mile, so there is somewhere to run about whatever the day holds. Taunton Library runs as the town's main library, and the Taunton Scout and Guide Centre and COACH community hub give children activities beyond the park. Musgrove Park Hospital being this close is reassuring with young children.

Taunton station is about three quarters of a mile from the centre of TA1, so walkable for many people, and it is on the main line linking the South West with Bristol, London and beyond. Norton Fitzwarren station is a little over two miles out if that suits you better.

There is no large central bus station, but Silk Mills Park and Ride, just over a mile away, is a useful option if you drive in from outside or want to leave the car and ride into town. Local bus services connect the residential edges of Taunton with the centre, so check the specific route for any street you are considering before you commit.

For drivers, the M5 gives quick access north towards Bristol and south towards Exeter. In the town centre itself, parking is the usual juggle. The real strength of central Taunton is walking: supermarkets, pharmacies, the library, parks and the hospital are all inside a mile, which keeps costs down if you do not have a car.

Green space is Taunton's everyday luxury. Vivary Park is the best known, with Castle Green, Goodland Gardens, French Weir and Wilton Lands all nearby. Between them you have formal gardens, riverside walks and open grass, and none of them need a bus fare to reach from central TA1.

For going out, there is a decent spread of pubs and bars close to the centre, including The Winchester, The Library, Apple and Parrot, The Hideout and The Cricketers. Labyrinth Nightclub covers later nights. The Odeon cinema is about two miles out, an easy trip for a film.

If you like keeping active, Snap Fitness, Activate Fitness, The Pilates Studio, Nourish and Recover UK are all within half a mile, so there is choice on price and style. Add the three shopping centres and the library, and most weekends can be filled without leaving town. The Lawns Social Club and the local church halls fill in with the kind of regular clubs and groups that make a place feel like home.

Taunton is the county town, so a large share of Somerset's public sector work is based here. Musgrove Park Hospital alone is a major local employer, and the town's shops, schools and council services add to that. Retail across Crown Walk, the Orchard Shopping Centre and County Walk is another steady source of jobs.

Across the wider Somerset council area, 56.6% of adults are in work, close to the England figure of 57.4%. Unemployment sits at 2.3%, below the 3.5% England average, and benefit claimants aged 16 to 64 stood at 2.6% in August 2026 against 4% nationally. On paper, work is easier to find here than in many parts of England.

The caveat is pay and hours. Much of the local work is in health, care, retail and hospitality, where shifts and seasonal patterns are common. If you are commuting, the rail line and the M5 open up Bristol and Exeter, though that adds travel cost. Worth doing the sums before you swap.