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DEVON COUNTY GUIDE

Devon Care Homes: A County Where Geography Changes the Decision

Devon is not just a pricing question. Distances, coastal versus inland supply, and the spread between larger centres and more rural areas all shape which shortlist is realistic for families.

County decision snapshot

Where to start in Devon

A county-level view of supply, CQC quality, pricing and linked city markets, built from the same signals used in the directory below.

Use these signals to decide where to look first; always verify current fees, availability and care suitability with the individual home before committing.

Devon Care Home Market

Key figures for the local care home market, drawn from regulatory, financial, and food safety data

473 homeslocal inventoryCQC ratingsquality mixWeekly feespricing signalsCare typesnursing, residential, dementiaInspection agefreshness signals
87%
Rated Good or Outstanding

Above the national average — most families here have strong options

What the local care home market looks like in Devon
473
Care Homes Analysed

Across Devon and surrounding areas

27%
On Improving Trajectory

Homes trending upward based on recent official inspections

95%
Without Registered Manager

450 homes currently lack a registered manager

Official Rating Breakdown

41 Outstanding348 Good57 Requires Improvement

CQC Quality by Domain

Average scores across Devon care homes

SafeGood
EffectiveGood
CaringGood
ResponsiveGood
Well-LedGood

Devon homes rate strongest on Caring and weakest on Safe.

Inspection Freshness

How recently homes were inspected by the national regulator

1–3 years18 (4%)
Over 3 years428 (96%)

96% of homes have ratings over 3 years old. Our reports verify against multiple data sources to give you a more current picture.

Regional Insight

Care market across Devon

Quality leader
Bideford

100% of 22 homes there are rated Good or Outstanding.

Price spread
Plymouth to Torquay

Average weekly costs range from about £1,165 to £1,445 across the county's larger towns.

Specialist strength
Dementia

260 homes (55%) currently offer this specialist support.

Largest authority cluster
Devon

309 homes sit in the county's biggest local-authority cluster.

Care Standards in Devon

Specialist care coverage and food safety ratings across 473 homes

Overall quality

87%

Good or Outstanding

Largest specialist signal

260 homes

Dementia support (55%)

Specialist Care Coverage

This is the clearest specialist category currently reaching meaningful scale in the public county dataset.

260 (55%)

Dementia

Families looking for this type of support have a meaningful county-wide shortlist here, even if other specialist categories are less visible in current public records.

Largest specialist signal
County Care Markets

Major towns in Devon

Compare how care quality, pricing, and nursing supply vary across the main towns and local care markets in Devon.

Larger city market

Plymouth

Plymouth

Plymouth tends to matter when families want a larger city market without assuming it behaves like Exeter. It often brings a broader operational range, which makes due diligence more important but can also widen the shortlist.

Homes analysed87
Avg weekly cost£1,165
Good / Outstanding87%
10 Outstanding, 63 Good
Broader operational range
Wider shortlist potential
Anchor market

Exeter

Devon

Exeter is often Devon's clearest anchor market: easier to compare, easier to revisit, and usually the best place to test whether a higher fee is buying stronger specialist provision or simply reflecting city-centre demand.

Homes analysed47
Avg weekly cost£1,386
Good / Outstanding93%
4 Outstanding, 36 Good
Easier repeat visits
Specialist benchmark
8 nursing homes

Torquay

Torbay

Torquay is one of the key care markets in Devon, with 46 homes in the current dataset. This is a broad care market with both nursing and dementia provision. Prices here sit close to the county average.

Homes analysed46
Avg weekly cost£1,445
Good / Outstanding70%
1 Outstanding, 29 Good
25 dementia specialists
1 Outstanding-rated
2 nursing homes

Newton Abbot

Devon

Newton Abbot is one of the key care markets in Devon, with 29 homes in the current dataset. This is a broad care market with both nursing and dementia provision. Prices here sit below the county average.

Homes analysed29
Avg weekly cost£1,200
Good / Outstanding97%
1 Outstanding, 27 Good
17 dementia specialists
1 Outstanding-rated
3 nursing homes

Paignton

Torbay

Paignton is one of the key care markets in Devon, with 23 homes in the current dataset. This is a broad care market with both nursing and dementia provision. Prices here sit close to the county average.

Homes analysed23
Avg weekly cost£1,339
Good / Outstanding90%
1 Outstanding, 18 Good
12 dementia specialists
1 Outstanding-rated
4 nursing homes

Bideford

Devon

Bideford is one of the key care markets in Devon, with 22 homes in the current dataset. This is a broad care market with both nursing and dementia provision. Prices here sit below the county average.

Homes analysed22
Avg weekly cost£1,179
Good / Outstanding100%
0 Outstanding, 19 Good
9 dementia specialists
90%+ rated Good/Outstanding
Visiting Practicality

Which towns are easiest to visit and support in Devon?

These town-level signals use the homes we already track across the county: transport access, healthcare proximity, green space, and practical features such as parking, lifts, and Wi-Fi.

Easiest for repeat family visits

Exeter

Exeter currently looks like the easiest town in this county for repeat visits, based on how accessible homes appear by transport and basic arrival logistics.

  • Avg train station distance 1.0km
  • 8 bus stops nearby
  • 40% of homes show parking
  • 57% of homes show lift access

Strongest healthcare access around homes

Plymouth

Plymouth currently stands out for local practical support around care homes, with the strongest combined access to hospitals, GPs, and pharmacies in the county dataset.

  • Avg hospital distance 1.2km
  • Avg GP distance 0.5km
  • Avg pharmacy distance 0.5km

Most convenient day-to-day setup

Torquay

Torquay currently looks strongest for day-to-day convenience, based on the mix of practical in-home features and the surrounding setting families are likely to notice once visits become routine.

  • 17% of homes show Wi-Fi
  • 74% of homes show gardens
  • 20% of homes show parking
  • Avg green space distance 278m
County Evidence

County-wide data signals for Devon

A structured view of the care type, CQC, financial-risk, postcode and linked-city signals behind this county guide.

Care type split

473 homes analysed

  • 99 nursing homes (21%)
  • 379 residential homes (80%)
  • 260 dementia-care signals (55%)

CQC distribution

87% Good or Outstanding

  • 41 Outstanding
  • 348 Good
  • 57 Requires Improvement
  • 0 Inadequate

Pricing range

£700-£4,050/week

  • £1,339/week average
  • Devon care costs range from £700 to £4,050 per week, depending on town, care type, and nursing support.

Financial coverage

75% coverage

  • 353 homes with financial signals
  • 213 low risk
  • 53 medium risk
  • 73 high risk
  • 14 critical risk

Postcode clusters

Strongest local postcode samples

TQ1

30 homes

TQ1 is one of the strongest postcode clusters in Devon, with 30 homes around Torquay. Visible weekly fees average £1,480. 63% of rated homes in this postcode cluster are Good or Outstanding.

£1,480/week avg63% Good+Torquay

TQ12

20 homes

TQ12 is one of the strongest postcode clusters in Devon, with 20 homes around Newton Abbot and Ipplepen. Visible weekly fees average £1,178. 100% of rated homes in this postcode cluster are Good or Outstanding.

£1,178/week avg100% Good+Newton Abbot, Ipplepen

EX39

20 homes

EX39 is one of the strongest postcode clusters in Devon, with 20 homes around Bideford. Visible weekly fees average £1,158. 95% of rated homes in this postcode cluster are Good or Outstanding.

£1,158/week avg95% Good+Bideford

EX8

18 homes

EX8 is one of the strongest postcode clusters in Devon, with 18 homes around Exmouth. Visible weekly fees average £1,584. 72% of rated homes in this postcode cluster are Good or Outstanding.

£1,584/week avg72% Good+Exmouth

Linked city guides

Strongest city connections

Plymouth91 homes

Plymouth is one of the strongest linked city guides inside Devon, with 91 homes, 86% Good/Outstanding ratings, 24 nursing homes and 48 dementia-care signals.

£1,162/week avg86% Good+24 nursing48 dementia
Exeter47 homes

Exeter is one of the strongest linked city guides inside Devon, with 47 homes, 93% Good/Outstanding ratings, 15 nursing homes and 30 dementia-care signals.

£1,386/week avg93% Good+15 nursing30 dementia
Torquay46 homes

Torquay is one of the strongest linked city guides inside Devon, with 46 homes, 70% Good/Outstanding ratings, 8 nursing homes and 25 dementia-care signals.

£1,445/week avg70% Good+8 nursing25 dementia
Newton Abbot29 homes

Newton Abbot is one of the strongest linked city guides inside Devon, with 29 homes, 97% Good/Outstanding ratings, 2 nursing homes and 17 dementia-care signals.

£1,200/week avg97% Good+2 nursing17 dementia
Paignton23 homes

Paignton is one of the strongest linked city guides inside Devon, with 23 homes, 90% Good/Outstanding ratings, 3 nursing homes and 12 dementia-care signals.

£1,339/week avg90% Good+3 nursing12 dementia

Town clusters

Where the county market is most concentrated

Plymouth

91 homes

Plymouth is a major Devon care market with 91 homes in the county dataset. 86% of rated homes are Good or Outstanding, with 24 nursing homes and 48 dementia-care signals available for comparison.

£1,162/week avg86% Good+24 nursing48 dementia

Exeter

47 homes

Exeter is a major Devon care market with 47 homes in the county dataset. 93% of rated homes are Good or Outstanding, with 15 nursing homes and 30 dementia-care signals available for comparison.

£1,386/week avg93% Good+15 nursing30 dementia

Torquay

46 homes

Torquay is a major Devon care market with 46 homes in the county dataset. 70% of rated homes are Good or Outstanding, with 8 nursing homes and 25 dementia-care signals available for comparison.

£1,445/week avg70% Good+8 nursing25 dementia

Newton Abbot

29 homes

Newton Abbot is a major Devon care market with 29 homes in the county dataset. 97% of rated homes are Good or Outstanding, with 2 nursing homes and 17 dementia-care signals available for comparison.

£1,200/week avg97% Good+2 nursing17 dementia

Paignton

23 homes

Paignton is a major Devon care market with 23 homes in the county dataset. 90% of rated homes are Good or Outstanding, with 3 nursing homes and 12 dementia-care signals available for comparison.

£1,339/week avg90% Good+3 nursing12 dementia

Why families in Devon use RightCareHome

Why this is more useful than a directory when the decision is serious

Without independent analysis

  • 473 homes to compare manually
  • Outdated directory data from years ago
  • Commission-driven recommendations
  • Hidden quality and safety issues

With RightCareHome

  • A clearer view of where quality, cost and risk differ before you check any one home
  • Independent scoring built from regulatory, review and financial evidence
  • 100% independent, zero commissions
  • A better starting point before you verify or compare specific homes

Frequently Asked Questions About Care Homes in Devon

Practical answers based on available local data and typical family concerns.

Still have questions?

Share your situation and get an independent shortlist of homes.

Get a shortlist for Devon

Based on official inspections, company accounts, and food hygiene records. Source update timings vary across inspection, pricing, and public records.

Explore Nearby

More county care markets near Devon

Compare neighbouring county markets before narrowing your shortlist.

RCH Score methodology

How we rank care homes in Devon

Score 0–10 · updated monthly

CQC inspections can be 2–4 years old. Our RCH Score combines the official inspection result with live signals — real reviews, quality trajectory, and financial stability — to surface homes that are performing well today, not just at the last inspection.

CQC

CQC inspection rating

40%

The official Care Quality Commission rating — Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. The primary quality signal, but can be up to 4 years old.

Online reviews

30%

Average star rating from verified public reviews across the web, weighted by volume. Reflects the day-to-day experience of residents and families. Only counted when 10+ reviews exist.

CQC trend

15%

Whether the home's rating has been improving, stable, or declining across its last three inspections. An improving trajectory can offset an older rating.

Financial stability

15%

Operational risk derived from Companies House filings — profit/loss trend, debt levels, and director changes. Financially stressed homes face higher closure and quality risk.

Rankings are calculated from public data only. We do not accept referral fees or paid placements from care homes.

The RCH Score is a decision-support tool, not a definitive ranking. Always visit a home in person and ask for the latest CQC inspection report before making a decision.

When one Devon home stands out, verify it properly

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All Care Homes in Devon

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Choose the right next step for care in Devon

You’ve seen the market. Now choose the next step that fits your decision: verify one specific home, compare a few in depth, or check affordability.

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Not sure which route is right? If one home already looks promising, start with Care Home Check. If you still need to compare options, use the deeper comparison route.

Devon families often need a shortlist that works on both care quality and travel reality. Start county-wide, then narrow to the towns you can visit and support consistently.