Hi Saraka. I think of the two areas I'd prefer Broadstone to Corfe Mullen. It's very popular and the house prices reflect that.
Springdale school was my second choice and is apparently very good, but I think Broadstone First (where dd goes) is excellent and I can't rate it highly enough. They recently had an Ofsted inspection and were rated outstanding in all areas. I don't know what the other schools are like.
There's a large park in Broadstone with swings, cricket ground, lots of woods. There's also a cycle path through some lovely woods one way and down to Upton Country Park, round Holes Bay and down to the Quay the other way. Corfe Mullen also has a recreation park and dd loves the swing park there, it is better than the Broadstone one.
We have a leisure centre with a pool, all the usual facilities plus an indoor soft play area. Corfe Mullen has a private sports club.
There are at least 4 toddler groups that I can think of, there's things like Jungle Gyms and swimming sessions. I have made some lovely friends through those, and through school even more.
Bus services from Broadstone are better than Corfe Mullen. And the shops are definitely better. In Corfe Mullen you have a spar type shop, blockbusters, an indian restaurant, a chip shop (I think). I can't remember what else, but not that much.
Broadstone has a Somerfield, Tesco Express, shoe and clothes shops (but not your usual high street ones), newsagents, chemists, hairdressers, cobblers, charity shops, a cafe, greengrocers, very good butchers, florists, gift shop, dry cleaners.
There's a variety of restaurants Italian, Indian, Bistro, Fish & chip. And takeaways - italian, indian, chinese, chippy, kebab shop. We have a wine bar and a couple of pubs. The Goods Yard is excellent and was refurbished last year.
There's a real community feel to Broadstone. Where the shops are is known as the village, and the parking area is known as the toast rack! We have a pantomime and a Christmas parade. And there are loads of activities and clubs - dancing, Rainbows and brownies etc, yoga.
Corfe Mullen I'd say is absolutely fine, lots of families but probably (and I have never lived there) not as much going on there as in Broadstone.
Are you going to be buying or renting?