Town comparison
Alness vs Annan
Which is better to live in? 191.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Annan offers lower property prices by roughly 29%. Annan has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Annan edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Annan
£162,680
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Annan
2028.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Annan
72.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Annan
273.7
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Annan
64.6
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Annan
£28,015
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Annan more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £162,680 versus £210,131 in Alness. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Annan it is a flat at £86,885.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 41% pricier in Alness (£122,118 vs £86,885).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alness prices grew faster — 132% vs 92%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Annan (2,028.6 per 1,000) compared to Alness (3,218.6 per 1,000), a 59% difference. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Annan it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Annan: 72% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 66% in Alness.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Annan School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Annan |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 108 |
| Primary | 44 | 93 |
| Secondary | 8 | 15 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 72% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alness enjoy 411.7 Mbps on average, while Annan lags behind at 273.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 91.3% in Annan. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 47.4% in Annan.
Alness is the faster of the two by 50% on average download speed (412 vs 274 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Annan is band D (score 64.6), ahead of Alness's band E (score 53.7). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,360 in Annan. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 41.8% in Annan.
Alness has more energy-efficient housing — 50% reach band C or above, vs 41.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alness has a population of 5,800 while Annan has 8,780. Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £28,015 in Annan. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 43.8 in Annan. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 73.3% in Annan.
| Indicator | Alness | Annan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 8,780 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 43.8 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £28,015 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 73.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 63.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 28.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alness and Annan?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alness or Annan?
Is Alness or Annan safer?
Which has better schools, Alness or Annan?
Which has faster broadband, Alness or Annan?
Keep exploring