Town comparison
Alness vs Aviemore
Which is better to live in? 37.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Alness offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. Alness has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Alness edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Aviemore
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Aviemore
5761.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Aviemore
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Aviemore
403.5
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Aviemore
53
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Aviemore
£31,800
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Alness is £210,131, which is 0% less than Aviemore at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Aviemore it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in Alness (£322,105 vs £322,105).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alness prices grew faster — 132% vs 132%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Alness (3,218.6 per 1,000) compared to Aviemore (5,761.7 per 1,000), a 79% difference. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Aviemore 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 ScotlandAlness has 66% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 66% in Aviemore. Alness has 52 schools in total, while Aviemore has 52.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Aviemore School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Aviemore |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 52 |
| Primary | 44 | 44 |
| Secondary | 8 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alness offers faster average downloads at 411.7 Mbps, compared to 403.5 Mbps in Aviemore. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 88.8% in Aviemore. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 78.8% in Aviemore.
Alness is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (412 vs 404 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Alness are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 53.7 (band E) versus 53 (band E) in Aviemore. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,417 in Aviemore. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.1% in Aviemore.
Aviemore has more energy-efficient housing — 56.1% reach band C or above, vs 50% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £31,800 in Aviemore. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 39.5 in Aviemore. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 80.8% in Aviemore. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 63.6% in Aviemore.
| Indicator | Alness | Aviemore |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 3,240 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 39.5 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £31,800 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 80.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 63.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 31% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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