Alness vs Buckie
Which is better to live in? Distance: 47.7 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Buckie wins on house prices with a 9% gap. Buckie has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Alness edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Buckie
£193,428
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Buckie
730.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Buckie
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Buckie
303.1
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Buckie
61.4
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Buckie
£32,719
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £193,428, Buckie undercuts Alness (£210,131) by around 9% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Buckie it is a flat at £108,210.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 13% pricier in Alness (£122,118 vs £108,210).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Buckie prices grew faster — 150% vs 132%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Buckie experience less crime overall, with a rate of 730.1 per 1,000 versus 3,218.6 per 1,000 in Alness. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Buckie 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 ScotlandOf the 52 schools in Alness, 66% are in the top two inspection bands. In Buckie, which has 52 schools, the figure is 66%.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Buckie School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Buckie |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 52 |
| Primary | 44 | 44 |
| Secondary | 8 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Alness averages 411.7 Mbps – ahead of Buckie's 303.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 84.6% in Buckie. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 55.5% in Buckie.
Alness is the faster of the two by 36% on average download speed (412 vs 303 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Buckie, scoring 61.4 on average (band D) compared to 53.7 (band E) in Alness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,538 in Buckie. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 52.7% in Buckie.
Buckie has more energy-efficient housing — 52.7% reach band C or above, vs 50% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £32,719 in Buckie. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 42.7 in Buckie. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 65.6% in Buckie. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 68.8% in Buckie. Alness has a population of 5,800 and Buckie has 8,760.
| Indicator | Alness | Buckie |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 8,760 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 42.7 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £32,719 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 65.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 68.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 38.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alness and Buckie?
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