Town comparison
Alness vs Eyemouth
Which is better to live in? 150.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Eyemouth offers lower property prices by roughly 16%. Eyemouth has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Eyemouth edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Eyemouth
£181,358
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Eyemouth
2028.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Eyemouth
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Eyemouth
237.5
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Eyemouth
50.3
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Eyemouth
£29,994
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Eyemouth is £181,358, which is 16% less than Alness at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Eyemouth it is a flat at £107,088.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 14% pricier in Alness (£122,118 vs £107,088).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alness prices grew faster — 132% vs 119%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Eyemouth (2,028.8 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 Eyemouth it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alness's most common crime is other crime; in Eyemouth it's violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandEyemouth has 74.6% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 66% in Alness. Alness has 52 schools in total, while Eyemouth has 66.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Eyemouth School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Eyemouth |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 66 |
| Primary | 44 | 57 |
| Secondary | 8 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alness offers faster average downloads at 411.7 Mbps, compared to 237.5 Mbps in Eyemouth. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 86.2% in Eyemouth. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 39.6% in Eyemouth.
Alness is the faster of the two by 73% on average download speed (412 vs 238 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Alness are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 53.7 (band E) versus 50.3 (band E) in Eyemouth. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,827 in Eyemouth. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 40.9% in Eyemouth.
Alness has more energy-efficient housing — 50% reach band C or above, vs 40.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £29,994 in Eyemouth. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 38.5 in Eyemouth. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 72.4% in Eyemouth. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 59% in Eyemouth.
| Indicator | Alness | Eyemouth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 3,610 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 38.5 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £29,994 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 72.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 59% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 18.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alness and Eyemouth?
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