Town comparison
Alness vs Gretna
Which is better to live in? 192.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Gretna is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 29% lower. Alness has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Gretna edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Gretna
£162,680
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Gretna
5858.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Gretna
72.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Gretna
100.7
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Gretna
67.3
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Gretna
£31,136
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Alness commands an average of £210,131, compared with £162,680 in Gretna – a difference of 29%. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Gretna 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 ScotlandAlness has a crime rate of 3,218.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 82% lower than Gretna at 5,858.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Gretna 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 ScotlandFamilies may prefer Gretna, where 72% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 66% in Alness. There are 52 schools in Alness and 108 in Gretna.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Gretna School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Gretna |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 108 |
| Primary | 44 | 93 |
| Secondary | 8 | 15 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 72% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 411.7 Mbps in Alness and 100.7 Mbps in Gretna. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 88.1% in Gretna. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 6.8% in Gretna.
Alness is the faster of the two by 309% on average download speed (412 vs 101 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Gretna, scoring 67.3 on average (band C) compared to 53.7 (band E) in Alness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,436 in Gretna. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.4% in Gretna.
Gretna has more energy-efficient housing — 50.4% reach band C or above, vs 50% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £31,136 in Gretna. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 46.6 in Gretna. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 55.8% in Gretna. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 68.8% in Gretna. Alness has a population of 5,800 and Gretna has 3,040.
| Indicator | Alness | Gretna |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 3,040 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 46.6 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £31,136 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 68.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alness and Gretna?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alness or Gretna?
Is Alness or Gretna safer?
Which has better schools, Alness or Gretna?
Which has faster broadband, Alness or Gretna?
Keep exploring