Town comparison
Alness vs Innerleithen
Which is better to live in? 150.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Innerleithen wins on house prices with a 16% gap. Innerleithen has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Innerleithen edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Innerleithen
£181,358
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Innerleithen
2355.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Innerleithen
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Innerleithen
186
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Innerleithen
57.2
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Innerleithen
£27,298
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Alness commands an average of £210,131, compared with £181,358 in Innerleithen – a difference of 16%. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Innerleithen 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 ScotlandResidents of Innerleithen experience less crime overall, with a rate of 2,355 per 1,000 versus 3,218.6 per 1,000 in Alness. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Innerleithen it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alness's most common crime is other crime; in Innerleithen it's violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Innerleithen, where 74.6% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 66% in Alness. There are 52 schools in Alness and 66 in Innerleithen.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Innerleithen School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Innerleithen |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 66 |
| Primary | 44 | 57 |
| Secondary | 8 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 411.7 Mbps in Alness and 186.0 Mbps in Innerleithen. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 96.8% in Innerleithen. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 25.7% in Innerleithen.
Alness is the faster of the two by 121% on average download speed (412 vs 186 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Innerleithen, scoring 57.2 on average (band D) compared to 53.7 (band E) in Alness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,682 in Innerleithen. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.2% in Innerleithen.
Innerleithen has more energy-efficient housing — 50.2% reach band C or above, vs 50% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £27,298 in Innerleithen. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 41.1 in Innerleithen. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 72.2% in Innerleithen. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 75.4% in Innerleithen. Alness has a population of 5,800 and Innerleithen has 3,110.
| Indicator | Alness | Innerleithen |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 3,110 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 41.1 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £27,298 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 72.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 75.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 23.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alness and Innerleithen?
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Is Alness or Innerleithen safer?
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