Town comparison
Alness vs Inverness and Culloden
Which is better to live in? 15.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Alness offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. Inverness And Culloden has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Alness edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Inverness and Culloden
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Inverness and Culloden
295.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Inverness and Culloden
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Inverness and Culloden
407.8
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Inverness and Culloden
56.1
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Inverness and Culloden
£29,555
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Alness is £210,131, which is 0% less than Inverness And Culloden at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Inverness And Culloden 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 ScotlandWith 295.3 offences per 1,000 people, Inverness And Culloden is the safer of the two – 990% lower than Alness's 3,218.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Inverness And Culloden 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 Inverness And Culloden. Alness has 52 schools in total, while Inverness And Culloden has 52.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Inverness and Culloden School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Inverness and Culloden |
|---|---|---|
| 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 407.8 Mbps in Inverness And Culloden. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 93.7% in Inverness And Culloden. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 78.7% in Inverness And Culloden.
Alness is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (412 vs 408 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Inverness And Culloden are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 56.1 (band D) versus 53.7 (band E) in Alness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,325 in Inverness And Culloden. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 34.1% in Inverness And Culloden.
Alness has more energy-efficient housing — 50% reach band C or above, vs 34.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £29,555 in Inverness And Culloden. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 40.7 in Inverness And Culloden. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 74% in Inverness And Culloden. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 62.9% in Inverness And Culloden.
| Indicator | Alness | Inverness and Culloden |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 63,220 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 40.7 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £29,555 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 74% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 62.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 17.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alness and Inverness And Culloden?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alness or Inverness And Culloden?
Is Alness or Inverness And Culloden safer?
Which has better schools, Alness or Inverness And Culloden?
Which has faster broadband, Alness or Inverness And Culloden?
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