Town comparison
Alness vs Kirkwall
Which is better to live in? 100.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Alness is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 3% lower. Kirkwall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kirkwall edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Kirkwall
£217,742
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Kirkwall
145.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Kirkwall
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Kirkwall
104.4
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Kirkwall
52.6
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Kirkwall
£35,483
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £210,131, Alness undercuts Kirkwall (£217,742) by around 3% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Kirkwall it is a flat at £114,443.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 12% pricier in Alness (£322,105 vs £287,669).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kirkwall prices grew faster — 257% vs 132%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandKirkwall has a crime rate of 145.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 2118% lower than Alness at 3,218.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Kirkwall 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 Kirkwall, which has 22 schools, the figure is 75%.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirkwall School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 22 schools (18 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 22 |
| Primary | 44 | 18 |
| Secondary | 8 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Alness averages 411.7 Mbps – ahead of Kirkwall's 104.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 97.7% in Kirkwall. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 6.1% in Kirkwall.
Alness is the faster of the two by 294% on average download speed (412 vs 104 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Alness, scoring 53.7 on average (band E) compared to 52.6 (band E) in Kirkwall. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,688 in Kirkwall. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.7% in Kirkwall.
Kirkwall has more energy-efficient housing — 55.7% reach band C or above, vs 50% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,483 in Kirkwall and £33,184 in Alness. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 39.3 in Kirkwall. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 68.3% in Kirkwall. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 65.8% in Kirkwall. Alness has a population of 5,800 and Kirkwall has 7,420.
| Indicator | Alness | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 7,420 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 39.3 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £35,483 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 68.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 65.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 24.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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