Town comparison
Alness vs Kirriemuir
Which is better to live in? 84.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Kirriemuir wins on house prices with a 26% gap. Kirriemuir has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kirriemuir edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Kirriemuir
£167,088
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Kirriemuir
1161.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Kirriemuir
91.1%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Kirriemuir
250.4
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Kirriemuir
60.8
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Kirriemuir
£26,925
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £167,088, Kirriemuir undercuts Alness (£210,131) by around 26% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Kirriemuir it is a flat at £94,981.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 29% pricier in Alness (£122,118 vs £94,981).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alness prices grew faster — 132% vs 127%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Kirriemuir experience less crime overall, with a rate of 1,161.9 per 1,000 versus 3,218.6 per 1,000 in Alness. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Kirriemuir 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 Kirriemuir, which has 59 schools, the figure is 91.1%.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirriemuir School Inspection Breakdown
91.1% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Kirriemuir |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 59 |
| Primary | 44 | 51 |
| Secondary | 8 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 91.1% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Alness averages 411.7 Mbps – ahead of Kirriemuir's 250.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 69.6% in Kirriemuir. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 45.4% in Kirriemuir.
Alness is the faster of the two by 64% on average download speed (412 vs 250 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Kirriemuir, scoring 60.8 on average (band D) compared to 53.7 (band E) in Alness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,312 in Kirriemuir. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 47.6% in Kirriemuir.
Alness has more energy-efficient housing — 50% reach band C or above, vs 47.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £26,925 in Kirriemuir. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 42.4 in Kirriemuir. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 76% in Kirriemuir. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 52.3% in Kirriemuir. Alness has a population of 5,800 and Kirriemuir has 6,120.
| Indicator | Alness | Kirriemuir |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 6,120 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £26,925 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 76% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 52.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 30.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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