Alness vs Lockerbie
Which is better to live in? Distance: 181.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Lockerbie offers lower property prices by roughly 29%. Alness has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Lockerbie edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Lockerbie
£162,680
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Lockerbie
4200.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Lockerbie
72.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Lockerbie
205.2
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Lockerbie
50.3
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Lockerbie
£31,075
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Lockerbie more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £162,680 versus £210,131 in Alness. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Lockerbie 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 ScotlandWith 3,218.6 offences per 1,000 people, Alness is the safer of the two – 31% lower than Lockerbie's 4,200.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Lockerbie 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 ScotlandSchool quality favours Lockerbie: 72% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 66% in Alness.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Lockerbie School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Lockerbie |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 108 |
| Primary | 44 | 93 |
| Secondary | 8 | 15 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 72% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alness enjoy 411.7 Mbps on average, while Lockerbie lags behind at 205.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 83.6% in Lockerbie. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 32.4% in Lockerbie.
Alness is the faster of the two by 101% on average download speed (412 vs 205 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Alness is band E (score 53.7), ahead of Lockerbie's band E (score 50.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,570 in Lockerbie. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 25.2% in Lockerbie.
Alness has more energy-efficient housing — 50% reach band C or above, vs 25.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alness has a population of 5,800 while Lockerbie has 4,240. Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £31,075 in Lockerbie. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 38.5 in Lockerbie. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 73.9% in Lockerbie.
| Indicator | Alness | Lockerbie |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 4,240 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 38.5 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £31,075 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 73.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 26.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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