Alness vs Maybole
Which is better to live in? Distance: 162.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Maybole is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 31% lower. Maybole has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Maybole edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Maybole
£160,929
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Maybole
1858.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Maybole
93.6%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Maybole
361.2
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Maybole
64.3
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Maybole
£35,437
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £160,929, Maybole undercuts Alness (£210,131) by around 31% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Maybole it is a flat at £96,220.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 27% pricier in Alness (£122,118 vs £96,220).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alness prices grew faster — 132% vs 80%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandMaybole has a crime rate of 1,858.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 73% lower than Alness at 3,218.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Maybole 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 Maybole, which has 50 schools, the figure is 93.6%.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Maybole School Inspection Breakdown
93.6% of 50 schools (42 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Maybole |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 50 |
| Primary | 44 | 42 |
| Secondary | 8 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 93.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Alness averages 411.7 Mbps – ahead of Maybole's 361.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 91.5% in Maybole. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 67.8% in Maybole.
Alness is the faster of the two by 14% on average download speed (412 vs 361 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Maybole, scoring 64.3 on average (band D) compared to 53.7 (band E) in Alness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,236 in Maybole. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 29.2% in Maybole.
Alness has more energy-efficient housing — 50% reach band C or above, vs 29.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,437 in Maybole and £33,184 in Alness. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 43.7 in Maybole. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 73.2% in Maybole. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 61.8% in Maybole. Alness has a population of 5,800 and Maybole has 4,610.
| Indicator | Alness | Maybole |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 4,610 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 43.7 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £35,437 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 73.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 61.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 30.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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