Town comparison
Alness vs Wick
Which is better to live in? 66.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Alness is about 0% cheaper on average. Wick has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Wick edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alness
£210,131
Wick
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alness
3218.6
Wick
2651.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alness
66.0%
Wick
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alness
411.7
Wick
124.4
EPC Rating
Alness
53.7
Wick
61.3
Median Income
Alness
£33,184
Wick
£31,674
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Alness is £210,131, which is 0% less than Wick at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Alness is a flat at £122,118, while in Wick 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 2,651.7 offences per 1,000 people, Wick is the safer of the two – 21% lower than Alness's 3,218.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alness is other-crime, while in Wick 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 ScotlandWick has 75% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 66% in Alness. Alness has 52 schools in total, while Wick has 22.
Alness School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wick School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 22 schools (18 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alness | Wick |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 22 |
| Primary | 44 | 18 |
| Secondary | 8 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alness offers faster average downloads at 411.7 Mbps, compared to 124.4 Mbps in Wick. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.5% of premises in Alness and 88.4% in Wick. Gigabit availability stands at 81.2% in Alness and 12.3% in Wick.
Alness is the faster of the two by 231% on average download speed (412 vs 124 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Wick are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 61.3 (band D) versus 53.7 (band E) in Alness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,663 in Alness and £1,284 in Wick. 50% of homes in Alness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 40.7% in Wick.
Alness has more energy-efficient housing — 50% reach band C or above, vs 40.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,184 in Alness and £31,674 in Wick. The median age is 39.8 in Alness and 42.6 in Wick. Employment rates stand at 70.2% in Alness and 75.1% in Wick. Owner-occupancy is 70% in Alness versus 61.5% in Wick.
| Indicator | Alness | Wick |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,800 | 7,040 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £33,184 | £31,674 |
| Employment Rate | 70.2% | 75.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 70% | 61.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 36% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alness and Wick?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alness or Wick?
Is Alness or Wick safer?
Which has better schools, Alness or Wick?
Which has faster broadband, Alness or Wick?
Keep exploring