Alva vs Auchterarder
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Alva is about 26% cheaper on average. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Auchterarder edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Auchterarder
£223,039
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Auchterarder
2027.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Auchterarder
84.9%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Auchterarder
133.4
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Auchterarder
51.8
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Auchterarder
£24,676
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Alva more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,447 versus £223,039 in Auchterarder. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Auchterarder it is a flat at £124,493.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 25% pricier in Auchterarder (£124,493 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 128%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Alva (828.3 per 1,000) compared to Auchterarder (2,027.3 per 1,000), a 145% difference. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Auchterarder it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Auchterarder it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Auchterarder: 84.9% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 65.2% in Alva.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Auchterarder School Inspection Breakdown
84.9% of 77 schools (67 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Auchterarder |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 77 |
| Primary | 20 | 67 |
| Secondary | 4 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 84.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while Auchterarder lags behind at 133.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 73.2% in Auchterarder. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 17.1% in Auchterarder.
Alva is the faster of the two by 257% on average download speed (477 vs 133 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Alva is band D (score 61.2), ahead of Auchterarder's band E (score 51.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,495 in Auchterarder. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 44.5% in Auchterarder.
Auchterarder has more energy-efficient housing — 44.5% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while Auchterarder has 5,120. Median household income is £27,183 in Alva and £24,676 in Auchterarder. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 39.1 in Auchterarder. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 76.4% in Auchterarder.
| Indicator | Alva | Auchterarder |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 5,120 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 39.1 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £24,676 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 76.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 54.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 35.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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