The verdict
Alva is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 0% lower. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bo'ness edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Bo'ness
£165,479
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Bo'ness
833.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Bo'ness
94.7%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Bo'ness
461.9
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Bo'ness
47.9
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Bo'ness
£35,454
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £165,447, Alva undercuts Bo'ness (£165,479) by around 0% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Bo'ness it is a flat at £99,408.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 8% pricier in Bo'ness (£152,054 vs £140,514).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bo'ness prices grew faster — 144% vs 140%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandAlva has a crime rate of 828.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 1% lower than Bo'ness at 833.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Bo'ness it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Bo'ness it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandOf the 24 schools in Alva, 65.2% are in the top two inspection bands. In Bo'ness, which has 59 schools, the figure is 94.7%.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bo'ness School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Bo'ness |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 59 |
| Primary | 20 | 50 |
| Secondary | 4 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 94.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Alva averages 476.6 Mbps – ahead of Bo'ness's 461.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 98.8% in Bo'ness. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 90.9% in Bo'ness.
Alva is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (477 vs 462 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Alva, scoring 61.2 on average (band D) compared to 47.9 (band E) in Bo'ness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,490 in Bo'ness. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 38.6% in Bo'ness.
Bo'ness has more energy-efficient housing — 38.6% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,454 in Bo'ness and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 37.6 in Bo'ness. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 76% in Bo'ness. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 55.5% in Bo'ness. Alva has a population of 4,600 and Bo'ness has 14,760.
| Indicator | Alva | Bo'ness |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 14,760 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 37.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £35,454 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 76% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 55.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 33.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Bo'ness?
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