Alva vs Buckie
Which is better to live in? Distance: 109.8 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Alva wins on house prices with a 14% gap. Buckie has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Buckie edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Buckie
£193,428
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Buckie
730.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Buckie
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Buckie
303.1
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Buckie
61.4
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Buckie
£32,719
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Buckie commands an average of £193,428, compared with £165,447 in Alva – a difference of 14%. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Buckie it is a flat at £108,210.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 14% pricier in Buckie (£108,210 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Buckie prices grew faster — 150% vs 140%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Buckie experience less crime overall, with a rate of 730.1 per 1,000 versus 828.3 per 1,000 in Alva. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Buckie it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Buckie it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Buckie, where 66% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 65.2% in Alva. There are 24 schools in Alva and 52 in Buckie.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Buckie School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Buckie |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 52 |
| Primary | 20 | 44 |
| Secondary | 4 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.6 Mbps in Alva and 303.1 Mbps in Buckie. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 84.6% in Buckie. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 55.5% in Buckie.
Alva is the faster of the two by 57% on average download speed (477 vs 303 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Buckie, scoring 61.4 on average (band D) compared to 61.2 (band D) in Alva. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,538 in Buckie. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 52.7% in Buckie.
Buckie has more energy-efficient housing — 52.7% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,719 in Buckie and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 42.7 in Buckie. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 65.6% in Buckie. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 68.8% in Buckie. Alva has a population of 4,600 and Buckie has 8,760.
| Indicator | Alva | Buckie |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 8,760 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 42.7 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £32,719 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 65.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 68.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 38.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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