Alva vs Dunblane
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Alva is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 27% lower. Dunblane has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dunblane edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Dunblane
£226,087
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Dunblane
675.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Dunblane
97.8%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Dunblane
89.5
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Dunblane
60.1
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Dunblane
£36,198
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Dunblane commands an average of £226,087, compared with £165,447 in Alva – a difference of 27%. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Dunblane it is a flat at £140,585.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 34% pricier in Dunblane (£140,585 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 115%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandDunblane has a crime rate of 675.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 23% lower than Alva at 828.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Dunblane it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Dunblane it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Dunblane, where 97.8% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 65.2% in Alva. There are 24 schools in Alva and 48 in Dunblane.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dunblane School Inspection Breakdown
97.8% of 48 schools (40 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Dunblane |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 48 |
| Primary | 20 | 40 |
| Secondary | 4 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 97.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.6 Mbps in Alva and 89.5 Mbps in Dunblane. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 86.3% in Dunblane. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 4.4% in Dunblane.
Alva is the faster of the two by 433% on average download speed (477 vs 90 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Alva, scoring 61.2 on average (band D) compared to 60.1 (band D) in Dunblane. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,610 in Dunblane. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 29.7% in Dunblane.
Dunblane has more energy-efficient housing — 29.7% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,198 in Dunblane and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 42.2 in Dunblane. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 69.3% in Dunblane. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 66.4% in Dunblane. Alva has a population of 4,600 and Dunblane has 9,410.
| Indicator | Alva | Dunblane |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 9,410 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 42.2 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £36,198 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 69.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 38.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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