Town comparison
Alva vs Falkirk
Which is better to live in? 10.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Alva is about 0% cheaper on average. Falkirk has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Falkirk edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Falkirk
£165,479
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Falkirk
119.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Falkirk
94.7%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Falkirk
432
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Falkirk
62
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Falkirk
£26,354
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Alva is £165,447, which is 0% less than Falkirk at £165,479. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Falkirk it is a flat at £99,408.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 8% pricier in Falkirk (£152,054 vs £140,514).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Falkirk prices grew faster — 144% vs 140%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Falkirk (119.4 per 1,000) compared to Alva (828.3 per 1,000), a 594% difference. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Falkirk it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Falkirk it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFalkirk has 94.7% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 65.2% in Alva. Alva has 24 schools in total, while Falkirk has 59.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Falkirk School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Falkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 59 |
| Primary | 20 | 50 |
| Secondary | 4 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 94.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alva offers faster average downloads at 476.6 Mbps, compared to 432.0 Mbps in Falkirk. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 94% in Falkirk. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 84.7% in Falkirk.
Alva is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (477 vs 432 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Falkirk are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 62 (band D) versus 61.2 (band D) in Alva. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,311 in Falkirk. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 31.3% in Falkirk.
Falkirk has more energy-efficient housing — 31.3% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,183 in Alva and £26,354 in Falkirk. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 42.9 in Falkirk. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 78% in Falkirk. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 60.3% in Falkirk.
| Indicator | Alva | Falkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 103,030 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 42.9 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £26,354 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 78% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 35.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Falkirk?
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