Town comparison
Alva vs Fort William
Which is better to live in? 67.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Alva is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 21% lower. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Fort William edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Fort William
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Fort William
1805.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Fort William
71.8%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Fort William
110.5
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Fort William
59.4
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Fort William
£35,599
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Fort William commands an average of £210,131, compared with £165,447 in Alva – a difference of 21%. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Fort William it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Fort William (£122,118 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 132%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandAlva has a crime rate of 828.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 118% lower than Fort William at 1,805.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Fort William it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Fort William it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Fort William, where 71.8% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 65.2% in Alva. There are 24 schools in Alva and 83 in Fort William.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fort William School Inspection Breakdown
71.8% of 83 schools (73 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Fort William |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 83 |
| Primary | 20 | 73 |
| Secondary | 4 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 71.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.6 Mbps in Alva and 110.5 Mbps in Fort William. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 93.8% in Fort William. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 8.1% in Fort William.
Alva is the faster of the two by 331% on average download speed (477 vs 111 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Alva leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 61.2 (D), while Fort William averages 59.4 (D). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,444 in Fort William. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 42.8% in Fort William.
Fort William has more energy-efficient housing — 42.8% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,599 in Fort William and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 41.9 in Fort William. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 58.6% in Fort William. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 76.3% in Fort William.
| Indicator | Alva | Fort William |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 10,340 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £35,599 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 76.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 58.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 32.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Fort William?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alva or Fort William?
Is Alva or Fort William safer?
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