Town comparison
Alva vs High Valleyfield
Which is better to live in? 10.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Alva offers lower property prices by roughly 3%. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, High Valleyfield edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
High Valleyfield
£170,439
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
High Valleyfield
8856.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
High Valleyfield
81.8%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
High Valleyfield
387.2
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
High Valleyfield
47
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
High Valleyfield
£27,194
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Alva more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,447 versus £170,439 in High Valleyfield. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in High Valleyfield it is a flat at £107,206.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 13% pricier in High Valleyfield (£107,206 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 127%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Alva (828.3 per 1,000) compared to High Valleyfield (8,856.6 per 1,000), a 969% difference. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in High Valleyfield it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in High Valleyfield it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours High Valleyfield: 81.8% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 65.2% in Alva.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
High Valleyfield School Inspection Breakdown
81.8% of 159 schools (142 primary, 17 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | High Valleyfield |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 159 |
| Primary | 20 | 142 |
| Secondary | 4 | 17 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 81.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while High Valleyfield lags behind at 387.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 93.2% in High Valleyfield. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 74% in High Valleyfield.
Alva is the faster of the two by 23% on average download speed (477 vs 387 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Alva is band D (score 61.2), ahead of High Valleyfield's band E (score 47). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,843 in High Valleyfield. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 33.6% in High Valleyfield.
High Valleyfield has more energy-efficient housing — 33.6% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while High Valleyfield has 3,320. Median household income is £27,194 in High Valleyfield and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 37.2 in High Valleyfield. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 71.4% in High Valleyfield.
| Indicator | Alva | High Valleyfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 3,320 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 37.2 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £27,194 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 71.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 67.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 35.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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