The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Alva wins on house prices with a 9% gap. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Innerleithen edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Innerleithen
£181,358
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Innerleithen
2355.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Innerleithen
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Innerleithen
186
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Innerleithen
57.2
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Innerleithen
£27,298
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Innerleithen commands an average of £181,358, compared with £165,447 in Alva – a difference of 9%. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Innerleithen it is a flat at £107,088.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 19% pricier in Innerleithen (£174,270 vs £140,514).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 119%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Alva experience less crime overall, with a rate of 828.3 per 1,000 versus 2,355 per 1,000 in Innerleithen. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Innerleithen it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Innerleithen, where 74.6% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 65.2% in Alva. There are 24 schools in Alva and 66 in Innerleithen.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Innerleithen School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Innerleithen |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 66 |
| Primary | 20 | 57 |
| Secondary | 4 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.6 Mbps in Alva and 186.0 Mbps in Innerleithen. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 96.8% in Innerleithen. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 25.7% in Innerleithen.
Alva is the faster of the two by 156% on average download speed (477 vs 186 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Alva, scoring 61.2 on average (band D) compared to 57.2 (band D) in Innerleithen. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,682 in Innerleithen. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.2% in Innerleithen.
Innerleithen has more energy-efficient housing — 50.2% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,298 in Innerleithen and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 41.1 in Innerleithen. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 72.2% in Innerleithen. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 75.4% in Innerleithen. Alva has a population of 4,600 and Innerleithen has 3,110.
| Indicator | Alva | Innerleithen |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 3,110 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 41.1 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £27,298 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 72.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 75.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 23.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Innerleithen?
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