Alva vs Invergordon
Which is better to live in? Distance: 107.4 miles apart.
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, Invergordon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Invergordon
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Invergordon
4690.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Invergordon
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Invergordon
404.1
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Invergordon
60.6
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Invergordon
£29,314
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Invergordon 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 Invergordon it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Invergordon (£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 466% lower than Invergordon at 4,690.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Invergordon it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Invergordon it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Invergordon, where 66% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 65.2% in Alva. There are 24 schools in Alva and 52 in Invergordon.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Invergordon School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Invergordon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 52 |
| Primary | 20 | 44 |
| Secondary | 4 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.6 Mbps in Alva and 404.1 Mbps in Invergordon. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 86.1% in Invergordon. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 79.2% in Invergordon.
Alva is the faster of the two by 18% on average download speed (477 vs 404 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Alva leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 61.2 (D), while Invergordon averages 60.6 (D). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,463 in Invergordon. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 34.7% in Invergordon.
Invergordon has more energy-efficient housing — 34.7% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,314 in Invergordon and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 42.4 in Invergordon. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 64.8% in Invergordon. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 73.3% in Invergordon.
| Indicator | Alva | Invergordon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 3,980 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £29,314 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 73.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 64.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 29.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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