Town comparison
Alva vs Inverness and Culloden
Which is better to live in? 92.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Alva is about 21% cheaper on average. Inverness And Culloden has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Inverness And Culloden edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Inverness and Culloden
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Inverness and Culloden
295.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Inverness and Culloden
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Inverness and Culloden
407.8
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Inverness and Culloden
56.1
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Inverness and Culloden
£29,555
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Alva is £165,447, which is 21% less than Inverness And Culloden at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Inverness And Culloden it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Inverness And Culloden (£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 ScotlandCrime is lower in Inverness And Culloden (295.3 per 1,000) compared to Alva (828.3 per 1,000), a 180% difference. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Inverness And Culloden it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Inverness And Culloden it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandInverness And Culloden has 66% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 65.2% in Alva. Alva has 24 schools in total, while Inverness And Culloden has 52.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Inverness and Culloden School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Inverness and Culloden |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 52 |
| Primary | 20 | 44 |
| Secondary | 4 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alva offers faster average downloads at 476.6 Mbps, compared to 407.8 Mbps in Inverness And Culloden. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 93.7% in Inverness And Culloden. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 78.7% in Inverness And Culloden.
Alva is the faster of the two by 17% on average download speed (477 vs 408 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Alva are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 61.2 (band D) versus 56.1 (band D) in Inverness And Culloden. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,325 in Inverness And Culloden. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 34.1% in Inverness And Culloden.
Inverness And Culloden has more energy-efficient housing — 34.1% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,555 in Inverness And Culloden and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 40.7 in Inverness And Culloden. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 74% in Inverness And Culloden. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 62.9% in Inverness And Culloden.
| Indicator | Alva | Inverness and Culloden |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 63,220 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 40.7 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £29,555 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 74% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 62.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 17.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Inverness And Culloden?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alva or Inverness And Culloden?
Is Alva or Inverness And Culloden safer?
Which has better schools, Alva or Inverness And Culloden?
Which has faster broadband, Alva or Inverness And Culloden?
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