Alva vs Kelso
Which is better to live in? Distance: 65.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Alva is about 9% cheaper on average. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kelso edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Kelso
£181,358
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Kelso
1059.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Kelso
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Kelso
372.2
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Kelso
70.9
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Kelso
£29,915
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Alva more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,447 versus £181,358 in Kelso. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Kelso it is a flat at £107,088.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 19% pricier in Kelso (£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 ScotlandWith 828.3 offences per 1,000 people, Alva is the safer of the two – 28% lower than Kelso's 1,059.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Kelso 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 ScotlandSchool quality favours Kelso: 74.6% 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.
Kelso School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Kelso |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 66 |
| Primary | 20 | 57 |
| Secondary | 4 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while Kelso lags behind at 372.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 94.1% in Kelso. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 70% in Kelso.
Alva is the faster of the two by 28% on average download speed (477 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Kelso is band C (score 70.9), ahead of Alva's band D (score 61.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,377 in Kelso. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Kelso.
Kelso has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while Kelso has 6,910. Median household income is £29,915 in Kelso and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 47.9 in Kelso. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 52.4% in Kelso.
| Indicator | Alva | Kelso |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 6,910 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 47.9 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £29,915 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 52.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 65.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Kelso?
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