Town comparison
Alva vs Kinross
Which is better to live in? 15.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Alva wins on house prices with a 26% gap. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kinross edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Kinross
£223,039
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Kinross
2027.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Kinross
84.9%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Kinross
321.1
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Kinross
62.2
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Kinross
£30,194
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £165,447, Alva undercuts Kinross (£223,039) by around 26% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Kinross it is a flat at £124,493.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 25% pricier in Kinross (£124,493 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 128%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Alva experience less crime overall, with a rate of 828.3 per 1,000 versus 2,027.3 per 1,000 in Kinross. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Kinross it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Kinross it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandOf the 24 schools in Alva, 65.2% are in the top two inspection bands. In Kinross, which has 77 schools, the figure is 84.9%.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kinross School Inspection Breakdown
84.9% of 77 schools (67 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Kinross |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 77 |
| Primary | 20 | 67 |
| Secondary | 4 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 84.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Alva averages 476.6 Mbps – ahead of Kinross's 321.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 91.4% in Kinross. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 58.7% in Kinross.
Alva is the faster of the two by 48% on average download speed (477 vs 321 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Kinross leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 62.2 (D), while Alva averages 61.2 (D). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,449 in Kinross. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 43.5% in Kinross.
Kinross has more energy-efficient housing — 43.5% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,194 in Kinross and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 43 in Kinross. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 60.1% in Kinross. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 73.2% in Kinross.
| Indicator | Alva | Kinross |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 5,120 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 43 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £30,194 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 73.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 60.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 25.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Kinross?
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