Alva vs Kirkcudbright
Which is better to live in? Distance: 91.3 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Kirkcudbright wins on house prices with a 2% gap. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kirkcudbright edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Kirkcudbright
£162,680
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Kirkcudbright
5207.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Kirkcudbright
72.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Kirkcudbright
225.7
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Kirkcudbright
44.4
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Kirkcudbright
£28,391
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £162,680, Kirkcudbright undercuts Alva (£165,447) by around 2% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Kirkcudbright it is a flat at £86,885.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 25% pricier in Alva (£307,938 vs £247,236).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 92%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Alva experience less crime overall, with a rate of 828.3 per 1,000 versus 5,207.9 per 1,000 in Kirkcudbright. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Kirkcudbright it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Kirkcudbright 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 Kirkcudbright, which has 108 schools, the figure is 72%.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirkcudbright School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Kirkcudbright |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 108 |
| Primary | 20 | 93 |
| Secondary | 4 | 15 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 72% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Alva averages 476.6 Mbps – ahead of Kirkcudbright's 225.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 96.3% in Kirkcudbright. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 35.1% in Kirkcudbright.
Alva is the faster of the two by 111% on average download speed (477 vs 226 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Alva leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 61.2 (D), while Kirkcudbright averages 44.4 (E). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,774 in Kirkcudbright. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 29.9% in Kirkcudbright.
Kirkcudbright has more energy-efficient housing — 29.9% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,391 in Kirkcudbright and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 36.3 in Kirkcudbright. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 60.4% in Kirkcudbright. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 69.6% in Kirkcudbright.
| Indicator | Alva | Kirkcudbright |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 3,420 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 36.3 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £28,391 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 69.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 60.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 28.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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