Town comparison
Alva vs Kirkwall
Which is better to live in? 197.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Alva is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 24% lower. Kirkwall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kirkwall edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Kirkwall
£217,742
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Kirkwall
145.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Kirkwall
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Kirkwall
104.4
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Kirkwall
52.6
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Kirkwall
£35,483
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Kirkwall commands an average of £217,742, compared with £165,447 in Alva – a difference of 24%. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Kirkwall it is a flat at £114,443.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 19% pricier in Kirkwall (£172,748 vs £140,514).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kirkwall prices grew faster — 257% vs 140%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandKirkwall has a crime rate of 145.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 471% lower than Alva at 828.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Kirkwall it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Kirkwall it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Kirkwall, where 75% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 65.2% in Alva. There are 24 schools in Alva and 22 in Kirkwall.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirkwall School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 22 schools (18 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 22 |
| Primary | 20 | 18 |
| Secondary | 4 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.6 Mbps in Alva and 104.4 Mbps in Kirkwall. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 97.7% in Kirkwall. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 6.1% in Kirkwall.
Alva is the faster of the two by 357% on average download speed (477 vs 104 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Alva leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 61.2 (D), while Kirkwall averages 52.6 (E). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,688 in Kirkwall. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.7% in Kirkwall.
Kirkwall has more energy-efficient housing — 55.7% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,483 in Kirkwall and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 39.3 in Kirkwall. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 65.8% in Kirkwall. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 68.3% in Kirkwall.
| Indicator | Alva | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 7,420 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 39.3 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £35,483 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 68.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 65.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 24.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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