The verdict
Property in Alva is about 17% cheaper on average. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Laurencekirk edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Laurencekirk
£200,159
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Laurencekirk
4463.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Laurencekirk
73.6%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Laurencekirk
227.7
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Laurencekirk
54
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Laurencekirk
£33,879
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Alva more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,447 versus £200,159 in Laurencekirk. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Laurencekirk it is a flat at £102,989.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 10% pricier in Laurencekirk (£102,989 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 112%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Alva (828.3 per 1,000) compared to Laurencekirk (4,463.2 per 1,000), a 439% difference. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Laurencekirk it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Laurencekirk it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Laurencekirk: 73.6% 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.
Laurencekirk School Inspection Breakdown
73.6% of 165 schools (149 primary, 16 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Laurencekirk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 165 |
| Primary | 20 | 149 |
| Secondary | 4 | 16 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 73.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while Laurencekirk lags behind at 227.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 68.5% in Laurencekirk. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 40.3% in Laurencekirk.
Alva is the faster of the two by 109% on average download speed (477 vs 228 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Alva is band D (score 61.2), ahead of Laurencekirk's band E (score 54). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,749 in Laurencekirk. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 53.4% in Laurencekirk.
Laurencekirk has more energy-efficient housing — 53.4% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while Laurencekirk has 3,040. Median household income is £33,879 in Laurencekirk and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 39.9 in Laurencekirk. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 70.9% in Laurencekirk.
| Indicator | Alva | Laurencekirk |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 3,040 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 39.9 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £33,879 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 70.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 60.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 34.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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