Alva vs Lockerbie
Which is better to live in? Distance: 73.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Lockerbie offers lower property prices by roughly 2%. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Lockerbie edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Lockerbie
£162,680
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Lockerbie
4200.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Lockerbie
72.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Lockerbie
205.2
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Lockerbie
50.3
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Lockerbie
£31,075
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Lockerbie more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £162,680 versus £165,447 in Alva. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Lockerbie 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 ScotlandCrime is lower in Alva (828.3 per 1,000) compared to Lockerbie (4,200.7 per 1,000), a 407% difference. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Lockerbie it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Lockerbie it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Lockerbie: 72% 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.
Lockerbie School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Lockerbie |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 108 |
| Primary | 20 | 93 |
| Secondary | 4 | 15 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 72% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while Lockerbie lags behind at 205.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 83.6% in Lockerbie. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 32.4% in Lockerbie.
Alva is the faster of the two by 132% on average download speed (477 vs 205 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Alva is band D (score 61.2), ahead of Lockerbie's band E (score 50.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,570 in Lockerbie. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 25.2% in Lockerbie.
Alva has more energy-efficient housing — 27.3% reach band C or above, vs 25.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while Lockerbie has 4,240. Median household income is £31,075 in Lockerbie and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 38.5 in Lockerbie. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 73.9% in Lockerbie.
| Indicator | Alva | Lockerbie |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 4,240 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 38.5 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £31,075 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 73.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 26.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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