Alva vs Nairn
Which is better to live in? Distance: 98.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Alva is about 21% cheaper on average. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Nairn edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Nairn
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Nairn
1874.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Nairn
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Nairn
115.5
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Nairn
55.8
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Nairn
£28,676
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Alva more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,447 versus £210,131 in Nairn. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Nairn it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Nairn (£122,118 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 132%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Alva (828.3 per 1,000) compared to Nairn (1,874.3 per 1,000), a 126% difference. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Nairn it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Nairn it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Nairn: 66% 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.
Nairn School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Nairn |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 52 |
| Primary | 20 | 44 |
| Secondary | 4 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while Nairn lags behind at 115.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 85.1% in Nairn. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 10.8% in Nairn.
Alva is the faster of the two by 313% on average download speed (477 vs 116 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Alva is band D (score 61.2), ahead of Nairn's band D (score 55.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,373 in Nairn. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 47.4% in Nairn.
Nairn has more energy-efficient housing — 47.4% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while Nairn has 9,960. Median household income is £28,676 in Nairn and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 40.6 in Nairn. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 76.7% in Nairn.
| Indicator | Alva | Nairn |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 9,960 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 40.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £28,676 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 76.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 62.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 28.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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