Alva vs Peebles
Which is better to live in? Distance: 42.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Alva is about 9% cheaper on average. Peebles has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Peebles edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Peebles
£181,358
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Peebles
819.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Peebles
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Peebles
450.5
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Peebles
47.9
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Peebles
£28,099
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Alva is £165,447, which is 9% less than Peebles at £181,358. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Peebles it is a flat at £107,088.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 19% pricier in Peebles (£174,270 vs £140,514).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 119%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Peebles (819.2 per 1,000) compared to Alva (828.3 per 1,000), a 1% difference. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Peebles it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandPeebles has 74.6% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 65.2% in Alva. Alva has 24 schools in total, while Peebles has 66.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Peebles School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Peebles |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 66 |
| Primary | 20 | 57 |
| Secondary | 4 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alva offers faster average downloads at 476.6 Mbps, compared to 450.5 Mbps in Peebles. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 96.4% in Peebles. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 88.6% in Peebles.
Alva is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (477 vs 451 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Alva are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 61.2 (band D) versus 47.9 (band E) in Peebles. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,702 in Peebles. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.7% in Peebles.
Peebles has more energy-efficient housing — 56.7% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,099 in Peebles and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 37.6 in Peebles. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 70.8% in Peebles. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 53.4% in Peebles.
| Indicator | Alva | Peebles |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 8,940 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 37.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £28,099 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 70.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 53.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 34.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Peebles?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alva or Peebles?
Is Alva or Peebles safer?
Which has better schools, Alva or Peebles?
Which has faster broadband, Alva or Peebles?
Keep exploring