Town comparison
Alva vs Scone
Which is better to live in? 24.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Alva is about 26% cheaper on average. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Scone edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Scone
£223,039
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Scone
2055.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Scone
84.9%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Scone
249.9
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Scone
59.3
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Scone
£28,781
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Alva more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,447 versus £223,039 in Scone. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Scone it is a flat at £124,493.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 25% pricier in Scone (£124,493 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 128%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 828.3 offences per 1,000 people, Alva is the safer of the two – 148% lower than Scone's 2,055.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Scone it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Scone it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Scone: 84.9% 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.
Scone School Inspection Breakdown
84.9% of 77 schools (67 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Scone |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 77 |
| Primary | 20 | 67 |
| Secondary | 4 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 84.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while Scone lags behind at 249.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 78.7% in Scone. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 42.4% in Scone.
Alva is the faster of the two by 91% on average download speed (477 vs 250 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Alva is band D (score 61.2), ahead of Scone's band D (score 59.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,475 in Scone. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 42.6% in Scone.
Scone has more energy-efficient housing — 42.6% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while Scone has 5,050. Median household income is £28,781 in Scone and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 41.9 in Scone. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 73.5% in Scone.
| Indicator | Alva | Scone |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 5,050 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £28,781 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 73.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 59.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 22.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Scone?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alva or Scone?
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