The verdict
Property in Alva is about 27% cheaper on average. Stirling has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Stirling edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Stirling
£226,087
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Stirling
127.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Stirling
97.8%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Stirling
341.2
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Stirling
61.3
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Stirling
£28,099
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Alva more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,447 versus £226,087 in Stirling. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Stirling it is a flat at £140,585.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 34% pricier in Stirling (£140,585 vs £93,205).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 115%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 127.5 offences per 1,000 people, Stirling is the safer of the two – 550% lower than Alva's 828.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Stirling it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Stirling it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Stirling: 97.8% 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.
Stirling School Inspection Breakdown
97.8% of 48 schools (40 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Stirling |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 48 |
| Primary | 20 | 40 |
| Secondary | 4 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 97.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while Stirling lags behind at 341.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 91.3% in Stirling. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 62% in Stirling.
Alva is the faster of the two by 40% on average download speed (477 vs 341 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Stirling is band D (score 61.3), ahead of Alva's band D (score 61.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,484 in Stirling. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.3% in Stirling.
Stirling has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while Stirling has 49,830. Median household income is £28,099 in Stirling and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 42.6 in Stirling. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 72.6% in Stirling.
| Indicator | Alva | Stirling |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 49,830 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £28,099 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 72.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 70.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 27.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Stirling?
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