Town comparison
Alva vs Tain
Which is better to live in? 114.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Alva offers lower property prices by roughly 21%. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Tain edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Tain
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Tain
5200.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Tain
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Tain
360.1
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Tain
63.4
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Tain
£27,278
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Alva is £165,447, which is 21% less than Tain at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Tain it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Tain (£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 ScotlandWith 828.3 offences per 1,000 people, Alva is the safer of the two – 528% lower than Tain's 5,200 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Tain it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Tain it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandTain has 66% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 65.2% in Alva. Alva has 24 schools in total, while Tain has 52.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Tain School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Tain |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 52 |
| Primary | 20 | 44 |
| Secondary | 4 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alva offers faster average downloads at 476.6 Mbps, compared to 360.1 Mbps in Tain. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 83.2% in Tain. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 69.3% in Tain.
Alva is the faster of the two by 32% on average download speed (477 vs 360 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Tain are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 63.4 (band D) versus 61.2 (band D) in Alva. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,494 in Tain. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 44.5% in Tain.
Tain has more energy-efficient housing — 44.5% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,278 in Tain and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 43.4 in Tain. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 68.5% in Tain. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 68.3% in Tain.
| Indicator | Alva | Tain |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 3,590 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 43.4 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £27,278 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 68.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 27.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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