Town comparison
Alva vs Tillicoultry
Which is better to live in? 2.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Alva offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. Tillicoultry has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Alva edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Tillicoultry
£165,447
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Tillicoultry
645.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Tillicoultry
65.2%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Tillicoultry
439.9
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Tillicoultry
65.5
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Tillicoultry
£32,664
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Alva more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,447 versus £165,447 in Tillicoultry. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Tillicoultry it is a flat at £93,205.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in Alva (£307,938 vs £307,938).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Alva prices grew faster — 140% vs 140%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 645.8 offences per 1,000 people, Tillicoultry is the safer of the two – 28% lower than Alva's 828.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Tillicoultry 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 ScotlandSchool quality favours Alva: 65.2% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 65.2% in Tillicoultry.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Tillicoultry School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Tillicoultry |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 24 |
| Primary | 20 | 20 |
| Secondary | 4 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 65.2% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alva enjoy 476.6 Mbps on average, while Tillicoultry lags behind at 439.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 98.6% in Tillicoultry. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 84.5% in Tillicoultry.
Alva is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (477 vs 440 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Tillicoultry is band D (score 65.5), ahead of Alva's band D (score 61.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,378 in Tillicoultry. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.2% in Tillicoultry.
Tillicoultry has more energy-efficient housing — 51.2% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alva has a population of 4,600 while Tillicoultry has 5,900. Median household income is £32,664 in Tillicoultry and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 44.2 in Tillicoultry. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 73.4% in Tillicoultry.
| Indicator | Alva | Tillicoultry |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 5,900 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £32,664 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 73.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 65.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 37.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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