The verdict
Overall, Alva offers lower property prices by roughly 21%. Alva has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Wick edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alva
£165,447
Wick
£210,131
Crime Rate
Alva
828.3
Wick
2651.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alva
65.2%
Wick
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alva
476.6
Wick
124.4
EPC Rating
Alva
61.2
Wick
61.3
Median Income
Alva
£27,183
Wick
£31,674
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Alva is £165,447, which is 21% less than Wick at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Alva is a flat at £93,205, while in Wick it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Wick (£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 – 220% lower than Wick's 2,651.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Alva is violent-crime, while in Wick it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Alva's most common crime is violent crime; in Wick it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandWick has 75% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 65.2% in Alva. Alva has 24 schools in total, while Wick has 22.
Alva School Inspection Breakdown
65.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wick School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 22 schools (18 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alva | Wick |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 22 |
| Primary | 20 | 18 |
| Secondary | 4 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 65.2% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alva offers faster average downloads at 476.6 Mbps, compared to 124.4 Mbps in Wick. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Alva and 88.4% in Wick. Gigabit availability stands at 93.6% in Alva and 12.3% in Wick.
Alva is the faster of the two by 283% on average download speed (477 vs 124 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Wick are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 61.3 (band D) versus 61.2 (band D) in Alva. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,519 in Alva and £1,284 in Wick. 27.3% of homes in Alva have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 40.7% in Wick.
Wick has more energy-efficient housing — 40.7% reach band C or above, vs 27.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,674 in Wick and £27,183 in Alva. The median age is 42.6 in Alva and 42.6 in Wick. Employment rates stand at 71.3% in Alva and 75.1% in Wick. Owner-occupancy is 62.4% in Alva versus 61.5% in Wick.
| Indicator | Alva | Wick |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,600 | 7,040 |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,183 | £31,674 |
| Employment Rate | 71.3% | 75.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.4% | 61.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38.3% | 36% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alva and Wick?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alva or Wick?
Is Alva or Wick safer?
Which has better schools, Alva or Wick?
Which has faster broadband, Alva or Wick?
Keep exploring