Town comparison
Annan vs Carlisle
Which is better to live in? 14.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Annan wins on house prices with a 19% gap. For families, Carlisle edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Annan
£162,680
Carlisle
£201,009
Crime Rate
Annan
2028.6
Carlisle
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Annan
72.0%
Carlisle
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Annan
273.7
Carlisle
457.3
EPC Rating
Annan
64.6
Carlisle
67.3
Median Income
Annan
£28,015
Carlisle
£31,136
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Carlisle commands an average of £201,009, compared with £162,680 in Annan – a difference of 19%. The most affordable entry point in Annan is a flat at £86,885, while in Carlisle it is a flat at £110,822.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 24% pricier in Carlisle (£323,585 vs £247,236).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Annan prices grew faster — 92% vs 24%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime rate data is not available for both Annan and Carlisle at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Carlisle, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 72% in Annan. There are 108 schools in Annan and 25 in Carlisle.
Annan School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Carlisle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 25 schools (21 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Annan | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 108 | 25 |
| Primary | 93 | 21 |
| Secondary | 15 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 72% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 457.3 Mbps in Carlisle and 273.7 Mbps in Annan. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Annan and 99.2% in Carlisle. Gigabit availability stands at 47.4% in Annan and 88.9% in Carlisle.
Carlisle is the faster of the two by 67% on average download speed (457 vs 274 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Carlisle, scoring 67.3 on average (band C) compared to 64.6 (band D) in Annan. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,360 in Annan and £1,436 in Carlisle. 41.8% of homes in Annan have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.4% in Carlisle.
Carlisle has more energy-efficient housing — 50.4% reach band C or above, vs 41.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,136 in Carlisle and £28,015 in Annan. The median age is 43.8 in Annan and 46.6 in Carlisle. Employment rates stand at 73.3% in Annan and 55.8% in Carlisle. Owner-occupancy is 63.5% in Annan versus 68.8% in Carlisle. Annan has a population of 8,780 and Carlisle has 77,729.
| Indicator | Annan | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,780 | 77,729 |
| Median Age | 43.8 | 46.6 |
| Median Household Income | £28,015 | £31,136 |
| Employment Rate | 73.3% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.5% | 68.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.2% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Annan and Carlisle?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Annan or Carlisle?
Is Annan or Carlisle safer?
Which has better schools, Annan or Carlisle?
Which has faster broadband, Annan or Carlisle?
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