Annan vs Kelso
Which is better to live in? Distance: 53.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Annan offers lower property prices by roughly 10%. Kelso has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kelso edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Annan
£162,680
Kelso
£181,358
Crime Rate
Annan
2028.6
Kelso
1059.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Annan
72.0%
Kelso
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Annan
273.7
Kelso
372.2
EPC Rating
Annan
64.6
Kelso
70.9
Median Income
Annan
£28,015
Kelso
£29,915
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Annan more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £162,680 versus £181,358 in Kelso. The most affordable entry point in Annan is a flat at £86,885, while in Kelso it is a flat at £107,088.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 27% pricier in Kelso (£340,681 vs £247,236).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kelso prices grew faster — 119% vs 92%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 1,059.9 offences per 1,000 people, Kelso is the safer of the two – 91% lower than Annan's 2,028.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Annan is other-crime, while in Kelso it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Annan's most common crime is other crime; in Kelso it's violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Kelso: 74.6% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 72% in Annan.
Annan School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kelso School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Annan | Kelso |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 108 | 66 |
| Primary | 93 | 57 |
| Secondary | 15 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 72% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Kelso enjoy 372.2 Mbps on average, while Annan lags behind at 273.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Annan and 94.1% in Kelso. Gigabit availability stands at 47.4% in Annan and 70% in Kelso.
Kelso is the faster of the two by 36% on average download speed (372 vs 274 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Kelso is band C (score 70.9), ahead of Annan's band D (score 64.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,360 in Annan and £1,377 in Kelso. 41.8% of homes in Annan have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Kelso.
Kelso has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 41.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Annan has a population of 8,780 while Kelso has 6,910. Median household income is £29,915 in Kelso and £28,015 in Annan. The median age is 43.8 in Annan and 47.9 in Kelso. Employment rates stand at 73.3% in Annan and 52.4% in Kelso.
| Indicator | Annan | Kelso |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,780 | 6,910 |
| Median Age | 43.8 | 47.9 |
| Median Household Income | £28,015 | £29,915 |
| Employment Rate | 73.3% | 52.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.5% | 65.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.2% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Annan and Kelso?
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