Town comparison
Annan vs Kirkwall
Which is better to live in? 276.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Annan is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 25% lower. Kirkwall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kirkwall edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Annan
£162,680
Kirkwall
£217,742
Crime Rate
Annan
2028.6
Kirkwall
145.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Annan
72.0%
Kirkwall
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Annan
273.7
Kirkwall
104.4
EPC Rating
Annan
64.6
Kirkwall
52.6
Median Income
Annan
£28,015
Kirkwall
£35,483
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £162,680, Annan undercuts Kirkwall (£217,742) by around 25% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Annan is a flat at £86,885, while in Kirkwall it is a flat at £114,443.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 24% pricier in Kirkwall (£172,748 vs £131,292).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kirkwall prices grew faster — 257% vs 92%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandKirkwall has a crime rate of 145.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 1298% lower than Annan at 2,028.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Annan is other-crime, while in Kirkwall it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandOf the 108 schools in Annan, 72% are in the top two inspection bands. In Kirkwall, which has 22 schools, the figure is 75%.
Annan School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirkwall School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 22 schools (18 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Annan | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 108 | 22 |
| Primary | 93 | 18 |
| Secondary | 15 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 72% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Annan averages 273.7 Mbps – ahead of Kirkwall's 104.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Annan and 97.7% in Kirkwall. Gigabit availability stands at 47.4% in Annan and 6.1% in Kirkwall.
Annan is the faster of the two by 162% on average download speed (274 vs 104 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Annan, scoring 64.6 on average (band D) compared to 52.6 (band E) in Kirkwall. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,360 in Annan and £1,688 in Kirkwall. 41.8% of homes in Annan have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.7% in Kirkwall.
Kirkwall has more energy-efficient housing — 55.7% reach band C or above, vs 41.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,483 in Kirkwall and £28,015 in Annan. The median age is 43.8 in Annan and 39.3 in Kirkwall. Employment rates stand at 73.3% in Annan and 68.3% in Kirkwall. Owner-occupancy is 63.5% in Annan versus 65.8% in Kirkwall. Annan has a population of 8,780 and Kirkwall has 7,420.
| Indicator | Annan | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,780 | 7,420 |
| Median Age | 43.8 | 39.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,015 | £35,483 |
| Employment Rate | 73.3% | 68.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.5% | 65.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.2% | 24.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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