Town comparison
Annan vs Laurencekirk
Which is better to live in? 130.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Annan offers lower property prices by roughly 19%. Annan has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Laurencekirk edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Annan
£162,680
Laurencekirk
£200,159
Crime Rate
Annan
2028.6
Laurencekirk
4463.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Annan
72.0%
Laurencekirk
73.6%
Avg Download Speed
Annan
273.7
Laurencekirk
227.7
EPC Rating
Annan
64.6
Laurencekirk
54
Median Income
Annan
£28,015
Laurencekirk
£33,879
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Annan more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £162,680 versus £200,159 in Laurencekirk. The most affordable entry point in Annan is a flat at £86,885, while in Laurencekirk it is a flat at £102,989.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Laurencekirk (£102,989 vs £86,885).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Laurencekirk prices grew faster — 112% vs 92%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Annan (2,028.6 per 1,000) compared to Laurencekirk (4,463.2 per 1,000), a 120% difference. The most common crime category in Annan is other-crime, while in Laurencekirk 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 ScotlandSchool quality favours Laurencekirk: 73.6% 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.
Laurencekirk School Inspection Breakdown
73.6% of 165 schools (149 primary, 16 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Annan | Laurencekirk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 108 | 165 |
| Primary | 93 | 149 |
| Secondary | 15 | 16 |
| % Top two bands | 72% | 73.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Annan enjoy 273.7 Mbps on average, while Laurencekirk lags behind at 227.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Annan and 68.5% in Laurencekirk. Gigabit availability stands at 47.4% in Annan and 40.3% in Laurencekirk.
Annan is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (274 vs 228 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Annan is band D (score 64.6), ahead of Laurencekirk's band E (score 54). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,360 in Annan and £1,749 in Laurencekirk. 41.8% of homes in Annan have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 53.4% in Laurencekirk.
Laurencekirk has more energy-efficient housing — 53.4% reach band C or above, vs 41.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Annan has a population of 8,780 while Laurencekirk has 3,040. Median household income is £33,879 in Laurencekirk and £28,015 in Annan. The median age is 43.8 in Annan and 39.9 in Laurencekirk. Employment rates stand at 73.3% in Annan and 70.9% in Laurencekirk.
| Indicator | Annan | Laurencekirk |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,780 | 3,040 |
| Median Age | 43.8 | 39.9 |
| Median Household Income | £28,015 | £33,879 |
| Employment Rate | 73.3% | 70.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.5% | 60.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.2% | 34.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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