Town comparison
Annan vs Tain
Which is better to live in? 197.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Annan is about 23% cheaper on average. Annan has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Annan edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Annan
£162,680
Tain
£210,131
Crime Rate
Annan
2028.6
Tain
5200.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Annan
72.0%
Tain
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Annan
273.7
Tain
360.1
EPC Rating
Annan
64.6
Tain
63.4
Median Income
Annan
£28,015
Tain
£27,278
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Annan is £162,680, which is 23% less than Tain at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Annan is a flat at £86,885, while in Tain it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 29% pricier in Tain (£122,118 vs £86,885).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Tain prices grew faster — 132% vs 92%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Annan (2,028.6 per 1,000) compared to Tain (5,200 per 1,000), a 156% difference. The most common crime category in Annan is other-crime, while in Tain 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 ScotlandAnnan has 72% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 66% in Tain. Annan has 108 schools in total, while Tain has 52.
Annan School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Tain School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Annan | Tain |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 108 | 52 |
| Primary | 93 | 44 |
| Secondary | 15 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 72% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Tain offers faster average downloads at 360.1 Mbps, compared to 273.7 Mbps in Annan. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Annan and 83.2% in Tain. Gigabit availability stands at 47.4% in Annan and 69.3% in Tain.
Tain is the faster of the two by 32% on average download speed (360 vs 274 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Annan are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 64.6 (band D) versus 63.4 (band D) in Tain. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,360 in Annan and £1,494 in Tain. 41.8% of homes in Annan have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 44.5% in Tain.
Tain has more energy-efficient housing — 44.5% reach band C or above, vs 41.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,015 in Annan and £27,278 in Tain. The median age is 43.8 in Annan and 43.4 in Tain. Employment rates stand at 73.3% in Annan and 68.5% in Tain. Owner-occupancy is 63.5% in Annan versus 68.3% in Tain.
| Indicator | Annan | Tain |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,780 | 3,590 |
| Median Age | 43.8 | 43.4 |
| Median Household Income | £28,015 | £27,278 |
| Employment Rate | 73.3% | 68.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.5% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.2% | 27.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Annan and Tain?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Annan or Tain?
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