Town comparison
Annan vs Wick
Which is better to live in? 238.6 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, Wick edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Annan
£162,680
Wick
£210,131
Crime Rate
Annan
2028.6
Wick
2651.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Annan
72.0%
Wick
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Annan
273.7
Wick
124.4
EPC Rating
Annan
64.6
Wick
61.3
Median Income
Annan
£28,015
Wick
£31,674
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Annan is £162,680, which is 23% less than Wick at £210,131. The most affordable entry point in Annan is a flat at £86,885, while in Wick it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 29% pricier in Wick (£122,118 vs £86,885).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Wick prices grew faster — 132% vs 92%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 2,028.6 offences per 1,000 people, Annan is the safer of the two – 31% lower than Wick's 2,651.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Annan is other-crime, while in Wick 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 ScotlandWick has 75% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 72% in Annan. Annan has 108 schools in total, while Wick has 22.
Annan School Inspection Breakdown
72% of 108 schools (93 primary, 15 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wick School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 22 schools (18 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Annan | Wick |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 108 | 22 |
| Primary | 93 | 18 |
| Secondary | 15 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 72% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Annan offers faster average downloads at 273.7 Mbps, compared to 124.4 Mbps in Wick. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Annan and 88.4% in Wick. Gigabit availability stands at 47.4% in Annan and 12.3% in Wick.
Annan is the faster of the two by 120% on average download speed (274 vs 124 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Annan are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 64.6 (band D) versus 61.3 (band D) in Wick. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,360 in Annan and £1,284 in Wick. 41.8% of homes in Annan have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 40.7% in Wick.
Annan has more energy-efficient housing — 41.8% reach band C or above, vs 40.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,674 in Wick and £28,015 in Annan. The median age is 43.8 in Annan and 42.6 in Wick. Employment rates stand at 73.3% in Annan and 75.1% in Wick. Owner-occupancy is 63.5% in Annan versus 61.5% in Wick.
| Indicator | Annan | Wick |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,780 | 7,040 |
| Median Age | 43.8 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £28,015 | £31,674 |
| Employment Rate | 73.3% | 75.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.5% | 61.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.2% | 36% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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