Arbroath vs Fort William
Which is better to live in? Distance: 96.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Arbroath is about 20% cheaper on average. Arbroath has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Arbroath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Arbroath
£167,088
Fort William
£210,131
Crime Rate
Arbroath
297.0
Fort William
1805.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Arbroath
91.1%
Fort William
71.8%
Avg Download Speed
Arbroath
280.8
Fort William
110.5
EPC Rating
Arbroath
57.4
Fort William
59.4
Median Income
Arbroath
£35,996
Fort William
£35,599
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Arbroath more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £167,088 versus £210,131 in Fort William. The most affordable entry point in Arbroath is a flat at £94,981, while in Fort William it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 22% pricier in Fort William (£122,118 vs £94,981).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Fort William prices grew faster — 132% vs 127%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Arbroath (297 per 1,000) compared to Fort William (1,805.4 per 1,000), a 508% difference. The most common crime category in Arbroath is other-crime, while in Fort William 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 Arbroath: 91.1% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 71.8% in Fort William.
Arbroath School Inspection Breakdown
91.1% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fort William School Inspection Breakdown
71.8% of 83 schools (73 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Arbroath | Fort William |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 83 |
| Primary | 51 | 73 |
| Secondary | 8 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 91.1% | 71.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Arbroath enjoy 280.8 Mbps on average, while Fort William lags behind at 110.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.1% of premises in Arbroath and 93.8% in Fort William. Gigabit availability stands at 49.9% in Arbroath and 8.1% in Fort William.
Arbroath is the faster of the two by 154% on average download speed (281 vs 111 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Fort William is band D (score 59.4), ahead of Arbroath's band D (score 57.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,445 in Arbroath and £1,444 in Fort William. 40.4% of homes in Arbroath have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 42.8% in Fort William.
Fort William has more energy-efficient housing — 42.8% reach band C or above, vs 40.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Arbroath has a population of 23,940 while Fort William has 10,340. Median household income is £35,996 in Arbroath and £35,599 in Fort William. The median age is 41.2 in Arbroath and 41.9 in Fort William. Employment rates stand at 75.3% in Arbroath and 76.3% in Fort William.
| Indicator | Arbroath | Fort William |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,940 | 10,340 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £35,996 | £35,599 |
| Employment Rate | 75.3% | 76.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.4% | 58.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 32.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Arbroath and Fort William?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Arbroath or Fort William?
Is Arbroath or Fort William safer?
Which has better schools, Arbroath or Fort William?
Which has faster broadband, Arbroath or Fort William?
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