Arbroath vs Kelso
Which is better to live in? Distance: 66.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Arbroath is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 8% lower. Arbroath has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Arbroath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Arbroath
£167,088
Kelso
£181,358
Crime Rate
Arbroath
297.0
Kelso
1059.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Arbroath
91.1%
Kelso
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Arbroath
280.8
Kelso
372.2
EPC Rating
Arbroath
57.4
Kelso
70.9
Median Income
Arbroath
£35,996
Kelso
£29,915
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Kelso commands an average of £181,358, compared with £167,088 in Arbroath – a difference of 8%. The most affordable entry point in Arbroath is a flat at £94,981, while in Kelso it is a flat at £107,088.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 19% pricier in Kelso (£174,270 vs £140,384).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Arbroath prices grew faster — 127% vs 119%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandArbroath has a crime rate of 297 per 1,000 residents, which is 257% lower than Kelso at 1,059.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Arbroath is other-crime, while in Kelso it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Arbroath's most common crime is other crime; in Kelso it's violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Arbroath, where 91.1% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 74.6% in Kelso. There are 59 schools in Arbroath and 66 in Kelso.
Arbroath School Inspection Breakdown
91.1% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kelso School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Arbroath | Kelso |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 66 |
| Primary | 51 | 57 |
| Secondary | 8 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 91.1% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 372.2 Mbps in Kelso and 280.8 Mbps in Arbroath. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.1% of premises in Arbroath and 94.1% in Kelso. Gigabit availability stands at 49.9% in Arbroath and 70% in Kelso.
Kelso is the faster of the two by 33% on average download speed (372 vs 281 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Kelso, scoring 70.9 on average (band C) compared to 57.4 (band D) in Arbroath. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,445 in Arbroath and £1,377 in Kelso. 40.4% of homes in Arbroath have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Kelso.
Kelso has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 40.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,996 in Arbroath and £29,915 in Kelso. The median age is 41.2 in Arbroath and 47.9 in Kelso. Employment rates stand at 75.3% in Arbroath and 52.4% in Kelso. Owner-occupancy is 65.4% in Arbroath versus 65.2% in Kelso. Arbroath has a population of 23,940 and Kelso has 6,910.
| Indicator | Arbroath | Kelso |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,940 | 6,910 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 47.9 |
| Median Household Income | £35,996 | £29,915 |
| Employment Rate | 75.3% | 52.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.4% | 65.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Arbroath and Kelso?
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