Arbroath vs Kirkwall
Which is better to live in? Distance: 167.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Arbroath offers lower property prices by roughly 23%. Kirkwall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Arbroath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Arbroath
£167,088
Kirkwall
£217,742
Crime Rate
Arbroath
297.0
Kirkwall
145.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Arbroath
91.1%
Kirkwall
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Arbroath
280.8
Kirkwall
104.4
EPC Rating
Arbroath
57.4
Kirkwall
52.6
Median Income
Arbroath
£35,996
Kirkwall
£35,483
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Arbroath more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £167,088 versus £217,742 in Kirkwall. The most affordable entry point in Arbroath is a flat at £94,981, while in Kirkwall it is a flat at £114,443.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 19% pricier in Kirkwall (£172,748 vs £140,384).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kirkwall prices grew faster — 257% vs 127%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Kirkwall (145.1 per 1,000) compared to Arbroath (297 per 1,000), a 105% difference. The most common crime category in Arbroath is other-crime, while in Kirkwall 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 75% in Kirkwall.
Arbroath School Inspection Breakdown
91.1% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirkwall School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 22 schools (18 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Arbroath | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 22 |
| Primary | 51 | 18 |
| Secondary | 8 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 91.1% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Arbroath enjoy 280.8 Mbps on average, while Kirkwall lags behind at 104.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.1% of premises in Arbroath and 97.7% in Kirkwall. Gigabit availability stands at 49.9% in Arbroath and 6.1% in Kirkwall.
Arbroath is the faster of the two by 169% on average download speed (281 vs 104 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Arbroath is band D (score 57.4), ahead of Kirkwall's band E (score 52.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,445 in Arbroath and £1,688 in Kirkwall. 40.4% of homes in Arbroath have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.7% in Kirkwall.
Kirkwall has more energy-efficient housing — 55.7% reach band C or above, vs 40.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Arbroath has a population of 23,940 while Kirkwall has 7,420. Median household income is £35,996 in Arbroath and £35,483 in Kirkwall. The median age is 41.2 in Arbroath and 39.3 in Kirkwall. Employment rates stand at 75.3% in Arbroath and 68.3% in Kirkwall.
| Indicator | Arbroath | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,940 | 7,420 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 39.3 |
| Median Household Income | £35,996 | £35,483 |
| Employment Rate | 75.3% | 68.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.4% | 65.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 24.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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