Armadale vs Falkirk
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.2 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Falkirk wins on house prices with a 32% gap. Falkirk has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Falkirk edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Armadale
£217,827
Falkirk
£165,479
Crime Rate
Armadale
1158.2
Falkirk
119.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Armadale
91.5%
Falkirk
94.7%
Avg Download Speed
Armadale
409.7
Falkirk
432
EPC Rating
Armadale
68.9
Falkirk
62
Median Income
Armadale
£31,942
Falkirk
£26,354
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Armadale commands an average of £217,827, compared with £165,479 in Falkirk – a difference of 32%. The most affordable entry point in Armadale is a flat at £123,221, while in Falkirk it is a flat at £99,408.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Armadale (£123,221 vs £99,408).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Falkirk prices grew faster — 144% vs 142%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Falkirk experience less crime overall, with a rate of 119.4 per 1,000 versus 1,158.2 per 1,000 in Armadale. The most common crime category in Armadale is violent-crime, while in Falkirk it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Armadale's most common crime is violent crime; in Falkirk it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Falkirk, where 94.7% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 91.5% in Armadale. There are 86 schools in Armadale and 59 in Falkirk.
Armadale School Inspection Breakdown
91.5% of 86 schools (73 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Falkirk School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Armadale | Falkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 86 | 59 |
| Primary | 73 | 50 |
| Secondary | 13 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 91.5% | 94.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 432.0 Mbps in Falkirk and 409.7 Mbps in Armadale. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.2% of premises in Armadale and 94% in Falkirk. Gigabit availability stands at 79.2% in Armadale and 84.7% in Falkirk.
Falkirk is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (432 vs 410 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Armadale, scoring 68.9 on average (band D) compared to 62 (band D) in Falkirk. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,321 in Armadale and £1,311 in Falkirk. 44.6% of homes in Armadale have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 31.3% in Falkirk.
Armadale has more energy-efficient housing — 44.6% reach band C or above, vs 31.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,942 in Armadale and £26,354 in Falkirk. The median age is 45.5 in Armadale and 42.9 in Falkirk. Employment rates stand at 76.2% in Armadale and 78% in Falkirk. Owner-occupancy is 57.4% in Armadale versus 60.3% in Falkirk. Armadale has a population of 12,550 and Falkirk has 103,030.
| Indicator | Armadale | Falkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,550 | 103,030 |
| Median Age | 45.5 | 42.9 |
| Median Household Income | £31,942 | £26,354 |
| Employment Rate | 76.2% | 78% |
| Owner Occupied | 57.4% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33% | 35.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Armadale and Falkirk?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Armadale or Falkirk?
Is Armadale or Falkirk safer?
Which has better schools, Armadale or Falkirk?
Which has faster broadband, Armadale or Falkirk?
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