Auchinleck vs Kirkwall
Which is better to live in? Distance: 247.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Auchinleck offers lower property prices by roughly 41%. Kirkwall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kirkwall edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Auchinleck
£127,807
Kirkwall
£217,742
Crime Rate
Auchinleck
2798.4
Kirkwall
145.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Auchinleck
68.2%
Kirkwall
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Auchinleck
334
Kirkwall
104.4
EPC Rating
Auchinleck
61.5
Kirkwall
52.6
Median Income
Auchinleck
£27,619
Kirkwall
£35,483
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Auchinleck more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £127,807 versus £217,742 in Kirkwall. The most affordable entry point in Auchinleck is a flat at £73,235, while in Kirkwall it is a flat at £114,443.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 36% pricier in Kirkwall (£172,748 vs £110,882).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kirkwall prices grew faster — 257% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Kirkwall (145.1 per 1,000) compared to Auchinleck (2,798.4 per 1,000), a 1829% difference. The most common crime category in Auchinleck 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 Kirkwall: 75% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 68.2% in Auchinleck.
Auchinleck School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 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 | Auchinleck | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 54 | 22 |
| Primary | 47 | 18 |
| Secondary | 7 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 68.2% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Auchinleck enjoy 334.0 Mbps on average, while Kirkwall lags behind at 104.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Auchinleck and 97.7% in Kirkwall. Gigabit availability stands at 61.1% in Auchinleck and 6.1% in Kirkwall.
Auchinleck is the faster of the two by 220% on average download speed (334 vs 104 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Auchinleck is band D (score 61.5), ahead of Kirkwall's band E (score 52.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,333 in Auchinleck and £1,688 in Kirkwall. 41.2% of homes in Auchinleck 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 41.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Auchinleck has a population of 3,730 while Kirkwall has 7,420. Median household income is £35,483 in Kirkwall and £27,619 in Auchinleck. The median age is 42.7 in Auchinleck and 39.3 in Kirkwall. Employment rates stand at 73.8% in Auchinleck and 68.3% in Kirkwall.
| Indicator | Auchinleck | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,730 | 7,420 |
| Median Age | 42.7 | 39.3 |
| Median Household Income | £27,619 | £35,483 |
| Employment Rate | 73.8% | 68.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.8% | 65.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.2% | 24.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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