Ayr vs Mauchline
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Mauchline offers lower property prices by roughly 26%. Ayr has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ayr edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ayr
£160,929
Mauchline
£127,807
Crime Rate
Ayr
136.9
Mauchline
2603.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ayr
93.6%
Mauchline
68.2%
Avg Download Speed
Ayr
440.2
Mauchline
319.7
EPC Rating
Ayr
63
Mauchline
48.4
Median Income
Ayr
£31,793
Mauchline
£35,434
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Mauchline more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £127,807 versus £160,929 in Ayr. The most affordable entry point in Ayr is a flat at £96,220, while in Mauchline it is a flat at £73,235.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 32% pricier in Ayr (£186,156 vs £140,569).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Mauchline prices grew faster — 102% vs 80%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Ayr (136.9 per 1,000) compared to Mauchline (2,603 per 1,000), a 1801% difference. The most common crime category in Ayr is other-crime, while in Mauchline 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 Ayr: 93.6% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 68.2% in Mauchline.
Ayr School Inspection Breakdown
93.6% of 50 schools (42 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Mauchline School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ayr | Mauchline |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 50 | 54 |
| Primary | 42 | 47 |
| Secondary | 8 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 93.6% | 68.2% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Ayr enjoy 440.2 Mbps on average, while Mauchline lags behind at 319.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.2% of premises in Ayr and 90.2% in Mauchline. Gigabit availability stands at 85.2% in Ayr and 58.4% in Mauchline.
Ayr is the faster of the two by 38% on average download speed (440 vs 320 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Ayr is band D (score 63), ahead of Mauchline's band E (score 48.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,341 in Ayr and £1,533 in Mauchline. 48.5% of homes in Ayr have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.9% in Mauchline.
Mauchline has more energy-efficient housing — 50.9% reach band C or above, vs 48.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Ayr has a population of 62,580 while Mauchline has 4,010. Median household income is £35,434 in Mauchline and £31,793 in Ayr. The median age is 43.3 in Ayr and 37.8 in Mauchline. Employment rates stand at 76.2% in Ayr and 74.8% in Mauchline.
| Indicator | Ayr | Mauchline |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 62,580 | 4,010 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 37.8 |
| Median Household Income | £31,793 | £35,434 |
| Employment Rate | 76.2% | 74.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 45.8% | 61.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 37.3% | 44.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Ayr and Mauchline?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Ayr or Mauchline?
Is Ayr or Mauchline safer?
Which has better schools, Ayr or Mauchline?
Which has faster broadband, Ayr or Mauchline?
Keep exploring