Ayr vs Saltcoats
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Saltcoats is about 22% cheaper on average. Ayr has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ayr edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ayr
£160,929
Saltcoats
£132,002
Crime Rate
Ayr
136.9
Saltcoats
364.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ayr
93.6%
Saltcoats
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Ayr
440.2
Saltcoats
459.1
EPC Rating
Ayr
63
Saltcoats
70.7
Median Income
Ayr
£31,793
Saltcoats
£35,988
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Saltcoats more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £132,002 versus £160,929 in Ayr. The most affordable entry point in Ayr is a flat at £96,220, while in Saltcoats it is a flat at £84,787.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 22% pricier in Ayr (£186,156 vs £153,043).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Saltcoats prices grew faster — 105% vs 80%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Ayr (136.9 per 1,000) compared to Saltcoats (364.5 per 1,000), a 166% difference. The most common crime category in Ayr is other-crime, while in Saltcoats 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 90.9% in Saltcoats.
Ayr School Inspection Breakdown
93.6% of 50 schools (42 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Saltcoats School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ayr | Saltcoats |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 50 | 59 |
| Primary | 42 | 51 |
| Secondary | 8 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 93.6% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Saltcoats enjoy 459.1 Mbps on average, while Ayr lags behind at 440.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.2% of premises in Ayr and 97.6% in Saltcoats. Gigabit availability stands at 85.2% in Ayr and 90.2% in Saltcoats.
Saltcoats is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (459 vs 440 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Saltcoats is band C (score 70.7), ahead of Ayr's band D (score 63). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,341 in Ayr and £1,198 in Saltcoats. 48.5% of homes in Ayr have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 47.2% in Saltcoats.
Ayr has more energy-efficient housing — 48.5% reach band C or above, vs 47.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Ayr has a population of 62,580 while Saltcoats has 32,540. Median household income is £35,988 in Saltcoats and £31,793 in Ayr. The median age is 43.3 in Ayr and 46.1 in Saltcoats. Employment rates stand at 76.2% in Ayr and 75.4% in Saltcoats.
| Indicator | Ayr | Saltcoats |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 62,580 | 32,540 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 46.1 |
| Median Household Income | £31,793 | £35,988 |
| Employment Rate | 76.2% | 75.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 45.8% | 65.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 37.3% | 28% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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Is Ayr or Saltcoats safer?
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