Bathgate vs Bo'ness
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Bo'ness is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 32% lower. Bathgate has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bo'ness edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bathgate
£217,827
Bo'ness
£165,479
Crime Rate
Bathgate
510.5
Bo'ness
833.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bathgate
91.5%
Bo'ness
94.7%
Avg Download Speed
Bathgate
409.7
Bo'ness
461.9
EPC Rating
Bathgate
59.4
Bo'ness
47.9
Median Income
Bathgate
£30,926
Bo'ness
£35,454
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £165,479, Bo'ness undercuts Bathgate (£217,827) by around 32% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bathgate is a flat at £123,221, while in Bo'ness it is a flat at £99,408.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Bathgate (£123,221 vs £99,408).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bo'ness prices grew faster — 144% vs 142%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandBathgate has a crime rate of 510.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 63% lower than Bo'ness at 833.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bathgate is violent-crime, while in Bo'ness it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Bathgate's most common crime is violent crime; in Bo'ness it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandOf the 86 schools in Bathgate, 91.5% are in the top two inspection bands. In Bo'ness, which has 59 schools, the figure is 94.7%.
Bathgate School Inspection Breakdown
91.5% of 86 schools (73 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bo'ness School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bathgate | Bo'ness |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 86 | 59 |
| Primary | 73 | 50 |
| Secondary | 13 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 91.5% | 94.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Bo'ness averages 461.9 Mbps – ahead of Bathgate's 409.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.2% of premises in Bathgate and 98.8% in Bo'ness. Gigabit availability stands at 79.2% in Bathgate and 90.9% in Bo'ness.
Bo'ness is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (462 vs 410 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bathgate, scoring 59.4 on average (band D) compared to 47.9 (band E) in Bo'ness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,690 in Bathgate and £1,490 in Bo'ness. 21.7% of homes in Bathgate have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 38.6% in Bo'ness.
Bo'ness has more energy-efficient housing — 38.6% reach band C or above, vs 21.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,454 in Bo'ness and £30,926 in Bathgate. The median age is 41.9 in Bathgate and 37.6 in Bo'ness. Employment rates stand at 70% in Bathgate and 76% in Bo'ness. Owner-occupancy is 64.4% in Bathgate versus 55.5% in Bo'ness. Bathgate has a population of 28,470 and Bo'ness has 14,760.
| Indicator | Bathgate | Bo'ness |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,470 | 14,760 |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 37.6 |
| Median Household Income | £30,926 | £35,454 |
| Employment Rate | 70% | 76% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.4% | 55.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.6% | 33.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bathgate and Bo'ness?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bathgate or Bo'ness?
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