Bathgate vs Falkirk
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Falkirk offers lower property prices by roughly 32%. Falkirk has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Falkirk edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bathgate
£217,827
Falkirk
£165,479
Crime Rate
Bathgate
510.5
Falkirk
119.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bathgate
91.5%
Falkirk
94.7%
Avg Download Speed
Bathgate
409.7
Falkirk
432
EPC Rating
Bathgate
59.4
Falkirk
62
Median Income
Bathgate
£30,926
Falkirk
£26,354
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Falkirk is £165,479, which is 32% less than Bathgate at £217,827. The most affordable entry point in Bathgate 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 Bathgate (£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 ScotlandCrime is lower in Falkirk (119.4 per 1,000) compared to Bathgate (510.5 per 1,000), a 328% difference. The most common crime category in Bathgate is violent-crime, while in Falkirk it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Bathgate's most common crime is violent crime; in Falkirk it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFalkirk has 94.7% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 91.5% in Bathgate. Bathgate has 86 schools in total, while Falkirk has 59.
Bathgate 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 | Bathgate | Falkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 86 | 59 |
| Primary | 73 | 50 |
| Secondary | 13 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 91.5% | 94.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Falkirk offers faster average downloads at 432.0 Mbps, compared to 409.7 Mbps in Bathgate. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.2% of premises in Bathgate and 94% in Falkirk. Gigabit availability stands at 79.2% in Bathgate 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
Homes in Falkirk are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 62 (band D) versus 59.4 (band D) in Bathgate. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,690 in Bathgate and £1,311 in Falkirk. 21.7% of homes in Bathgate have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 31.3% in Falkirk.
Falkirk has more energy-efficient housing — 31.3% reach band C or above, vs 21.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,926 in Bathgate and £26,354 in Falkirk. The median age is 41.9 in Bathgate and 42.9 in Falkirk. Employment rates stand at 70% in Bathgate and 78% in Falkirk. Owner-occupancy is 64.4% in Bathgate versus 60.3% in Falkirk.
| Indicator | Bathgate | Falkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,470 | 103,030 |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 42.9 |
| Median Household Income | £30,926 | £26,354 |
| Employment Rate | 70% | 78% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.4% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.6% | 35.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bathgate and Falkirk?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bathgate or Falkirk?
Is Bathgate or Falkirk safer?
Which has better schools, Bathgate or Falkirk?
Which has faster broadband, Bathgate or Falkirk?
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