Bathgate vs Harthill
Which is better to live in? Distance: 5.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Harthill offers lower property prices by roughly 44%. Bathgate has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bathgate edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bathgate
£217,827
Harthill
£151,310
Crime Rate
Bathgate
510.5
Harthill
8827.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bathgate
91.5%
Harthill
78.5%
Avg Download Speed
Bathgate
409.7
Harthill
397.8
EPC Rating
Bathgate
59.4
Harthill
55.9
Median Income
Bathgate
£30,926
Harthill
£28,526
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Harthill more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £151,310 versus £217,827 in Bathgate. The most affordable entry point in Bathgate is a flat at £123,221, while in Harthill it is a flat at £89,980.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 37% pricier in Bathgate (£123,221 vs £89,980).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bathgate prices grew faster — 142% vs 131%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Bathgate (510.5 per 1,000) compared to Harthill (8,827.3 per 1,000), a 1629% difference. The most common crime category in Bathgate is violent-crime, while in Harthill it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Bathgate's most common crime is violent crime; in Harthill it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Bathgate: 91.5% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 78.5% in Harthill.
Bathgate School Inspection Breakdown
91.5% of 86 schools (73 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harthill School Inspection Breakdown
78.5% of 154 schools (127 primary, 27 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bathgate | Harthill |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 86 | 154 |
| Primary | 73 | 127 |
| Secondary | 13 | 27 |
| % Top two bands | 91.5% | 78.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bathgate enjoy 409.7 Mbps on average, while Harthill lags behind at 397.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.2% of premises in Bathgate and 91.8% in Harthill. Gigabit availability stands at 79.2% in Bathgate and 77% in Harthill.
Bathgate is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (410 vs 398 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bathgate is band D (score 59.4), ahead of Harthill's band D (score 55.9). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,690 in Bathgate and £1,730 in Harthill. 21.7% of homes in Bathgate have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 48.3% in Harthill.
Harthill has more energy-efficient housing — 48.3% reach band C or above, vs 21.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bathgate has a population of 28,470 while Harthill has 3,590. Median household income is £30,926 in Bathgate and £28,526 in Harthill. The median age is 41.9 in Bathgate and 40.6 in Harthill. Employment rates stand at 70% in Bathgate and 72.1% in Harthill.
| Indicator | Bathgate | Harthill |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,470 | 3,590 |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 40.6 |
| Median Household Income | £30,926 | £28,526 |
| Employment Rate | 70% | 72.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.4% | 59.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.6% | 19.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bathgate and Harthill?
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