Beith vs Dumbarton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Dumbarton is about 9% cheaper on average. Dumbarton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dumbarton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Beith
£132,002
Dumbarton
£120,597
Crime Rate
Beith
1963.9
Dumbarton
474.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beith
90.9%
Dumbarton
94.9%
Avg Download Speed
Beith
388.8
Dumbarton
410.8
EPC Rating
Beith
58.8
Dumbarton
65.2
Median Income
Beith
£32,455
Dumbarton
£31,337
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Dumbarton is £120,597, which is 9% less than Beith at £132,002. The most affordable entry point in Beith is a flat at £84,787, while in Dumbarton it is a flat at £90,542.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 13% pricier in Dumbarton (£176,447 vs £153,043).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Beith prices grew faster — 105% vs 98%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Dumbarton (474.8 per 1,000) compared to Beith (1,963.9 per 1,000), a 314% difference. The most common crime category in Beith is other-crime, while in Dumbarton 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 ScotlandDumbarton has 94.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90.9% in Beith. Beith has 59 schools in total, while Dumbarton has 40.
Beith School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dumbarton School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Beith | Dumbarton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 40 |
| Primary | 51 | 35 |
| Secondary | 8 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 94.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Dumbarton offers faster average downloads at 410.8 Mbps, compared to 388.8 Mbps in Beith. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 83.7% of premises in Beith and 97.5% in Dumbarton. Gigabit availability stands at 76% in Beith and 78.5% in Dumbarton.
Dumbarton is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (411 vs 389 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Dumbarton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 65.2 (band D) versus 58.8 (band D) in Beith. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,365 in Beith and £1,557 in Dumbarton. 54.3% of homes in Beith have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 36.7% in Dumbarton.
Beith has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 36.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,455 in Beith and £31,337 in Dumbarton. The median age is 41.7 in Beith and 44.1 in Dumbarton. Employment rates stand at 77.5% in Beith and 69.5% in Dumbarton. Owner-occupancy is 61.7% in Beith versus 60% in Dumbarton.
| Indicator | Beith | Dumbarton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,040 | 21,120 |
| Median Age | 41.7 | 44.1 |
| Median Household Income | £32,455 | £31,337 |
| Employment Rate | 77.5% | 69.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.7% | 60% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25% | 23% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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