Town comparison
Beith vs Inverkip
Which is better to live in? 14.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Inverkip offers lower property prices by roughly 22%. Inverkip has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Beith edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Beith
£132,002
Inverkip
£108,376
Crime Rate
Beith
1963.9
Inverkip
1664.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beith
90.9%
Inverkip
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Beith
388.8
Inverkip
407.6
EPC Rating
Beith
58.8
Inverkip
57.1
Median Income
Beith
£32,455
Inverkip
£24,857
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Inverkip more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £108,376 versus £132,002 in Beith. The most affordable entry point in Beith is a flat at £84,787, while in Inverkip it is a flat at £83,352.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 13% pricier in Inverkip (£295,285 vs £258,273).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Beith prices grew faster — 105% vs 71%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 1,664.8 offences per 1,000 people, Inverkip is the safer of the two – 18% lower than Beith's 1,963.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Beith is other-crime, while in Inverkip 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 Beith: 90.9% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 88% in Inverkip.
Beith School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Inverkip School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Beith | Inverkip |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 28 |
| Primary | 51 | 21 |
| Secondary | 8 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 88% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Inverkip enjoy 407.6 Mbps on average, while Beith lags behind at 388.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 83.7% of premises in Beith and 96% in Inverkip. Gigabit availability stands at 76% in Beith and 78.5% in Inverkip.
Inverkip is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (408 vs 389 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Beith is band D (score 58.8), ahead of Inverkip's band D (score 57.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,365 in Beith and £1,735 in Inverkip. 54.3% of homes in Beith have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 49.8% in Inverkip.
Beith has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 49.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Beith has a population of 6,040 while Inverkip has 3,490. Median household income is £32,455 in Beith and £24,857 in Inverkip. The median age is 41.7 in Beith and 41.1 in Inverkip. Employment rates stand at 77.5% in Beith and 72.6% in Inverkip.
| Indicator | Beith | Inverkip |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,040 | 3,490 |
| Median Age | 41.7 | 41.1 |
| Median Household Income | £32,455 | £24,857 |
| Employment Rate | 77.5% | 72.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.7% | 59.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25% | 32.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Beith and Inverkip?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Beith or Inverkip?
Is Beith or Inverkip safer?
Which has better schools, Beith or Inverkip?
Which has faster broadband, Beith or Inverkip?
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