Beith vs Kilmacolm
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Kilmacolm is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 22% lower. Kilmacolm has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Beith edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Beith
£132,002
Kilmacolm
£108,376
Crime Rate
Beith
1963.9
Kilmacolm
1452.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beith
90.9%
Kilmacolm
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Beith
388.8
Kilmacolm
247.4
EPC Rating
Beith
58.8
Kilmacolm
52.8
Median Income
Beith
£32,455
Kilmacolm
£29,215
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Beith commands an average of £132,002, compared with £108,376 in Kilmacolm – a difference of 22%. The most affordable entry point in Beith is a flat at £84,787, while in Kilmacolm it is a flat at £83,352.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 13% pricier in Kilmacolm (£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 ScotlandKilmacolm has a crime rate of 1,452.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 35% lower than Beith at 1,963.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Beith is other-crime, while in Kilmacolm 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 ScotlandFamilies may prefer Beith, where 90.9% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 88% in Kilmacolm. There are 59 schools in Beith and 28 in Kilmacolm.
Beith School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kilmacolm School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Beith | Kilmacolm |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 28 |
| Primary | 51 | 21 |
| Secondary | 8 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 88% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 388.8 Mbps in Beith and 247.4 Mbps in Kilmacolm. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 83.7% of premises in Beith and 75.1% in Kilmacolm. Gigabit availability stands at 76% in Beith and 43.7% in Kilmacolm.
Beith is the faster of the two by 57% on average download speed (389 vs 247 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Beith, scoring 58.8 on average (band D) compared to 52.8 (band E) in Kilmacolm. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,365 in Beith and £1,554 in Kilmacolm. 54.3% of homes in Beith have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 48.5% in Kilmacolm.
Beith has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 48.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,455 in Beith and £29,215 in Kilmacolm. The median age is 41.7 in Beith and 39.4 in Kilmacolm. Employment rates stand at 77.5% in Beith and 73.5% in Kilmacolm. Owner-occupancy is 61.7% in Beith versus 63.2% in Kilmacolm. Beith has a population of 6,040 and Kilmacolm has 4,000.
| Indicator | Beith | Kilmacolm |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,040 | 4,000 |
| Median Age | 41.7 | 39.4 |
| Median Household Income | £32,455 | £29,215 |
| Employment Rate | 77.5% | 73.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.7% | 63.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25% | 27.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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