Beith vs Kilmarnock
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Kilmarnock is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 3% lower. Kilmarnock has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Beith edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Beith
£132,002
Kilmarnock
£127,807
Crime Rate
Beith
1963.9
Kilmarnock
203.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beith
90.9%
Kilmarnock
68.2%
Avg Download Speed
Beith
388.8
Kilmarnock
426.4
EPC Rating
Beith
58.8
Kilmarnock
48.2
Median Income
Beith
£32,455
Kilmarnock
£24,620
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Beith commands an average of £132,002, compared with £127,807 in Kilmarnock – a difference of 3%. The most affordable entry point in Beith is a flat at £84,787, while in Kilmarnock it is a flat at £73,235.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Beith (£84,787 vs £73,235).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Beith prices grew faster — 105% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandKilmarnock has a crime rate of 203.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 867% lower than Beith at 1,963.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Beith is other-crime, while in Kilmarnock 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 68.2% in Kilmarnock. There are 59 schools in Beith and 54 in Kilmarnock.
Beith School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kilmarnock School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Beith | Kilmarnock |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 54 |
| Primary | 51 | 47 |
| Secondary | 8 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 68.2% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 426.4 Mbps in Kilmarnock and 388.8 Mbps in Beith. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 83.7% of premises in Beith and 94.2% in Kilmarnock. Gigabit availability stands at 76% in Beith and 83% in Kilmarnock.
Kilmarnock is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (426 vs 389 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Beith, scoring 58.8 on average (band D) compared to 48.2 (band E) in Kilmarnock. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,365 in Beith and £1,492 in Kilmarnock. 54.3% of homes in Beith have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 53% in Kilmarnock.
Beith has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 53% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,455 in Beith and £24,620 in Kilmarnock. The median age is 41.7 in Beith and 37.7 in Kilmarnock. Employment rates stand at 77.5% in Beith and 76.5% in Kilmarnock. Owner-occupancy is 61.7% in Beith versus 48.8% in Kilmarnock. Beith has a population of 6,040 and Kilmarnock has 51,390.
| Indicator | Beith | Kilmarnock |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,040 | 51,390 |
| Median Age | 41.7 | 37.7 |
| Median Household Income | £32,455 | £24,620 |
| Employment Rate | 77.5% | 76.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.7% | 48.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25% | 27.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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