Beith vs Neilston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Beith is about 54% cheaper on average. Neilston has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Neilston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Beith
£132,002
Neilston
£288,728
Crime Rate
Beith
1963.9
Neilston
793.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beith
90.9%
Neilston
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Beith
388.8
Neilston
415.9
EPC Rating
Beith
58.8
Neilston
53.3
Median Income
Beith
£32,455
Neilston
£27,885
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Beith is £132,002, which is 54% less than Neilston at £288,728. The most affordable entry point in Beith is a flat at £84,787, while in Neilston it is a flat at £165,371.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 51% pricier in Neilston (£244,005 vs £120,216).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Beith prices grew faster — 105% vs 105%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Neilston (793.4 per 1,000) compared to Beith (1,963.9 per 1,000), a 148% difference. The most common crime category in Beith is other-crime, while in Neilston 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 ScotlandNeilston has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90.9% in Beith. Beith has 59 schools in total, while Neilston has 32.
Beith School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Neilston School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 32 schools (25 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Beith | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 32 |
| Primary | 51 | 25 |
| Secondary | 8 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Neilston offers faster average downloads at 415.9 Mbps, compared to 388.8 Mbps in Beith. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 83.7% of premises in Beith and 91.1% in Neilston. Gigabit availability stands at 76% in Beith and 81.2% in Neilston.
Neilston is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (416 vs 389 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Beith are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 58.8 (band D) versus 53.3 (band E) in Neilston. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,365 in Beith and £1,387 in Neilston. 54.3% of homes in Beith have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 41.4% in Neilston.
Beith has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 41.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,455 in Beith and £27,885 in Neilston. The median age is 41.7 in Beith and 39.6 in Neilston. Employment rates stand at 77.5% in Beith and 73.6% in Neilston. Owner-occupancy is 61.7% in Beith versus 57.9% in Neilston.
| Indicator | Beith | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,040 | 5,170 |
| Median Age | 41.7 | 39.6 |
| Median Household Income | £32,455 | £27,885 |
| Employment Rate | 77.5% | 73.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.7% | 57.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Beith and Neilston?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Beith or Neilston?
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