Beith vs Wemyss Bay
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.9 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Wemyss Bay wins on house prices with a 22% gap. Wemyss Bay has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Beith edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Beith
£132,002
Wemyss Bay
£108,376
Crime Rate
Beith
1963.9
Wemyss Bay
1294.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beith
90.9%
Wemyss Bay
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Beith
388.8
Wemyss Bay
136
EPC Rating
Beith
58.8
Wemyss Bay
47.4
Median Income
Beith
£32,455
Wemyss Bay
£34,173
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Beith commands an average of £132,002, compared with £108,376 in Wemyss Bay – a difference of 22%. The most affordable entry point in Beith is a flat at £84,787, while in Wemyss Bay it is a flat at £83,352.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 13% pricier in Wemyss Bay (£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 ScotlandResidents of Wemyss Bay experience less crime overall, with a rate of 1,294 per 1,000 versus 1,963.9 per 1,000 in Beith. The most common crime category in Beith is other-crime, while in Wemyss Bay 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 Wemyss Bay. There are 59 schools in Beith and 28 in Wemyss Bay.
Beith School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wemyss Bay School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Beith | Wemyss Bay |
|---|---|---|
| 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 136.0 Mbps in Wemyss Bay. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 83.7% of premises in Beith and 89.7% in Wemyss Bay. Gigabit availability stands at 76% in Beith and 14.7% in Wemyss Bay.
Beith is the faster of the two by 186% on average download speed (389 vs 136 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Beith, scoring 58.8 on average (band D) compared to 47.4 (band E) in Wemyss Bay. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,365 in Beith and £1,865 in Wemyss Bay. 54.3% of homes in Beith have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 39.1% in Wemyss Bay.
Beith has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 39.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,173 in Wemyss Bay and £32,455 in Beith. The median age is 41.7 in Beith and 37.4 in Wemyss Bay. Employment rates stand at 77.5% in Beith and 72.8% in Wemyss Bay. Owner-occupancy is 61.7% in Beith versus 61.4% in Wemyss Bay. Beith has a population of 6,040 and Wemyss Bay has 4,490.
| Indicator | Beith | Wemyss Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,040 | 4,490 |
| Median Age | 41.7 | 37.4 |
| Median Household Income | £32,455 | £34,173 |
| Employment Rate | 77.5% | 72.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.7% | 61.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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