Bishopton vs Dumbarton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 3.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Dumbarton is about 30% cheaper on average. Dumbarton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dumbarton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bishopton
£156,798
Dumbarton
£120,597
Crime Rate
Bishopton
2843.0
Dumbarton
474.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bishopton
94.8%
Dumbarton
94.9%
Avg Download Speed
Bishopton
435.4
Dumbarton
410.8
EPC Rating
Bishopton
63.5
Dumbarton
65.2
Median Income
Bishopton
£28,058
Dumbarton
£31,337
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Dumbarton is £120,597, which is 30% less than Bishopton at £156,798. The most affordable entry point in Bishopton is a flat at £102,343, while in Dumbarton it is a flat at £90,542.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 21% pricier in Bishopton (£348,270 vs £286,992).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bishopton prices grew faster — 119% vs 98%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 474.8 offences per 1,000 people, Dumbarton is the safer of the two – 499% lower than Bishopton's 2,843 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bishopton is other-crime, while in Dumbarton 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 ScotlandDumbarton has 94.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 94.8% in Bishopton. Bishopton has 63 schools in total, while Dumbarton has 40.
Bishopton School Inspection Breakdown
94.8% of 63 schools (52 primary, 11 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dumbarton School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bishopton | Dumbarton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 63 | 40 |
| Primary | 52 | 35 |
| Secondary | 11 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 94.8% | 94.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bishopton offers faster average downloads at 435.4 Mbps, compared to 410.8 Mbps in Dumbarton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Bishopton and 97.5% in Dumbarton. Gigabit availability stands at 85.3% in Bishopton and 78.5% in Dumbarton.
Bishopton is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (435 vs 411 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Dumbarton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 65.2 (band D) versus 63.5 (band D) in Bishopton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Bishopton and £1,557 in Dumbarton. 37.4% of homes in Bishopton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 36.7% in Dumbarton.
Bishopton has more energy-efficient housing — 37.4% reach band C or above, vs 36.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,337 in Dumbarton and £28,058 in Bishopton. The median age is 43.4 in Bishopton and 44.1 in Dumbarton. Employment rates stand at 76.7% in Bishopton and 69.5% in Dumbarton. Owner-occupancy is 64.2% in Bishopton versus 60% in Dumbarton.
| Indicator | Bishopton | Dumbarton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,330 | 21,120 |
| Median Age | 43.4 | 44.1 |
| Median Household Income | £28,058 | £31,337 |
| Employment Rate | 76.7% | 69.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.2% | 60% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 22.9% | 23% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bishopton and Dumbarton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bishopton or Dumbarton?
Is Bishopton or Dumbarton safer?
Which has better schools, Bishopton or Dumbarton?
Which has faster broadband, Bishopton or Dumbarton?
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