Bishopton vs Kilbirnie
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.8 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Kilbirnie wins on house prices with a 19% gap. Kilbirnie has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bishopton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bishopton
£156,798
Kilbirnie
£132,002
Crime Rate
Bishopton
2843.0
Kilbirnie
1616.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bishopton
94.8%
Kilbirnie
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Bishopton
435.4
Kilbirnie
429.9
EPC Rating
Bishopton
63.5
Kilbirnie
54.8
Median Income
Bishopton
£28,058
Kilbirnie
£30,638
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Bishopton commands an average of £156,798, compared with £132,002 in Kilbirnie – a difference of 19%. The most affordable entry point in Bishopton is a flat at £102,343, while in Kilbirnie it is a flat at £84,787.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 39% pricier in Bishopton (£213,451 vs £153,043).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bishopton prices grew faster — 119% vs 105%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Kilbirnie experience less crime overall, with a rate of 1,616.1 per 1,000 versus 2,843 per 1,000 in Bishopton. The most common crime category in Bishopton is other-crime, while in Kilbirnie 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 Bishopton, where 94.8% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 90.9% in Kilbirnie. There are 63 schools in Bishopton and 59 in Kilbirnie.
Bishopton School Inspection Breakdown
94.8% of 63 schools (52 primary, 11 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kilbirnie School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bishopton | Kilbirnie |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 63 | 59 |
| Primary | 52 | 51 |
| Secondary | 11 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 94.8% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 435.4 Mbps in Bishopton and 429.9 Mbps in Kilbirnie. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Bishopton and 95.1% in Kilbirnie. Gigabit availability stands at 85.3% in Bishopton and 84% in Kilbirnie.
Bishopton is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (435 vs 430 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bishopton, scoring 63.5 on average (band D) compared to 54.8 (band D) in Kilbirnie. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Bishopton and £1,593 in Kilbirnie. 37.4% of homes in Bishopton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 34.2% in Kilbirnie.
Bishopton has more energy-efficient housing — 37.4% reach band C or above, vs 34.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,638 in Kilbirnie and £28,058 in Bishopton. The median age is 43.4 in Bishopton and 40.2 in Kilbirnie. Employment rates stand at 76.7% in Bishopton and 72.2% in Kilbirnie. Owner-occupancy is 64.2% in Bishopton versus 57.3% in Kilbirnie. Bishopton has a population of 5,330 and Kilbirnie has 7,340.
| Indicator | Bishopton | Kilbirnie |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,330 | 7,340 |
| Median Age | 43.4 | 40.2 |
| Median Household Income | £28,058 | £30,638 |
| Employment Rate | 76.7% | 72.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.2% | 57.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 22.9% | 36.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bishopton and Kilbirnie?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bishopton or Kilbirnie?
Is Bishopton or Kilbirnie safer?
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