Bo'ness vs Dunfermline
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bo'ness offers lower property prices by roughly 3%. Dunfermline has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bo'ness edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bo'ness
£165,479
Dunfermline
£170,439
Crime Rate
Bo'ness
833.5
Dunfermline
395.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bo'ness
94.7%
Dunfermline
81.8%
Avg Download Speed
Bo'ness
461.9
Dunfermline
406.5
EPC Rating
Bo'ness
47.9
Dunfermline
60.8
Median Income
Bo'ness
£35,454
Dunfermline
£34,867
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Bo'ness is £165,479, which is 3% less than Dunfermline at £170,439. The most affordable entry point in Bo'ness is a flat at £99,408, while in Dunfermline it is a flat at £107,206.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 7% pricier in Dunfermline (£107,206 vs £99,408).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bo'ness prices grew faster — 144% vs 127%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Dunfermline (395.3 per 1,000) compared to Bo'ness (833.5 per 1,000), a 111% difference. The most common crime category in Bo'ness is other-crime, while in Dunfermline 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 ScotlandBo'ness has 94.7% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 81.8% in Dunfermline. Bo'ness has 59 schools in total, while Dunfermline has 159.
Bo'ness School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dunfermline School Inspection Breakdown
81.8% of 159 schools (142 primary, 17 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bo'ness | Dunfermline |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 159 |
| Primary | 50 | 142 |
| Secondary | 9 | 17 |
| % Top two bands | 94.7% | 81.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bo'ness offers faster average downloads at 461.9 Mbps, compared to 406.5 Mbps in Dunfermline. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Bo'ness and 97.1% in Dunfermline. Gigabit availability stands at 90.9% in Bo'ness and 78% in Dunfermline.
Bo'ness is the faster of the two by 14% on average download speed (462 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Dunfermline are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 60.8 (band D) versus 47.9 (band E) in Bo'ness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,490 in Bo'ness and £1,533 in Dunfermline. 38.6% of homes in Bo'ness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 38.6% in Dunfermline.
Bo'ness has more energy-efficient housing — 38.6% reach band C or above, vs 38.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,454 in Bo'ness and £34,867 in Dunfermline. The median age is 37.6 in Bo'ness and 42.4 in Dunfermline. Employment rates stand at 76% in Bo'ness and 72.2% in Dunfermline. Owner-occupancy is 55.5% in Bo'ness versus 55.7% in Dunfermline.
| Indicator | Bo'ness | Dunfermline |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,760 | 74,380 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £35,454 | £34,867 |
| Employment Rate | 76% | 72.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 55.5% | 55.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.6% | 25.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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