Town comparison
Bo'ness vs East Calder
Which is better to live in? 9.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Bo'ness offers lower property prices by roughly 24%. Bo'ness has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bo'ness edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bo'ness
£165,479
East Calder
£217,827
Crime Rate
Bo'ness
833.5
East Calder
2763.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bo'ness
94.7%
East Calder
91.5%
Avg Download Speed
Bo'ness
461.9
East Calder
423.4
EPC Rating
Bo'ness
47.9
East Calder
67.6
Median Income
Bo'ness
£35,454
East Calder
£30,317
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Bo'ness is £165,479, which is 24% less than East Calder at £217,827. The most affordable entry point in Bo'ness is a flat at £99,408, while in East Calder it is a flat at £123,221.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 19% pricier in East Calder (£123,221 vs £99,408).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bo'ness prices grew faster — 144% vs 142%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 833.5 offences per 1,000 people, Bo'ness is the safer of the two – 232% lower than East Calder's 2,763.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bo'ness is other-crime, while in East Calder it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Bo'ness's most common crime is other crime; in East Calder it's violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandBo'ness has 94.7% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 91.5% in East Calder. Bo'ness has 59 schools in total, while East Calder has 86.
Bo'ness School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
East Calder School Inspection Breakdown
91.5% of 86 schools (73 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bo'ness | East Calder |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 86 |
| Primary | 50 | 73 |
| Secondary | 9 | 13 |
| % Top two bands | 94.7% | 91.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bo'ness offers faster average downloads at 461.9 Mbps, compared to 423.4 Mbps in East Calder. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Bo'ness and 97.8% in East Calder. Gigabit availability stands at 90.9% in Bo'ness and 80.4% in East Calder.
Bo'ness is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (462 vs 423 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in East Calder are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 67.6 (band D) versus 47.9 (band E) in Bo'ness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,490 in Bo'ness and £1,581 in East Calder. 38.6% of homes in Bo'ness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 37.4% in East Calder.
Bo'ness has more energy-efficient housing — 38.6% reach band C or above, vs 37.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,454 in Bo'ness and £30,317 in East Calder. The median age is 37.6 in Bo'ness and 45 in East Calder. Employment rates stand at 76% in Bo'ness and 71.5% in East Calder. Owner-occupancy is 55.5% in Bo'ness versus 55.6% in East Calder.
| Indicator | Bo'ness | East Calder |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,760 | 5,260 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 45 |
| Median Household Income | £35,454 | £30,317 |
| Employment Rate | 76% | 71.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 55.5% | 55.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.6% | 31.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bo'ness and East Calder?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bo'ness or East Calder?
Is Bo'ness or East Calder safer?
Which has better schools, Bo'ness or East Calder?
Which has faster broadband, Bo'ness or East Calder?
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