Bo'ness vs Harthill
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.8 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Harthill wins on house prices with a 9% gap. 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
Harthill
£151,310
Crime Rate
Bo'ness
833.5
Harthill
8827.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bo'ness
94.7%
Harthill
78.5%
Avg Download Speed
Bo'ness
461.9
Harthill
397.8
EPC Rating
Bo'ness
47.9
Harthill
55.9
Median Income
Bo'ness
£35,454
Harthill
£28,526
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Bo'ness commands an average of £165,479, compared with £151,310 in Harthill – a difference of 9%. The most affordable entry point in Bo'ness is a flat at £99,408, while in Harthill it is a flat at £89,980.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 10% pricier in Bo'ness (£99,408 vs £89,980).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bo'ness prices grew faster — 144% vs 131%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Bo'ness experience less crime overall, with a rate of 833.5 per 1,000 versus 8,827.3 per 1,000 in Harthill. The most common crime category in Bo'ness is other-crime, while in Harthill 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 Bo'ness, where 94.7% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 78.5% in Harthill. There are 59 schools in Bo'ness and 154 in Harthill.
Bo'ness School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harthill School Inspection Breakdown
78.5% of 154 schools (127 primary, 27 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bo'ness | Harthill |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 154 |
| Primary | 50 | 127 |
| Secondary | 9 | 27 |
| % Top two bands | 94.7% | 78.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 461.9 Mbps in Bo'ness and 397.8 Mbps in Harthill. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Bo'ness and 91.8% in Harthill. Gigabit availability stands at 90.9% in Bo'ness and 77% in Harthill.
Bo'ness is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (462 vs 398 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Harthill, scoring 55.9 on average (band D) compared to 47.9 (band E) in Bo'ness. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,490 in Bo'ness and £1,730 in Harthill. 38.6% of homes in Bo'ness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 48.3% in Harthill.
Harthill has more energy-efficient housing — 48.3% reach band C or above, vs 38.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,454 in Bo'ness and £28,526 in Harthill. The median age is 37.6 in Bo'ness and 40.6 in Harthill. Employment rates stand at 76% in Bo'ness and 72.1% in Harthill. Owner-occupancy is 55.5% in Bo'ness versus 59.8% in Harthill. Bo'ness has a population of 14,760 and Harthill has 3,590.
| Indicator | Bo'ness | Harthill |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,760 | 3,590 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 40.6 |
| Median Household Income | £35,454 | £28,526 |
| Employment Rate | 76% | 72.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 55.5% | 59.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.6% | 19.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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