Bo'ness vs Linlithgow
Which is better to live in? Distance: 2.4 miles apart.
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
Linlithgow
£217,827
Crime Rate
Bo'ness
833.5
Linlithgow
1096.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bo'ness
94.7%
Linlithgow
91.5%
Avg Download Speed
Bo'ness
461.9
Linlithgow
371.8
EPC Rating
Bo'ness
47.9
Linlithgow
64.5
Median Income
Bo'ness
£35,454
Linlithgow
£25,866
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Bo'ness more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,479 versus £217,827 in Linlithgow. The most affordable entry point in Bo'ness is a flat at £99,408, while in Linlithgow it is a flat at £123,221.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 19% pricier in Linlithgow (£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 – 32% lower than Linlithgow's 1,096.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bo'ness is other-crime, while in Linlithgow it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Bo'ness's most common crime is other crime; in Linlithgow it's violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Bo'ness: 94.7% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 91.5% in Linlithgow.
Bo'ness School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Linlithgow School Inspection Breakdown
91.5% of 86 schools (73 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bo'ness | Linlithgow |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 86 |
| Primary | 50 | 73 |
| Secondary | 9 | 13 |
| % Top two bands | 94.7% | 91.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bo'ness enjoy 461.9 Mbps on average, while Linlithgow lags behind at 371.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Bo'ness and 94.3% in Linlithgow. Gigabit availability stands at 90.9% in Bo'ness and 69% in Linlithgow.
Bo'ness is the faster of the two by 24% on average download speed (462 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Linlithgow is band D (score 64.5), ahead of Bo'ness's band E (score 47.9). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,490 in Bo'ness and £1,451 in Linlithgow. 38.6% of homes in Bo'ness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.1% in Linlithgow.
Linlithgow has more energy-efficient housing — 62.1% reach band C or above, vs 38.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bo'ness has a population of 14,760 while Linlithgow has 13,260. Median household income is £35,454 in Bo'ness and £25,866 in Linlithgow. The median age is 37.6 in Bo'ness and 43.8 in Linlithgow. Employment rates stand at 76% in Bo'ness and 71% in Linlithgow.
| Indicator | Bo'ness | Linlithgow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,760 | 13,260 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 43.8 |
| Median Household Income | £35,454 | £25,866 |
| Employment Rate | 76% | 71% |
| Owner Occupied | 55.5% | 61.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.6% | 31.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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