The verdict
Overall, Bo'ness offers lower property prices by roughly 43%. 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
South Queensferry
£290,946
Crime Rate
Bo'ness
833.5
South Queensferry
5648.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bo'ness
94.7%
South Queensferry
91.5%
Avg Download Speed
Bo'ness
461.9
South Queensferry
453.7
EPC Rating
Bo'ness
47.9
South Queensferry
55.6
Median Income
Bo'ness
£35,454
South Queensferry
£27,874
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Bo'ness more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £165,479 versus £290,946 in South Queensferry. The most affordable entry point in Bo'ness is a flat at £99,408, while in South Queensferry it is a flat at £238,069.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 58% pricier in South Queensferry (£362,527 vs £152,054).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Bo'ness prices grew faster — 144% vs 113%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 833.5 offences per 1,000 people, Bo'ness is the safer of the two – 578% lower than South Queensferry's 5,648.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bo'ness is other-crime, while in South Queensferry 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 ScotlandSchool quality favours Bo'ness: 94.7% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 91.5% in South Queensferry.
Bo'ness School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
South Queensferry School Inspection Breakdown
91.5% of 86 schools (73 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bo'ness | South Queensferry |
|---|---|---|
| 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 South Queensferry lags behind at 453.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Bo'ness and 97.9% in South Queensferry. Gigabit availability stands at 90.9% in Bo'ness and 89.3% in South Queensferry.
Bo'ness is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (462 vs 454 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in South Queensferry is band D (score 55.6), ahead of Bo'ness's band E (score 47.9). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,490 in Bo'ness and £1,565 in South Queensferry. 38.6% of homes in Bo'ness have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 48.6% in South Queensferry.
South Queensferry has more energy-efficient housing — 48.6% reach band C or above, vs 38.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bo'ness has a population of 14,760 while South Queensferry has 9,350. Median household income is £35,454 in Bo'ness and £27,874 in South Queensferry. The median age is 37.6 in Bo'ness and 40.5 in South Queensferry. Employment rates stand at 76% in Bo'ness and 69.9% in South Queensferry.
| Indicator | Bo'ness | South Queensferry |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,760 | 9,350 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 40.5 |
| Median Household Income | £35,454 | £27,874 |
| Employment Rate | 76% | 69.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 55.5% | 61.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.6% | 32.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bo'ness and South Queensferry?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bo'ness or South Queensferry?
Is Bo'ness or South Queensferry safer?
Which has better schools, Bo'ness or South Queensferry?
Which has faster broadband, Bo'ness or South Queensferry?
Keep exploring