Broxburn vs Penicuik
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Broxburn offers lower property prices by roughly 22%. Penicuik has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Broxburn edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Broxburn
£217,827
Penicuik
£277,911
Crime Rate
Broxburn
941.4
Penicuik
474.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Broxburn
91.5%
Penicuik
74.3%
Avg Download Speed
Broxburn
434.3
Penicuik
442.1
EPC Rating
Broxburn
43.3
Penicuik
51.3
Median Income
Broxburn
£32,684
Penicuik
£33,852
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Broxburn is £217,827, which is 22% less than Penicuik at £277,911. The most affordable entry point in Broxburn is a flat at £123,221, while in Penicuik it is a flat at £159,354.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 25% pricier in Penicuik (£293,905 vs £219,854).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Broxburn prices grew faster — 142% vs 122%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 474.8 offences per 1,000 people, Penicuik is the safer of the two – 98% lower than Broxburn's 941.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Broxburn is violent-crime, while in Penicuik it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Broxburn's most common crime is violent crime; in Penicuik it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandBroxburn has 91.5% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 74.3% in Penicuik. Broxburn has 86 schools in total, while Penicuik has 39.
Broxburn School Inspection Breakdown
91.5% of 86 schools (73 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Penicuik School Inspection Breakdown
74.3% of 39 schools (33 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Broxburn | Penicuik |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 86 | 39 |
| Primary | 73 | 33 |
| Secondary | 13 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 91.5% | 74.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Penicuik offers faster average downloads at 442.1 Mbps, compared to 434.3 Mbps in Broxburn. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Broxburn and 95.1% in Penicuik. Gigabit availability stands at 84.8% in Broxburn and 86.2% in Penicuik.
Penicuik is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (442 vs 434 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Penicuik are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 51.3 (band E) versus 43.3 (band E) in Broxburn. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,903 in Broxburn and £1,423 in Penicuik. 37.3% of homes in Broxburn have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 52.6% in Penicuik.
Penicuik has more energy-efficient housing — 52.6% reach band C or above, vs 37.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,852 in Penicuik and £32,684 in Broxburn. The median age is 35.8 in Broxburn and 38.9 in Penicuik. Employment rates stand at 72.9% in Broxburn and 77.9% in Penicuik. Owner-occupancy is 67.7% in Broxburn versus 63.8% in Penicuik.
| Indicator | Broxburn | Penicuik |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,440 | 16,120 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.9 |
| Median Household Income | £32,684 | £33,852 |
| Employment Rate | 72.9% | 77.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.7% | 63.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.6% | 29.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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