Cumnock vs Darvel
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Cumnock offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. Cumnock has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cumnock edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cumnock
£127,807
Darvel
£127,807
Crime Rate
Cumnock
1182.1
Darvel
2649.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cumnock
68.2%
Darvel
68.2%
Avg Download Speed
Cumnock
334
Darvel
396.7
EPC Rating
Cumnock
66
Darvel
58.5
Median Income
Cumnock
£33,614
Darvel
£27,064
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Cumnock is £127,807, which is 0% less than Darvel at £127,807. The most affordable entry point in Cumnock is a flat at £73,235, while in Darvel it is a flat at £73,235.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in Cumnock (£243,517 vs £243,517).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Cumnock prices grew faster — 102% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Cumnock (1,182.1 per 1,000) compared to Darvel (2,649.2 per 1,000), a 124% difference. The most common crime category in Cumnock is other-crime, while in Darvel 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 ScotlandCumnock has 68.2% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 68.2% in Darvel. Cumnock has 54 schools in total, while Darvel has 54.
Cumnock School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Darvel School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cumnock | Darvel |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 54 | 54 |
| Primary | 47 | 47 |
| Secondary | 7 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 68.2% | 68.2% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Darvel offers faster average downloads at 396.7 Mbps, compared to 334.0 Mbps in Cumnock. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Cumnock and 97.2% in Darvel. Gigabit availability stands at 61.1% in Cumnock and 75.8% in Darvel.
Darvel is the faster of the two by 19% on average download speed (397 vs 334 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Cumnock are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 66 (band D) versus 58.5 (band D) in Darvel. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,565 in Cumnock and £1,480 in Darvel. 26% of homes in Cumnock have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.3% in Darvel.
Darvel has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 26% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,614 in Cumnock and £27,064 in Darvel. The median age is 44.4 in Cumnock and 41.6 in Darvel. Employment rates stand at 71.8% in Cumnock and 74.5% in Darvel. Owner-occupancy is 59.1% in Cumnock versus 62.3% in Darvel.
| Indicator | Cumnock | Darvel |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,830 | 3,940 |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 41.6 |
| Median Household Income | £33,614 | £27,064 |
| Employment Rate | 71.8% | 74.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 59.1% | 62.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.2% | 30.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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