Dalry vs Kilmarnock
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Kilmarnock is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 3% lower. Kilmarnock has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dalry edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dalry
£132,002
Kilmarnock
£127,807
Crime Rate
Dalry
2213.1
Kilmarnock
203.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dalry
90.9%
Kilmarnock
68.2%
Avg Download Speed
Dalry
433.4
Kilmarnock
426.4
EPC Rating
Dalry
63.1
Kilmarnock
48.2
Median Income
Dalry
£34,260
Kilmarnock
£24,620
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Dalry commands an average of £132,002, compared with £127,807 in Kilmarnock – a difference of 3%. The most affordable entry point in Dalry is a flat at £84,787, while in Kilmarnock it is a flat at £73,235.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Dalry (£84,787 vs £73,235).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Dalry prices grew faster — 105% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandKilmarnock has a crime rate of 203.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 990% lower than Dalry at 2,213.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Dalry is other-crime, while in Kilmarnock 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 Dalry, where 90.9% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 68.2% in Kilmarnock. There are 59 schools in Dalry and 54 in Kilmarnock.
Dalry School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kilmarnock School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dalry | Kilmarnock |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 54 |
| Primary | 51 | 47 |
| Secondary | 8 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 68.2% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 433.4 Mbps in Dalry and 426.4 Mbps in Kilmarnock. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.8% of premises in Dalry and 94.2% in Kilmarnock. Gigabit availability stands at 84.5% in Dalry and 83% in Kilmarnock.
Dalry is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (433 vs 426 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Dalry, scoring 63.1 on average (band D) compared to 48.2 (band E) in Kilmarnock. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,462 in Dalry and £1,492 in Kilmarnock. 52.3% of homes in Dalry have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 53% in Kilmarnock.
Kilmarnock has more energy-efficient housing — 53% reach band C or above, vs 52.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,260 in Dalry and £24,620 in Kilmarnock. The median age is 43.3 in Dalry and 37.7 in Kilmarnock. Employment rates stand at 72.2% in Dalry and 76.5% in Kilmarnock. Owner-occupancy is 65.1% in Dalry versus 48.8% in Kilmarnock. Dalry has a population of 5,360 and Kilmarnock has 51,390.
| Indicator | Dalry | Kilmarnock |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,360 | 51,390 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 37.7 |
| Median Household Income | £34,260 | £24,620 |
| Employment Rate | 72.2% | 76.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 48.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.4% | 27.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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