Dalry vs Neilston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Dalry is about 54% cheaper on average. Neilston has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Neilston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dalry
£132,002
Neilston
£288,728
Crime Rate
Dalry
2213.1
Neilston
793.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dalry
90.9%
Neilston
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Dalry
433.4
Neilston
415.9
EPC Rating
Dalry
63.1
Neilston
53.3
Median Income
Dalry
£34,260
Neilston
£27,885
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Dalry is £132,002, which is 54% less than Neilston at £288,728. The most affordable entry point in Dalry is a flat at £84,787, while in Neilston it is a flat at £165,371.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 51% pricier in Neilston (£244,005 vs £120,216).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Dalry prices grew faster — 105% vs 105%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 793.4 offences per 1,000 people, Neilston is the safer of the two – 179% lower than Dalry's 2,213.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Dalry is other-crime, while in Neilston 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 ScotlandNeilston has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90.9% in Dalry. Dalry has 59 schools in total, while Neilston has 32.
Dalry School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Neilston School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 32 schools (25 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dalry | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 32 |
| Primary | 51 | 25 |
| Secondary | 8 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Dalry offers faster average downloads at 433.4 Mbps, compared to 415.9 Mbps in Neilston. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.8% of premises in Dalry and 91.1% in Neilston. Gigabit availability stands at 84.5% in Dalry and 81.2% in Neilston.
Dalry is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (433 vs 416 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Dalry are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 63.1 (band D) versus 53.3 (band E) in Neilston. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,462 in Dalry and £1,387 in Neilston. 52.3% of homes in Dalry have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 41.4% in Neilston.
Dalry has more energy-efficient housing — 52.3% reach band C or above, vs 41.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,260 in Dalry and £27,885 in Neilston. The median age is 43.3 in Dalry and 39.6 in Neilston. Employment rates stand at 72.2% in Dalry and 73.6% in Neilston. Owner-occupancy is 65.1% in Dalry versus 57.9% in Neilston.
| Indicator | Dalry | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,360 | 5,170 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| Median Household Income | £34,260 | £27,885 |
| Employment Rate | 72.2% | 73.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 57.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.4% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Dalry and Neilston?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Dalry or Neilston?
Is Dalry or Neilston safer?
Which has better schools, Dalry or Neilston?
Which has faster broadband, Dalry or Neilston?
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