Darvel vs East Kilbride
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Darvel is about 27% cheaper on average. East Kilbride has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, East Kilbride edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darvel
£127,807
East Kilbride
£175,976
Crime Rate
Darvel
2649.2
East Kilbride
345.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darvel
68.2%
East Kilbride
87.8%
Avg Download Speed
Darvel
396.7
East Kilbride
462.5
EPC Rating
Darvel
58.5
East Kilbride
48.2
Median Income
Darvel
£27,064
East Kilbride
£33,078
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Darvel more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £127,807 versus £175,976 in East Kilbride. The most affordable entry point in Darvel is a flat at £73,235, while in East Kilbride it is a flat at £101,671.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 33% pricier in East Kilbride (£210,467 vs £140,569).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, East Kilbride prices grew faster — 125% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 345.7 offences per 1,000 people, East Kilbride is the safer of the two – 666% lower than Darvel's 2,649.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Darvel is other-crime, while in East Kilbride 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 East Kilbride: 87.8% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 68.2% in Darvel.
Darvel School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
East Kilbride School Inspection Breakdown
87.8% of 151 schools (132 primary, 19 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darvel | East Kilbride |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 54 | 151 |
| Primary | 47 | 132 |
| Secondary | 7 | 19 |
| % Top two bands | 68.2% | 87.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in East Kilbride enjoy 462.5 Mbps on average, while Darvel lags behind at 396.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Darvel and 96.9% in East Kilbride. Gigabit availability stands at 75.8% in Darvel and 91.5% in East Kilbride.
East Kilbride is the faster of the two by 17% on average download speed (463 vs 397 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Darvel is band D (score 58.5), ahead of East Kilbride's band E (score 48.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,480 in Darvel and £1,488 in East Kilbride. 54.3% of homes in Darvel have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 35.1% in East Kilbride.
Darvel has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 35.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Darvel has a population of 3,940 while East Kilbride has 75,120. Median household income is £33,078 in East Kilbride and £27,064 in Darvel. The median age is 41.6 in Darvel and 37.7 in East Kilbride. Employment rates stand at 74.5% in Darvel and 74.6% in East Kilbride.
| Indicator | Darvel | East Kilbride |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,940 | 75,120 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 37.7 |
| Median Household Income | £27,064 | £33,078 |
| Employment Rate | 74.5% | 74.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 63.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.2% | 27% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Darvel and East Kilbride?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Darvel or East Kilbride?
Is Darvel or East Kilbride safer?
Which has better schools, Darvel or East Kilbride?
Which has faster broadband, Darvel or East Kilbride?
Keep exploring