Darvel vs Irvine
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Darvel is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 3% lower. Irvine has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Irvine edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darvel
£127,807
Irvine
£132,002
Crime Rate
Darvel
2649.2
Irvine
315.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darvel
68.2%
Irvine
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Darvel
396.7
Irvine
434.7
EPC Rating
Darvel
58.5
Irvine
59.2
Median Income
Darvel
£27,064
Irvine
£25,202
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £127,807, Darvel undercuts Irvine (£132,002) by around 3% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Darvel is a flat at £73,235, while in Irvine it is a flat at £84,787.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 14% pricier in Irvine (£84,787 vs £73,235).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Irvine prices grew faster — 105% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandIrvine has a crime rate of 315.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 740% lower than Darvel at 2,649.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Darvel is other-crime, while in Irvine 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 ScotlandOf the 54 schools in Darvel, 68.2% are in the top two inspection bands. In Irvine, which has 59 schools, the figure is 90.9%.
Darvel School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Irvine School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darvel | Irvine |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 54 | 59 |
| Primary | 47 | 51 |
| Secondary | 7 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 68.2% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Irvine averages 434.7 Mbps – ahead of Darvel's 396.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Darvel and 96% in Irvine. Gigabit availability stands at 75.8% in Darvel and 84.9% in Irvine.
Irvine is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (435 vs 397 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Irvine, scoring 59.2 on average (band D) compared to 58.5 (band D) in Darvel. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,480 in Darvel and £1,653 in Irvine. 54.3% of homes in Darvel have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 44.4% in Irvine.
Darvel has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 44.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,064 in Darvel and £25,202 in Irvine. The median age is 41.6 in Darvel and 41.8 in Irvine. Employment rates stand at 74.5% in Darvel and 69.9% in Irvine. Owner-occupancy is 62.3% in Darvel versus 60.8% in Irvine. Darvel has a population of 3,940 and Irvine has 37,630.
| Indicator | Darvel | Irvine |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,940 | 37,630 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 41.8 |
| Median Household Income | £27,064 | £25,202 |
| Employment Rate | 74.5% | 69.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 60.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.2% | 27% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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