Darvel vs Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Darvel is about 27% cheaper on average. Darvel has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darvel
£127,807
Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood
£175,976
Crime Rate
Darvel
2649.2
Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood
5848.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darvel
68.2%
Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood
87.8%
Avg Download Speed
Darvel
396.7
Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood
307.5
EPC Rating
Darvel
58.5
Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood
64
Median Income
Darvel
£27,064
Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood
£30,768
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Darvel more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £127,807 versus £175,976 in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood. The most affordable entry point in Darvel is a flat at £73,235, while in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood it is a flat at £101,671.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 33% pricier in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood (£210,467 vs £140,569).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood prices grew faster — 125% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Darvel (2,649.2 per 1,000) compared to Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood (5,848.2 per 1,000), a 121% difference. The most common crime category in Darvel is other-crime, while in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood 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 Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood: 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.
Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood School Inspection Breakdown
87.8% of 151 schools (132 primary, 19 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darvel | Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 54 | 151 |
| Primary | 47 | 132 |
| Secondary | 7 | 19 |
| % Top two bands | 68.2% | 87.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Darvel enjoy 396.7 Mbps on average, while Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood lags behind at 307.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Darvel and 92.8% in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood. Gigabit availability stands at 75.8% in Darvel and 55.2% in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood.
Darvel is the faster of the two by 29% on average download speed (397 vs 308 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood is band D (score 64), ahead of Darvel's band D (score 58.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,480 in Darvel and £1,393 in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood. 54.3% of homes in Darvel have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 45.6% in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood.
Darvel has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 45.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Darvel has a population of 3,940 while Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood has 4,440. Median household income is £30,768 in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood and £27,064 in Darvel. The median age is 41.6 in Darvel and 43.6 in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood. Employment rates stand at 74.5% in Darvel and 73.4% in Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood.
| Indicator | Darvel | Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,940 | 4,440 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 43.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,064 | £30,768 |
| Employment Rate | 74.5% | 73.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 63.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.2% | 28.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Darvel and Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Darvel or Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood?
Is Darvel or Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood safer?
Which has better schools, Darvel or Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood?
Which has faster broadband, Darvel or Kirkmuirhill And Blackwood?
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