Darvel vs Neilston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Darvel offers lower property prices by roughly 56%. Neilston has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Neilston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darvel
£127,807
Neilston
£288,728
Crime Rate
Darvel
2649.2
Neilston
793.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darvel
68.2%
Neilston
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Darvel
396.7
Neilston
415.9
EPC Rating
Darvel
58.5
Neilston
53.3
Median Income
Darvel
£27,064
Neilston
£27,885
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Darvel more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £127,807 versus £288,728 in Neilston. The most affordable entry point in Darvel is a flat at £73,235, while in Neilston it is a flat at £165,371.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 56% pricier in Neilston (£165,371 vs £73,235).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Neilston prices grew faster — 105% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 793.4 offences per 1,000 people, Neilston is the safer of the two – 234% lower than Darvel's 2,649.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Darvel 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 ScotlandSchool quality favours Neilston: 100% 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.
Neilston School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 32 schools (25 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darvel | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 54 | 32 |
| Primary | 47 | 25 |
| Secondary | 7 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 68.2% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Neilston enjoy 415.9 Mbps on average, while Darvel lags behind at 396.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Darvel and 91.1% in Neilston. Gigabit availability stands at 75.8% in Darvel and 81.2% in Neilston.
Neilston is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (416 vs 397 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Darvel is band D (score 58.5), ahead of Neilston's band E (score 53.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,480 in Darvel and £1,387 in Neilston. 54.3% of homes in Darvel have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 41.4% in Neilston.
Darvel has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 41.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Darvel has a population of 3,940 while Neilston has 5,170. Median household income is £27,885 in Neilston and £27,064 in Darvel. The median age is 41.6 in Darvel and 39.6 in Neilston. Employment rates stand at 74.5% in Darvel and 73.6% in Neilston.
| Indicator | Darvel | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,940 | 5,170 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 39.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,064 | £27,885 |
| Employment Rate | 74.5% | 73.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 57.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.2% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Darvel and Neilston?
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