Darvel vs Stonehouse
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Darvel is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 27% lower. Darvel has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Stonehouse edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darvel
£127,807
Stonehouse
£175,976
Crime Rate
Darvel
2649.2
Stonehouse
4721.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darvel
68.2%
Stonehouse
87.8%
Avg Download Speed
Darvel
396.7
Stonehouse
421
EPC Rating
Darvel
58.5
Stonehouse
53.1
Median Income
Darvel
£27,064
Stonehouse
£34,010
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Stonehouse commands an average of £175,976, compared with £127,807 in Darvel – a difference of 27%. The most affordable entry point in Darvel is a flat at £73,235, while in Stonehouse it is a flat at £101,671.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 33% pricier in Stonehouse (£210,467 vs £140,569).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Stonehouse prices grew faster — 125% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandDarvel has a crime rate of 2,649.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 78% lower than Stonehouse at 4,721.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Darvel is other-crime, while in Stonehouse 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 ScotlandFamilies may prefer Stonehouse, where 87.8% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 68.2% in Darvel. There are 54 schools in Darvel and 151 in Stonehouse.
Darvel School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Stonehouse School Inspection Breakdown
87.8% of 151 schools (132 primary, 19 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darvel | Stonehouse |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 54 | 151 |
| Primary | 47 | 132 |
| Secondary | 7 | 19 |
| % Top two bands | 68.2% | 87.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 421.0 Mbps in Stonehouse and 396.7 Mbps in Darvel. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Darvel and 94.7% in Stonehouse. Gigabit availability stands at 75.8% in Darvel and 82% in Stonehouse.
Stonehouse is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (421 vs 397 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Darvel, scoring 58.5 on average (band D) compared to 53.1 (band E) in Stonehouse. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,480 in Darvel and £1,330 in Stonehouse. 54.3% of homes in Darvel have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 37.9% in Stonehouse.
Darvel has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 37.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,010 in Stonehouse and £27,064 in Darvel. The median age is 41.6 in Darvel and 39.5 in Stonehouse. Employment rates stand at 74.5% in Darvel and 73% in Stonehouse. Owner-occupancy is 62.3% in Darvel versus 57.3% in Stonehouse. Darvel has a population of 3,940 and Stonehouse has 5,500.
| Indicator | Darvel | Stonehouse |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,940 | 5,500 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 39.5 |
| Median Household Income | £27,064 | £34,010 |
| Employment Rate | 74.5% | 73% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 57.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.2% | 25% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Darvel and Stonehouse?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Darvel or Stonehouse?
Is Darvel or Stonehouse safer?
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