Dumbarton vs Garelochhead
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.6 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Dumbarton wins on house prices with a 33% gap. Dumbarton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dumbarton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dumbarton
£120,597
Garelochhead
£180,443
Crime Rate
Dumbarton
474.8
Garelochhead
1776.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dumbarton
94.9%
Garelochhead
71.8%
Avg Download Speed
Dumbarton
410.8
Garelochhead
269
EPC Rating
Dumbarton
65.2
Garelochhead
51.3
Median Income
Dumbarton
£31,337
Garelochhead
£28,140
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Garelochhead commands an average of £180,443, compared with £120,597 in Dumbarton – a difference of 33%. The most affordable entry point in Dumbarton is a flat at £90,542, while in Garelochhead it is a flat at £116,169.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 22% pricier in Garelochhead (£116,169 vs £90,542).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Garelochhead prices grew faster — 129% vs 98%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Dumbarton experience less crime overall, with a rate of 474.8 per 1,000 versus 1,776.8 per 1,000 in Garelochhead. The most common crime category in Dumbarton is other-crime, while in Garelochhead 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 Dumbarton, where 94.9% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 71.8% in Garelochhead. There are 40 schools in Dumbarton and 83 in Garelochhead.
Dumbarton School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Garelochhead School Inspection Breakdown
71.8% of 83 schools (73 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dumbarton | Garelochhead |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 40 | 83 |
| Primary | 35 | 73 |
| Secondary | 5 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 94.9% | 71.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 410.8 Mbps in Dumbarton and 269.0 Mbps in Garelochhead. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.5% of premises in Dumbarton and 97% in Garelochhead. Gigabit availability stands at 78.5% in Dumbarton and 45.4% in Garelochhead.
Dumbarton is the faster of the two by 53% on average download speed (411 vs 269 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Dumbarton, scoring 65.2 on average (band D) compared to 51.3 (band E) in Garelochhead. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,557 in Dumbarton and £1,403 in Garelochhead. 36.7% of homes in Dumbarton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55% in Garelochhead.
Garelochhead has more energy-efficient housing — 55% reach band C or above, vs 36.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,337 in Dumbarton and £28,140 in Garelochhead. The median age is 44.1 in Dumbarton and 38.9 in Garelochhead. Employment rates stand at 69.5% in Dumbarton and 75.3% in Garelochhead. Owner-occupancy is 60% in Dumbarton versus 62.2% in Garelochhead. Dumbarton has a population of 21,120 and Garelochhead has 3,700.
| Indicator | Dumbarton | Garelochhead |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,120 | 3,700 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 38.9 |
| Median Household Income | £31,337 | £28,140 |
| Employment Rate | 69.5% | 75.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 60% | 62.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23% | 27% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Dumbarton and Garelochhead?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Dumbarton or Garelochhead?
Is Dumbarton or Garelochhead safer?
Which has better schools, Dumbarton or Garelochhead?
Which has faster broadband, Dumbarton or Garelochhead?
Keep exploring