Dumbarton vs Greenock
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Greenock offers lower property prices by roughly 11%. Greenock has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dumbarton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dumbarton
£120,597
Greenock
£108,376
Crime Rate
Dumbarton
474.8
Greenock
85.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dumbarton
94.9%
Greenock
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Dumbarton
410.8
Greenock
416.8
EPC Rating
Dumbarton
65.2
Greenock
52.5
Median Income
Dumbarton
£31,337
Greenock
£24,995
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Greenock is £108,376, which is 11% less than Dumbarton at £120,597. The most affordable entry point in Dumbarton is a flat at £90,542, while in Greenock it is a flat at £83,352.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 18% pricier in Dumbarton (£176,447 vs £149,259).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Dumbarton prices grew faster — 98% vs 71%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Greenock (85.9 per 1,000) compared to Dumbarton (474.8 per 1,000), a 453% difference. The most common crime category in Dumbarton is other-crime, while in Greenock 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 ScotlandDumbarton has 94.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 88% in Greenock. Dumbarton has 40 schools in total, while Greenock has 28.
Dumbarton School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Greenock School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dumbarton | Greenock |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 40 | 28 |
| Primary | 35 | 21 |
| Secondary | 5 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 94.9% | 88% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Greenock offers faster average downloads at 416.8 Mbps, compared to 410.8 Mbps in Dumbarton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.5% of premises in Dumbarton and 95.2% in Greenock. Gigabit availability stands at 78.5% in Dumbarton and 80.3% in Greenock.
Greenock is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (417 vs 411 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Dumbarton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 65.2 (band D) versus 52.5 (band E) in Greenock. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,557 in Dumbarton and £1,490 in Greenock. 36.7% of homes in Dumbarton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 44% in Greenock.
Greenock has more energy-efficient housing — 44% reach band C or above, vs 36.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,337 in Dumbarton and £24,995 in Greenock. The median age is 44.1 in Dumbarton and 39.3 in Greenock. Employment rates stand at 69.5% in Dumbarton and 78% in Greenock. Owner-occupancy is 60% in Dumbarton versus 57.2% in Greenock.
| Indicator | Dumbarton | Greenock |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,120 | 67,650 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 39.3 |
| Median Household Income | £31,337 | £24,995 |
| Employment Rate | 69.5% | 78% |
| Owner Occupied | 60% | 57.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23% | 30.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Dumbarton and Greenock?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Dumbarton or Greenock?
Is Dumbarton or Greenock safer?
Which has better schools, Dumbarton or Greenock?
Which has faster broadband, Dumbarton or Greenock?
Keep exploring