Dumbarton vs Houston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Dumbarton is about 23% cheaper on average. Dumbarton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dumbarton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dumbarton
£120,597
Houston
£156,798
Crime Rate
Dumbarton
474.8
Houston
2356.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dumbarton
94.9%
Houston
94.8%
Avg Download Speed
Dumbarton
410.8
Houston
373.1
EPC Rating
Dumbarton
65.2
Houston
56.2
Median Income
Dumbarton
£31,337
Houston
£29,661
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Dumbarton is £120,597, which is 23% less than Houston at £156,798. The most affordable entry point in Dumbarton is a flat at £90,542, while in Houston it is a flat at £102,343.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 18% pricier in Houston (£348,270 vs £286,992).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Houston prices grew faster — 119% vs 98%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 474.8 offences per 1,000 people, Dumbarton is the safer of the two – 396% lower than Houston's 2,356.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Dumbarton is other-crime, while in Houston 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 94.8% in Houston. Dumbarton has 40 schools in total, while Houston has 63.
Dumbarton School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Houston School Inspection Breakdown
94.8% of 63 schools (52 primary, 11 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dumbarton | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 40 | 63 |
| Primary | 35 | 52 |
| Secondary | 5 | 11 |
| % Top two bands | 94.9% | 94.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Dumbarton offers faster average downloads at 410.8 Mbps, compared to 373.1 Mbps in Houston. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.5% of premises in Dumbarton and 85.5% in Houston. Gigabit availability stands at 78.5% in Dumbarton and 72.2% in Houston.
Dumbarton is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (411 vs 373 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Dumbarton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 65.2 (band D) versus 56.2 (band D) in Houston. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,557 in Dumbarton and £1,371 in Houston. 36.7% of homes in Dumbarton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 43% in Houston.
Houston has more energy-efficient housing — 43% reach band C or above, vs 36.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,337 in Dumbarton and £29,661 in Houston. The median age is 44.1 in Dumbarton and 40.7 in Houston. Employment rates stand at 69.5% in Dumbarton and 74% in Houston. Owner-occupancy is 60% in Dumbarton versus 63.8% in Houston.
| Indicator | Dumbarton | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,120 | 6,430 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 40.7 |
| Median Household Income | £31,337 | £29,661 |
| Employment Rate | 69.5% | 74% |
| Owner Occupied | 60% | 63.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23% | 22.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Dumbarton and Houston?
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