Dumbarton vs Inverkip
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Inverkip offers lower property prices by roughly 11%. Dumbarton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dumbarton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dumbarton
£120,597
Inverkip
£108,376
Crime Rate
Dumbarton
474.8
Inverkip
1664.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dumbarton
94.9%
Inverkip
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Dumbarton
410.8
Inverkip
407.6
EPC Rating
Dumbarton
65.2
Inverkip
57.1
Median Income
Dumbarton
£31,337
Inverkip
£24,857
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Inverkip 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 Inverkip 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 Dumbarton (474.8 per 1,000) compared to Inverkip (1,664.8 per 1,000), a 251% difference. The most common crime category in Dumbarton is other-crime, while in Inverkip 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 Inverkip. Dumbarton has 40 schools in total, while Inverkip has 28.
Dumbarton School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Inverkip School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dumbarton | Inverkip |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 40 | 28 |
| Primary | 35 | 21 |
| Secondary | 5 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 94.9% | 88% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Dumbarton offers faster average downloads at 410.8 Mbps, compared to 407.6 Mbps in Inverkip. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.5% of premises in Dumbarton and 96% in Inverkip. Gigabit availability stands at 78.5% in Dumbarton and 78.5% in Inverkip.
Dumbarton is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (411 vs 408 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Dumbarton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 65.2 (band D) versus 57.1 (band D) in Inverkip. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,557 in Dumbarton and £1,735 in Inverkip. 36.7% of homes in Dumbarton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 49.8% in Inverkip.
Inverkip has more energy-efficient housing — 49.8% reach band C or above, vs 36.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,337 in Dumbarton and £24,857 in Inverkip. The median age is 44.1 in Dumbarton and 41.1 in Inverkip. Employment rates stand at 69.5% in Dumbarton and 72.6% in Inverkip. Owner-occupancy is 60% in Dumbarton versus 59.8% in Inverkip.
| Indicator | Dumbarton | Inverkip |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,120 | 3,490 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 41.1 |
| Median Household Income | £31,337 | £24,857 |
| Employment Rate | 69.5% | 72.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 60% | 59.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23% | 32.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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