Dumbarton vs Kilbirnie
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Dumbarton is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 9% lower. Dumbarton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dumbarton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dumbarton
£120,597
Kilbirnie
£132,002
Crime Rate
Dumbarton
474.8
Kilbirnie
1616.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dumbarton
94.9%
Kilbirnie
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Dumbarton
410.8
Kilbirnie
429.9
EPC Rating
Dumbarton
65.2
Kilbirnie
54.8
Median Income
Dumbarton
£31,337
Kilbirnie
£30,638
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Kilbirnie commands an average of £132,002, compared with £120,597 in Dumbarton – a difference of 9%. The most affordable entry point in Dumbarton is a flat at £90,542, while in Kilbirnie it is a flat at £84,787.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 15% pricier in Dumbarton (£176,447 vs £153,043).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kilbirnie prices grew faster — 105% vs 98%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandDumbarton has a crime rate of 474.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 240% lower than Kilbirnie at 1,616.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Dumbarton is other-crime, while in Kilbirnie 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 90.9% in Kilbirnie. There are 40 schools in Dumbarton and 59 in Kilbirnie.
Dumbarton School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kilbirnie School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dumbarton | Kilbirnie |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 40 | 59 |
| Primary | 35 | 51 |
| Secondary | 5 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 94.9% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 429.9 Mbps in Kilbirnie and 410.8 Mbps in Dumbarton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.5% of premises in Dumbarton and 95.1% in Kilbirnie. Gigabit availability stands at 78.5% in Dumbarton and 84% in Kilbirnie.
Kilbirnie is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (430 vs 411 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Dumbarton, scoring 65.2 on average (band D) compared to 54.8 (band D) in Kilbirnie. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,557 in Dumbarton and £1,593 in Kilbirnie. 36.7% of homes in Dumbarton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 34.2% in Kilbirnie.
Dumbarton has more energy-efficient housing — 36.7% reach band C or above, vs 34.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,337 in Dumbarton and £30,638 in Kilbirnie. The median age is 44.1 in Dumbarton and 40.2 in Kilbirnie. Employment rates stand at 69.5% in Dumbarton and 72.2% in Kilbirnie. Owner-occupancy is 60% in Dumbarton versus 57.3% in Kilbirnie. Dumbarton has a population of 21,120 and Kilbirnie has 7,340.
| Indicator | Dumbarton | Kilbirnie |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,120 | 7,340 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 40.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,337 | £30,638 |
| Employment Rate | 69.5% | 72.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 60% | 57.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23% | 36.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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