Dumbarton vs Neilston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Dumbarton is about 58% cheaper on average. Dumbarton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Neilston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dumbarton
£120,597
Neilston
£288,728
Crime Rate
Dumbarton
474.8
Neilston
793.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dumbarton
94.9%
Neilston
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Dumbarton
410.8
Neilston
415.9
EPC Rating
Dumbarton
65.2
Neilston
53.3
Median Income
Dumbarton
£31,337
Neilston
£27,885
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Dumbarton more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £120,597 versus £288,728 in Neilston. The most affordable entry point in Dumbarton is a flat at £90,542, while in Neilston it is a flat at £165,371.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 45% pricier in Neilston (£165,371 vs £90,542).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Neilston prices grew faster — 105% vs 98%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 474.8 offences per 1,000 people, Dumbarton is the safer of the two – 67% lower than Neilston's 793.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Dumbarton is other-crime, while in Neilston 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 ScotlandSchool quality favours Neilston: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 94.9% in Dumbarton.
Dumbarton School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Neilston School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 32 schools (25 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dumbarton | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 40 | 32 |
| Primary | 35 | 25 |
| Secondary | 5 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 94.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Neilston enjoy 415.9 Mbps on average, while Dumbarton lags behind at 410.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.5% of premises in Dumbarton and 91.1% in Neilston. Gigabit availability stands at 78.5% in Dumbarton and 81.2% in Neilston.
Neilston is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (416 vs 411 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Dumbarton is band D (score 65.2), ahead of Neilston's band E (score 53.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,557 in Dumbarton and £1,387 in Neilston. 36.7% of homes in Dumbarton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 41.4% in Neilston.
Neilston has more energy-efficient housing — 41.4% reach band C or above, vs 36.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Dumbarton has a population of 21,120 while Neilston has 5,170. Median household income is £31,337 in Dumbarton and £27,885 in Neilston. The median age is 44.1 in Dumbarton and 39.6 in Neilston. Employment rates stand at 69.5% in Dumbarton and 73.6% in Neilston.
| Indicator | Dumbarton | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,120 | 5,170 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 39.6 |
| Median Household Income | £31,337 | £27,885 |
| Employment Rate | 69.5% | 73.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 60% | 57.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Dumbarton and Neilston?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Dumbarton or Neilston?
Is Dumbarton or Neilston safer?
Which has better schools, Dumbarton or Neilston?
Which has faster broadband, Dumbarton or Neilston?
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