East Kilbride vs Glasgow
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.8 miles apart.
The verdict
East Kilbride is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 6% lower. Glasgow has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, East Kilbride edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
East Kilbride
£175,976
Glasgow
£186,692
Crime Rate
East Kilbride
345.7
Glasgow
85.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
East Kilbride
87.8%
Glasgow
86.3%
Avg Download Speed
East Kilbride
462.5
Glasgow
457.5
EPC Rating
East Kilbride
48.2
Glasgow
63.3
Median Income
East Kilbride
£33,078
Glasgow
£33,083
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Glasgow commands an average of £186,692, compared with £175,976 in East Kilbride – a difference of 6%. The most affordable entry point in East Kilbride is a flat at £101,671, while in Glasgow it is a flat at £158,274.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 36% pricier in Glasgow (£158,274 vs £101,671).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, East Kilbride prices grew faster — 125% vs 109%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandGlasgow has a crime rate of 85.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 306% lower than East Kilbride at 345.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in East Kilbride is other-crime, while in Glasgow 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 East Kilbride, where 87.8% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 86.3% in Glasgow. There are 151 schools in East Kilbride and 192 in Glasgow.
East Kilbride School Inspection Breakdown
87.8% of 151 schools (132 primary, 19 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Glasgow School Inspection Breakdown
86.3% of 192 schools (154 primary, 38 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | East Kilbride | Glasgow |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 151 | 192 |
| Primary | 132 | 154 |
| Secondary | 19 | 38 |
| % Top two bands | 87.8% | 86.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 462.5 Mbps in East Kilbride and 457.5 Mbps in Glasgow. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.9% of premises in East Kilbride and 96.6% in Glasgow. Gigabit availability stands at 91.5% in East Kilbride and 90.1% in Glasgow.
East Kilbride is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (463 vs 458 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Glasgow, scoring 63.3 on average (band D) compared to 48.2 (band E) in East Kilbride. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,488 in East Kilbride and £1,643 in Glasgow. 35.1% of homes in East Kilbride have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.8% in Glasgow.
Glasgow has more energy-efficient housing — 50.8% reach band C or above, vs 35.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,083 in Glasgow and £33,078 in East Kilbride. The median age is 37.7 in East Kilbride and 43.4 in Glasgow. Employment rates stand at 74.6% in East Kilbride and 72.2% in Glasgow. Owner-occupancy is 63.8% in East Kilbride versus 60.3% in Glasgow. East Kilbride has a population of 75,120 and Glasgow has 985,290.
| Indicator | East Kilbride | Glasgow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,120 | 985,290 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 43.4 |
| Median Household Income | £33,078 | £33,083 |
| Employment Rate | 74.6% | 72.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.8% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27% | 29.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are East Kilbride and Glasgow?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, East Kilbride or Glasgow?
Is East Kilbride or Glasgow safer?
Which has better schools, East Kilbride or Glasgow?
Which has faster broadband, East Kilbride or Glasgow?
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