East Kilbride vs Hamilton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, East Kilbride offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. Hamilton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, East Kilbride edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
East Kilbride
£175,976
Hamilton
£175,976
Crime Rate
East Kilbride
345.7
Hamilton
310.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
East Kilbride
87.8%
Hamilton
87.8%
Avg Download Speed
East Kilbride
462.5
Hamilton
439.7
EPC Rating
East Kilbride
48.2
Hamilton
71.1
Median Income
East Kilbride
£33,078
Hamilton
£36,521
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in East Kilbride is £175,976, which is 0% less than Hamilton at £175,976. The most affordable entry point in East Kilbride is a flat at £101,671, while in Hamilton it is a flat at £101,671.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in East Kilbride (£358,110 vs £358,110).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, East Kilbride prices grew faster — 125% vs 125%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 310.1 offences per 1,000 people, Hamilton is the safer of the two – 11% lower than East Kilbride's 345.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in East Kilbride is other-crime, while in Hamilton 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 ScotlandEast Kilbride has 87.8% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 87.8% in Hamilton. East Kilbride has 151 schools in total, while Hamilton has 151.
East Kilbride School Inspection Breakdown
87.8% of 151 schools (132 primary, 19 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hamilton School Inspection Breakdown
87.8% of 151 schools (132 primary, 19 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | East Kilbride | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 151 | 151 |
| Primary | 132 | 132 |
| Secondary | 19 | 19 |
| % Top two bands | 87.8% | 87.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
East Kilbride offers faster average downloads at 462.5 Mbps, compared to 439.7 Mbps in Hamilton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.9% of premises in East Kilbride and 98.3% in Hamilton. Gigabit availability stands at 91.5% in East Kilbride and 85.8% in Hamilton.
East Kilbride is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (463 vs 440 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Hamilton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.1 (band C) versus 48.2 (band E) in East Kilbride. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,488 in East Kilbride and £1,218 in Hamilton. 35.1% of homes in East Kilbride have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 49.8% in Hamilton.
Hamilton has more energy-efficient housing — 49.8% reach band C or above, vs 35.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,521 in Hamilton and £33,078 in East Kilbride. The median age is 37.7 in East Kilbride and 46.3 in Hamilton. Employment rates stand at 74.6% in East Kilbride and 76.9% in Hamilton. Owner-occupancy is 63.8% in East Kilbride versus 65.7% in Hamilton.
| Indicator | East Kilbride | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,120 | 83,730 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 46.3 |
| Median Household Income | £33,078 | £36,521 |
| Employment Rate | 74.6% | 76.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.8% | 65.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are East Kilbride and Hamilton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, East Kilbride or Hamilton?
Is East Kilbride or Hamilton safer?
Which has better schools, East Kilbride or Hamilton?
Which has faster broadband, East Kilbride or Hamilton?
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