Town comparison
Edinburgh vs Penicuik
Which is better to live in? 7.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Penicuik offers lower property prices by roughly 5%. Edinburgh has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Edinburgh edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Edinburgh
£290,946
Penicuik
£277,911
Crime Rate
Edinburgh
103.1
Penicuik
474.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Edinburgh
74.3%
Penicuik
74.3%
Avg Download Speed
Edinburgh
434.3
Penicuik
442.1
EPC Rating
Edinburgh
57.6
Penicuik
51.3
Median Income
Edinburgh
£33,529
Penicuik
£33,852
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Penicuik is £277,911, which is 5% less than Edinburgh at £290,946. The most affordable entry point in Edinburgh is a flat at £238,069, while in Penicuik it is a flat at £159,354.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 54% pricier in Edinburgh (£362,527 vs £235,353).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Penicuik prices grew faster — 122% vs 113%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 103.1 offences per 1,000 people, Edinburgh is the safer of the two – 361% lower than Penicuik's 474.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Edinburgh is other-crime, while in Penicuik 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 ScotlandEdinburgh has 74.3% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 74.3% in Penicuik. Edinburgh has 39 schools in total, while Penicuik has 39.
Edinburgh School Inspection Breakdown
74.3% of 39 schools (33 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Penicuik School Inspection Breakdown
74.3% of 39 schools (33 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Edinburgh | Penicuik |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 39 | 39 |
| Primary | 33 | 33 |
| Secondary | 6 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 74.3% | 74.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Penicuik offers faster average downloads at 442.1 Mbps, compared to 434.3 Mbps in Edinburgh. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.7% of premises in Edinburgh and 95.1% in Penicuik. Gigabit availability stands at 84.2% in Edinburgh and 86.2% in Penicuik.
Penicuik is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (442 vs 434 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Edinburgh are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 57.6 (band D) versus 51.3 (band E) in Penicuik. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,717 in Edinburgh and £1,423 in Penicuik. 26.9% of homes in Edinburgh have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 52.6% in Penicuik.
Penicuik has more energy-efficient housing — 52.6% reach band C or above, vs 26.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,852 in Penicuik and £33,529 in Edinburgh. The median age is 41.2 in Edinburgh and 38.9 in Penicuik. Employment rates stand at 71.9% in Edinburgh and 77.9% in Penicuik. Owner-occupancy is 60.4% in Edinburgh versus 63.8% in Penicuik.
| Indicator | Edinburgh | Penicuik |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 512,150 | 16,120 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 38.9 |
| Median Household Income | £33,529 | £33,852 |
| Employment Rate | 71.9% | 77.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.4% | 63.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 20.1% | 29.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Edinburgh and Penicuik?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Edinburgh or Penicuik?
Is Edinburgh or Penicuik safer?
Which has better schools, Edinburgh or Penicuik?
Which has faster broadband, Edinburgh or Penicuik?
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