Edinburgh vs Prestonpans
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Prestonpans is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 3% lower. Edinburgh has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Edinburgh edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Edinburgh
£290,946
Prestonpans
£281,427
Crime Rate
Edinburgh
103.1
Prestonpans
675.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Edinburgh
74.3%
Prestonpans
71.4%
Avg Download Speed
Edinburgh
434.3
Prestonpans
465.7
EPC Rating
Edinburgh
57.6
Prestonpans
60.6
Median Income
Edinburgh
£33,529
Prestonpans
£35,855
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Edinburgh commands an average of £290,946, compared with £281,427 in Prestonpans – a difference of 3%. The most affordable entry point in Edinburgh is a flat at £238,069, while in Prestonpans it is a flat at £164,424.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 45% pricier in Edinburgh (£238,069 vs £164,424).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Prestonpans prices grew faster — 127% vs 113%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandEdinburgh has a crime rate of 103.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 555% lower than Prestonpans at 675.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Edinburgh is other-crime, while in Prestonpans 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 Edinburgh, where 74.3% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 71.4% in Prestonpans. There are 39 schools in Edinburgh and 41 in Prestonpans.
Edinburgh School Inspection Breakdown
74.3% of 39 schools (33 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Prestonpans School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 41 schools (34 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Edinburgh | Prestonpans |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 39 | 41 |
| Primary | 33 | 34 |
| Secondary | 6 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 74.3% | 71.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 465.7 Mbps in Prestonpans and 434.3 Mbps in Edinburgh. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.7% of premises in Edinburgh and 98.3% in Prestonpans. Gigabit availability stands at 84.2% in Edinburgh and 92.1% in Prestonpans.
Prestonpans is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (466 vs 434 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Prestonpans, scoring 60.6 on average (band D) compared to 57.6 (band D) in Edinburgh. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,717 in Edinburgh and £1,651 in Prestonpans. 26.9% of homes in Edinburgh have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 40.9% in Prestonpans.
Prestonpans has more energy-efficient housing — 40.9% reach band C or above, vs 26.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,855 in Prestonpans and £33,529 in Edinburgh. The median age is 41.2 in Edinburgh and 42.3 in Prestonpans. Employment rates stand at 71.9% in Edinburgh and 70.4% in Prestonpans. Owner-occupancy is 60.4% in Edinburgh versus 54.2% in Prestonpans. Edinburgh has a population of 512,150 and Prestonpans has 10,410.
| Indicator | Edinburgh | Prestonpans |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 512,150 | 10,410 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 42.3 |
| Median Household Income | £33,529 | £35,855 |
| Employment Rate | 71.9% | 70.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.4% | 54.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 20.1% | 30% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Edinburgh and Prestonpans?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Edinburgh or Prestonpans?
Is Edinburgh or Prestonpans safer?
Which has better schools, Edinburgh or Prestonpans?
Which has faster broadband, Edinburgh or Prestonpans?
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