Town comparison
Falkirk vs Stirling
Which is better to live in? 10.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Falkirk is about 27% cheaper on average. Falkirk has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Stirling edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Falkirk
£165,479
Stirling
£226,087
Crime Rate
Falkirk
119.4
Stirling
127.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Falkirk
94.7%
Stirling
97.8%
Avg Download Speed
Falkirk
432
Stirling
341.2
EPC Rating
Falkirk
62
Stirling
61.3
Median Income
Falkirk
£26,354
Stirling
£28,099
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Falkirk is £165,479, which is 27% less than Stirling at £226,087. The most affordable entry point in Falkirk is a flat at £99,408, while in Stirling it is a flat at £140,585.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 29% pricier in Stirling (£140,585 vs £99,408).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Falkirk prices grew faster — 144% vs 115%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Falkirk (119.4 per 1,000) compared to Stirling (127.5 per 1,000), a 7% difference. The most common crime category in Falkirk is other-crime, while in Stirling 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 ScotlandStirling has 97.8% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 94.7% in Falkirk. Falkirk has 59 schools in total, while Stirling has 48.
Falkirk School Inspection Breakdown
94.7% of 59 schools (50 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Stirling School Inspection Breakdown
97.8% of 48 schools (40 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Falkirk | Stirling |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 59 | 48 |
| Primary | 50 | 40 |
| Secondary | 9 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 94.7% | 97.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Falkirk offers faster average downloads at 432.0 Mbps, compared to 341.2 Mbps in Stirling. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94% of premises in Falkirk and 91.3% in Stirling. Gigabit availability stands at 84.7% in Falkirk and 62% in Stirling.
Falkirk is the faster of the two by 27% on average download speed (432 vs 341 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Falkirk are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 62 (band D) versus 61.3 (band D) in Stirling. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,311 in Falkirk and £1,484 in Stirling. 31.3% of homes in Falkirk have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.3% in Stirling.
Stirling has more energy-efficient housing — 54.3% reach band C or above, vs 31.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,099 in Stirling and £26,354 in Falkirk. The median age is 42.9 in Falkirk and 42.6 in Stirling. Employment rates stand at 78% in Falkirk and 72.6% in Stirling. Owner-occupancy is 60.3% in Falkirk versus 70.1% in Stirling.
| Indicator | Falkirk | Stirling |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 103,030 | 49,830 |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £26,354 | £28,099 |
| Employment Rate | 78% | 72.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.3% | 70.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 35.6% | 27.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Falkirk and Stirling?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Falkirk or Stirling?
Is Falkirk or Stirling safer?
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