Forres vs Nairn
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Forres is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 8% lower. Forres has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Forres edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Forres
£193,428
Nairn
£210,131
Crime Rate
Forres
633.3
Nairn
1874.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Forres
66.0%
Nairn
66.0%
Avg Download Speed
Forres
337.5
Nairn
115.5
EPC Rating
Forres
62
Nairn
55.8
Median Income
Forres
£34,404
Nairn
£28,676
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Nairn commands an average of £210,131, compared with £193,428 in Forres – a difference of 8%. The most affordable entry point in Forres is a flat at £108,210, while in Nairn it is a flat at £122,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 11% pricier in Nairn (£122,118 vs £108,210).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Forres prices grew faster — 150% vs 132%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandForres has a crime rate of 633.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 196% lower than Nairn at 1,874.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Forres is other-crime, while in Nairn 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 Forres, where 66% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 66% in Nairn. There are 52 schools in Forres and 52 in Nairn.
Forres School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Nairn School Inspection Breakdown
66% of 52 schools (44 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Forres | Nairn |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 52 | 52 |
| Primary | 44 | 44 |
| Secondary | 8 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 66% | 66% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 337.5 Mbps in Forres and 115.5 Mbps in Nairn. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 84.2% of premises in Forres and 85.1% in Nairn. Gigabit availability stands at 63.7% in Forres and 10.8% in Nairn.
Forres is the faster of the two by 192% on average download speed (338 vs 116 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Forres, scoring 62 on average (band D) compared to 55.8 (band D) in Nairn. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,422 in Forres and £1,373 in Nairn. 53.7% of homes in Forres have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 47.4% in Nairn.
Forres has more energy-efficient housing — 53.7% reach band C or above, vs 47.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,404 in Forres and £28,676 in Nairn. The median age is 42.9 in Forres and 40.6 in Nairn. Employment rates stand at 74.3% in Forres and 76.7% in Nairn. Owner-occupancy is 60.3% in Forres versus 62.4% in Nairn. Forres has a population of 10,100 and Nairn has 9,960.
| Indicator | Forres | Nairn |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,100 | 9,960 |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 40.6 |
| Median Household Income | £34,404 | £28,676 |
| Employment Rate | 74.3% | 76.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.3% | 62.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.1% | 28.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Forres and Nairn?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Forres or Nairn?
Is Forres or Nairn safer?
Which has better schools, Forres or Nairn?
Which has faster broadband, Forres or Nairn?
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