Galashiels vs Selkirk
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Galashiels offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. Galashiels has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Galashiels edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Galashiels
£181,358
Selkirk
£181,358
Crime Rate
Galashiels
487.0
Selkirk
1312.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Galashiels
74.6%
Selkirk
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Galashiels
404.7
Selkirk
437.2
EPC Rating
Galashiels
50.5
Selkirk
56.7
Median Income
Galashiels
£27,742
Selkirk
£28,122
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Galashiels more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £181,358 versus £181,358 in Selkirk. The most affordable entry point in Galashiels is a flat at £107,088, while in Selkirk it is a flat at £107,088.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in Galashiels (£340,681 vs £340,681).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Galashiels prices grew faster — 119% vs 119%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Galashiels (487 per 1,000) compared to Selkirk (1,312.5 per 1,000), a 170% difference. The most common crime category in Galashiels is violent-crime, while in Selkirk it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Galashiels: 74.6% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 74.6% in Selkirk.
Galashiels School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Selkirk School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Galashiels | Selkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 66 | 66 |
| Primary | 57 | 57 |
| Secondary | 9 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 74.6% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Selkirk enjoy 437.2 Mbps on average, while Galashiels lags behind at 404.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.9% of premises in Galashiels and 95.9% in Selkirk. Gigabit availability stands at 76.4% in Galashiels and 84.8% in Selkirk.
Selkirk is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (437 vs 405 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Selkirk is band D (score 56.7), ahead of Galashiels's band E (score 50.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,524 in Galashiels and £1,600 in Selkirk. 49.7% of homes in Galashiels have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 42.9% in Selkirk.
Galashiels has more energy-efficient housing — 49.7% reach band C or above, vs 42.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Galashiels has a population of 15,040 while Selkirk has 5,580. Median household income is £28,122 in Selkirk and £27,742 in Galashiels. The median age is 38.6 in Galashiels and 40.9 in Selkirk. Employment rates stand at 73.8% in Galashiels and 70.2% in Selkirk.
| Indicator | Galashiels | Selkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,040 | 5,580 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 40.9 |
| Median Household Income | £27,742 | £28,122 |
| Employment Rate | 73.8% | 70.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 59.4% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.3% | 33.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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