Galston vs Irvine
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Galston wins on house prices with a 3% gap. Irvine has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Irvine edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Galston
£127,807
Irvine
£132,002
Crime Rate
Galston
2202.1
Irvine
315.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Galston
68.2%
Irvine
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Galston
335.6
Irvine
434.7
EPC Rating
Galston
59.4
Irvine
59.2
Median Income
Galston
£35,177
Irvine
£25,202
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Irvine commands an average of £132,002, compared with £127,807 in Galston – a difference of 3%. The most affordable entry point in Galston is a flat at £73,235, while in Irvine it is a flat at £84,787.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 14% pricier in Irvine (£84,787 vs £73,235).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Irvine prices grew faster — 105% vs 102%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Irvine experience less crime overall, with a rate of 315.2 per 1,000 versus 2,202.1 per 1,000 in Galston. The most common crime category in Galston is other-crime, while in Irvine 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 Irvine, where 90.9% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 68.2% in Galston. There are 54 schools in Galston and 59 in Irvine.
Galston School Inspection Breakdown
68.2% of 54 schools (47 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Irvine School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Galston | Irvine |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 54 | 59 |
| Primary | 47 | 51 |
| Secondary | 7 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 68.2% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 434.7 Mbps in Irvine and 335.6 Mbps in Galston. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94% of premises in Galston and 96% in Irvine. Gigabit availability stands at 61.7% in Galston and 84.9% in Irvine.
Irvine is the faster of the two by 30% on average download speed (435 vs 336 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Galston, scoring 59.4 on average (band D) compared to 59.2 (band D) in Irvine. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,472 in Galston and £1,653 in Irvine. 40.7% of homes in Galston have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 44.4% in Irvine.
Irvine has more energy-efficient housing — 44.4% reach band C or above, vs 40.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,177 in Galston and £25,202 in Irvine. The median age is 41.9 in Galston and 41.8 in Irvine. Employment rates stand at 73.9% in Galston and 69.9% in Irvine. Owner-occupancy is 64.4% in Galston versus 60.8% in Irvine. Galston has a population of 4,740 and Irvine has 37,630.
| Indicator | Galston | Irvine |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,740 | 37,630 |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 41.8 |
| Median Household Income | £35,177 | £25,202 |
| Employment Rate | 73.9% | 69.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.4% | 60.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.8% | 27% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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