Town comparison
Glasgow vs Hamilton
Which is better to live in? 10.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Hamilton is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 6% lower. Glasgow has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Hamilton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Glasgow
£186,692
Hamilton
£175,976
Crime Rate
Glasgow
85.2
Hamilton
310.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Glasgow
86.3%
Hamilton
87.8%
Avg Download Speed
Glasgow
457.5
Hamilton
439.7
EPC Rating
Glasgow
63.3
Hamilton
71.1
Median Income
Glasgow
£33,083
Hamilton
£36,521
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Glasgow commands an average of £186,692, compared with £175,976 in Hamilton – a difference of 6%. The most affordable entry point in Glasgow is a flat at £158,274, while in Hamilton it is a flat at £101,671.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 56% pricier in Glasgow (£158,274 vs £101,671).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Hamilton prices grew faster — 125% vs 109%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandGlasgow has a crime rate of 85.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 264% lower than Hamilton at 310.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Glasgow is other-crime, while in Hamilton 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 Hamilton, where 87.8% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 86.3% in Glasgow. There are 192 schools in Glasgow and 151 in Hamilton.
Glasgow School Inspection Breakdown
86.3% of 192 schools (154 primary, 38 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hamilton School Inspection Breakdown
87.8% of 151 schools (132 primary, 19 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Glasgow | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 192 | 151 |
| Primary | 154 | 132 |
| Secondary | 38 | 19 |
| % Top two bands | 86.3% | 87.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 457.5 Mbps in Glasgow and 439.7 Mbps in Hamilton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.6% of premises in Glasgow and 98.3% in Hamilton. Gigabit availability stands at 90.1% in Glasgow and 85.8% in Hamilton.
Glasgow is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (458 vs 440 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Hamilton, scoring 71.1 on average (band C) compared to 63.3 (band D) in Glasgow. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,643 in Glasgow and £1,218 in Hamilton. 50.8% of homes in Glasgow have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 49.8% in Hamilton.
Glasgow has more energy-efficient housing — 50.8% reach band C or above, vs 49.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,521 in Hamilton and £33,083 in Glasgow. The median age is 43.4 in Glasgow and 46.3 in Hamilton. Employment rates stand at 72.2% in Glasgow and 76.9% in Hamilton. Owner-occupancy is 60.3% in Glasgow versus 65.7% in Hamilton. Glasgow has a population of 985,290 and Hamilton has 83,730.
| Indicator | Glasgow | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 985,290 | 83,730 |
| Median Age | 43.4 | 46.3 |
| Median Household Income | £33,083 | £36,521 |
| Employment Rate | 72.2% | 76.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.3% | 65.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.6% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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