Town comparison
Glasgow vs Vale of Leven
Which is better to live in? 14.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Vale Of Leven offers lower property prices by roughly 55%. Glasgow has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Vale Of Leven edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Glasgow
£186,692
Vale of Leven
£120,597
Crime Rate
Glasgow
85.2
Vale of Leven
412.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Glasgow
86.3%
Vale of Leven
94.9%
Avg Download Speed
Glasgow
457.5
Vale of Leven
410
EPC Rating
Glasgow
63.3
Vale of Leven
53
Median Income
Glasgow
£33,083
Vale of Leven
£36,492
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Vale Of Leven is £120,597, which is 55% less than Glasgow at £186,692. The most affordable entry point in Glasgow is a flat at £158,274, while in Vale Of Leven it is a flat at £90,542.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 75% pricier in Glasgow (£158,274 vs £90,542).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Glasgow prices grew faster — 109% vs 98%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 85.2 offences per 1,000 people, Glasgow is the safer of the two – 384% lower than Vale Of Leven's 412.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Glasgow is other-crime, while in Vale Of Leven 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 ScotlandVale Of Leven has 94.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 86.3% in Glasgow. Glasgow has 192 schools in total, while Vale Of Leven has 40.
Glasgow School Inspection Breakdown
86.3% of 192 schools (154 primary, 38 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Vale of Leven School Inspection Breakdown
94.9% of 40 schools (35 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Glasgow | Vale of Leven |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 192 | 40 |
| Primary | 154 | 35 |
| Secondary | 38 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 86.3% | 94.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Glasgow offers faster average downloads at 457.5 Mbps, compared to 410.0 Mbps in Vale Of Leven. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.6% of premises in Glasgow and 94.8% in Vale Of Leven. Gigabit availability stands at 90.1% in Glasgow and 78.7% in Vale Of Leven.
Glasgow is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (458 vs 410 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Glasgow are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 63.3 (band D) versus 53 (band E) in Vale Of Leven. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,643 in Glasgow and £1,349 in Vale Of Leven. 50.8% of homes in Glasgow have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 47.5% in Vale Of Leven.
Glasgow has more energy-efficient housing — 50.8% reach band C or above, vs 47.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,492 in Vale Of Leven and £33,083 in Glasgow. The median age is 43.4 in Glasgow and 39.5 in Vale Of Leven. Employment rates stand at 72.2% in Glasgow and 75.3% in Vale Of Leven. Owner-occupancy is 60.3% in Glasgow versus 65.3% in Vale Of Leven.
| Indicator | Glasgow | Vale of Leven |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 985,290 | 24,300 |
| Median Age | 43.4 | 39.5 |
| Median Household Income | £33,083 | £36,492 |
| Employment Rate | 72.2% | 75.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.3% | 65.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.6% | 21.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Glasgow and Vale Of Leven?
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Is Glasgow or Vale Of Leven safer?
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