Greenock vs Houston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Greenock is about 31% cheaper on average. Greenock has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Houston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Greenock
£108,376
Houston
£156,798
Crime Rate
Greenock
85.9
Houston
2356.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Greenock
88.0%
Houston
94.8%
Avg Download Speed
Greenock
416.8
Houston
373.1
EPC Rating
Greenock
52.5
Houston
56.2
Median Income
Greenock
£24,995
Houston
£29,661
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandThe average house price in Greenock is £108,376, which is 31% less than Houston at £156,798. The most affordable entry point in Greenock is a flat at £83,352, while in Houston it is a flat at £102,343.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 30% pricier in Houston (£213,451 vs £149,259).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Houston prices grew faster — 119% vs 71%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Greenock (85.9 per 1,000) compared to Houston (2,356.6 per 1,000), a 2643% difference. The most common crime category in Greenock is other-crime, while in Houston 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 ScotlandHouston has 94.8% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 88% in Greenock. Greenock has 28 schools in total, while Houston has 63.
Greenock School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Houston School Inspection Breakdown
94.8% of 63 schools (52 primary, 11 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Greenock | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 28 | 63 |
| Primary | 21 | 52 |
| Secondary | 7 | 11 |
| % Top two bands | 88% | 94.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Greenock offers faster average downloads at 416.8 Mbps, compared to 373.1 Mbps in Houston. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.2% of premises in Greenock and 85.5% in Houston. Gigabit availability stands at 80.3% in Greenock and 72.2% in Houston.
Greenock is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (417 vs 373 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Houston are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 56.2 (band D) versus 52.5 (band E) in Greenock. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,490 in Greenock and £1,371 in Houston. 44% of homes in Greenock have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 43% in Houston.
Greenock has more energy-efficient housing — 44% reach band C or above, vs 43% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,661 in Houston and £24,995 in Greenock. The median age is 39.3 in Greenock and 40.7 in Houston. Employment rates stand at 78% in Greenock and 74% in Houston. Owner-occupancy is 57.2% in Greenock versus 63.8% in Houston.
| Indicator | Greenock | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,650 | 6,430 |
| Median Age | 39.3 | 40.7 |
| Median Household Income | £24,995 | £29,661 |
| Employment Rate | 78% | 74% |
| Owner Occupied | 57.2% | 63.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.9% | 22.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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