Haddington vs Prestonpans
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Haddington wins on house prices with a 0% gap. Prestonpans has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Haddington edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Haddington
£281,427
Prestonpans
£281,427
Crime Rate
Haddington
770.2
Prestonpans
675.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Haddington
71.4%
Prestonpans
71.4%
Avg Download Speed
Haddington
387.5
Prestonpans
465.7
EPC Rating
Haddington
55.6
Prestonpans
60.6
Median Income
Haddington
£32,762
Prestonpans
£35,855
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £281,427, Haddington undercuts Prestonpans (£281,427) by around 0% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Haddington is a flat at £164,424, while in Prestonpans it is a flat at £164,424.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in Haddington (£530,642 vs £530,642).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Haddington prices grew faster — 127% vs 127%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Prestonpans experience less crime overall, with a rate of 675.5 per 1,000 versus 770.2 per 1,000 in Haddington. The most common crime category in Haddington is other-crime, while in Prestonpans 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 ScotlandOf the 41 schools in Haddington, 71.4% are in the top two inspection bands. In Prestonpans, which has 41 schools, the figure is 71.4%.
Haddington School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 41 schools (34 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Prestonpans School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 41 schools (34 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Haddington | Prestonpans |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 41 | 41 |
| Primary | 34 | 34 |
| Secondary | 7 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 71.4% | 71.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Prestonpans averages 465.7 Mbps – ahead of Haddington's 387.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 83.7% of premises in Haddington and 98.3% in Prestonpans. Gigabit availability stands at 74.2% in Haddington and 92.1% in Prestonpans.
Prestonpans is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (466 vs 388 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Prestonpans, scoring 60.6 on average (band D) compared to 55.6 (band D) in Haddington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,307 in Haddington and £1,651 in Prestonpans. 34.6% of homes in Haddington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 40.9% in Prestonpans.
Prestonpans has more energy-efficient housing — 40.9% reach band C or above, vs 34.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,855 in Prestonpans and £32,762 in Haddington. The median age is 40.5 in Haddington and 42.3 in Prestonpans. Employment rates stand at 73.3% in Haddington and 70.4% in Prestonpans. Owner-occupancy is 68.7% in Haddington versus 54.2% in Prestonpans. Haddington has a population of 9,130 and Prestonpans has 10,410.
| Indicator | Haddington | Prestonpans |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,130 | 10,410 |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 42.3 |
| Median Household Income | £32,762 | £35,855 |
| Employment Rate | 73.3% | 70.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.7% | 54.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.8% | 30% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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