Hawick vs Selkirk
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Hawick offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. Hawick has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Hawick edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Hawick
£181,358
Selkirk
£181,358
Crime Rate
Hawick
533.0
Selkirk
1312.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Hawick
74.6%
Selkirk
74.6%
Avg Download Speed
Hawick
362.5
Selkirk
437.2
EPC Rating
Hawick
67.3
Selkirk
56.7
Median Income
Hawick
£31,136
Selkirk
£28,122
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Hawick more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £181,358 versus £181,358 in Selkirk. The most affordable entry point in Hawick is a flat at £107,088, while in Selkirk it is a flat at £107,088.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in Hawick (£340,681 vs £340,681).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Hawick prices grew faster — 119% vs 119%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandCrime is lower in Hawick (533 per 1,000) compared to Selkirk (1,312.5 per 1,000), a 146% difference. The most common crime category in Hawick is violent-crime, while in Selkirk it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandSchool quality favours Hawick: 74.6% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 74.6% in Selkirk.
Hawick School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Selkirk School Inspection Breakdown
74.6% of 66 schools (57 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Hawick | Selkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 66 | 66 |
| Primary | 57 | 57 |
| Secondary | 9 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 74.6% | 74.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Selkirk enjoy 437.2 Mbps on average, while Hawick lags behind at 362.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.7% of premises in Hawick and 95.9% in Selkirk. Gigabit availability stands at 67.7% in Hawick and 84.8% in Selkirk.
Selkirk is the faster of the two by 21% on average download speed (437 vs 363 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Hawick is band C (score 67.3), ahead of Selkirk's band D (score 56.7). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,436 in Hawick and £1,600 in Selkirk. 50.4% of homes in Hawick have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 42.9% in Selkirk.
Hawick has more energy-efficient housing — 50.4% reach band C or above, vs 42.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Hawick has a population of 13,740 while Selkirk has 5,580. Median household income is £31,136 in Hawick and £28,122 in Selkirk. The median age is 46.6 in Hawick and 40.9 in Selkirk. Employment rates stand at 55.8% in Hawick and 70.2% in Selkirk.
| Indicator | Hawick | Selkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,740 | 5,580 |
| Median Age | 46.6 | 40.9 |
| Median Household Income | £31,136 | £28,122 |
| Employment Rate | 55.8% | 70.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.8% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 33.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Hawick and Selkirk?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Hawick or Selkirk?
Is Hawick or Selkirk safer?
Which has better schools, Hawick or Selkirk?
Which has faster broadband, Hawick or Selkirk?
Keep exploring