Helensburgh vs Kilmacolm
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Kilmacolm offers lower property prices by roughly 66%. Helensburgh has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kilmacolm edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Helensburgh
£180,443
Kilmacolm
£108,376
Crime Rate
Helensburgh
421.1
Kilmacolm
1452.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Helensburgh
71.8%
Kilmacolm
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Helensburgh
269
Kilmacolm
247.4
EPC Rating
Helensburgh
61.4
Kilmacolm
52.8
Median Income
Helensburgh
£35,791
Kilmacolm
£29,215
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Kilmacolm more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £108,376 versus £180,443 in Helensburgh. The most affordable entry point in Helensburgh is a flat at £116,169, while in Kilmacolm it is a flat at £83,352.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 39% pricier in Helensburgh (£116,169 vs £83,352).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Helensburgh prices grew faster — 129% vs 71%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandWith 421.1 offences per 1,000 people, Helensburgh is the safer of the two – 245% lower than Kilmacolm's 1,452.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Helensburgh is other-crime, while in Kilmacolm 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 ScotlandSchool quality favours Kilmacolm: 88% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 71.8% in Helensburgh.
Helensburgh School Inspection Breakdown
71.8% of 83 schools (73 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kilmacolm School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Helensburgh | Kilmacolm |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 83 | 28 |
| Primary | 73 | 21 |
| Secondary | 10 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 71.8% | 88% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Helensburgh enjoy 269.0 Mbps on average, while Kilmacolm lags behind at 247.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Helensburgh and 75.1% in Kilmacolm. Gigabit availability stands at 45.4% in Helensburgh and 43.7% in Kilmacolm.
Helensburgh is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (269 vs 247 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Helensburgh is band D (score 61.4), ahead of Kilmacolm's band E (score 52.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,265 in Helensburgh and £1,554 in Kilmacolm. 40.5% of homes in Helensburgh have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 48.5% in Kilmacolm.
Kilmacolm has more energy-efficient housing — 48.5% reach band C or above, vs 40.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Helensburgh has a population of 15,610 while Kilmacolm has 4,000. Median household income is £35,791 in Helensburgh and £29,215 in Kilmacolm. The median age is 42.7 in Helensburgh and 39.4 in Kilmacolm. Employment rates stand at 74.1% in Helensburgh and 73.5% in Kilmacolm.
| Indicator | Helensburgh | Kilmacolm |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,610 | 4,000 |
| Median Age | 42.7 | 39.4 |
| Median Household Income | £35,791 | £29,215 |
| Employment Rate | 74.1% | 73.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 72.7% | 63.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.1% | 27.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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