Helensburgh vs Wemyss Bay
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Wemyss Bay offers lower property prices by roughly 66%. Helensburgh has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Wemyss Bay edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Helensburgh
£180,443
Wemyss Bay
£108,376
Crime Rate
Helensburgh
421.1
Wemyss Bay
1294.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Helensburgh
71.8%
Wemyss Bay
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Helensburgh
269
Wemyss Bay
136
EPC Rating
Helensburgh
61.4
Wemyss Bay
47.4
Median Income
Helensburgh
£35,791
Wemyss Bay
£34,173
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Wemyss Bay 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 Wemyss Bay 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 ScotlandCrime is lower in Helensburgh (421.1 per 1,000) compared to Wemyss Bay (1,294 per 1,000), a 207% difference. The most common crime category in Helensburgh is other-crime, while in Wemyss Bay 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 Wemyss Bay: 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.
Wemyss Bay School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Helensburgh | Wemyss Bay |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Wemyss Bay lags behind at 136.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Helensburgh and 89.7% in Wemyss Bay. Gigabit availability stands at 45.4% in Helensburgh and 14.7% in Wemyss Bay.
Helensburgh is the faster of the two by 98% on average download speed (269 vs 136 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Helensburgh is band D (score 61.4), ahead of Wemyss Bay's band E (score 47.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,265 in Helensburgh and £1,865 in Wemyss Bay. 40.5% of homes in Helensburgh have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 39.1% in Wemyss Bay.
Helensburgh has more energy-efficient housing — 40.5% reach band C or above, vs 39.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Helensburgh has a population of 15,610 while Wemyss Bay has 4,490. Median household income is £35,791 in Helensburgh and £34,173 in Wemyss Bay. The median age is 42.7 in Helensburgh and 37.4 in Wemyss Bay. Employment rates stand at 74.1% in Helensburgh and 72.8% in Wemyss Bay.
| Indicator | Helensburgh | Wemyss Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,610 | 4,490 |
| Median Age | 42.7 | 37.4 |
| Median Household Income | £35,791 | £34,173 |
| Employment Rate | 74.1% | 72.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 72.7% | 61.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.1% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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