Houston vs Inverkip
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Inverkip is about 45% cheaper on average. Inverkip has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Houston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Houston
£156,798
Inverkip
£108,376
Crime Rate
Houston
2356.6
Inverkip
1664.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Houston
94.8%
Inverkip
88.0%
Avg Download Speed
Houston
373.1
Inverkip
407.6
EPC Rating
Houston
56.2
Inverkip
57.1
Median Income
Houston
£29,661
Inverkip
£24,857
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandBuyers will find Inverkip more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £108,376 versus £156,798 in Houston. The most affordable entry point in Houston is a flat at £102,343, while in Inverkip it is a flat at £83,352.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 43% 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 Inverkip (1,664.8 per 1,000) compared to Houston (2,356.6 per 1,000), a 42% difference. The most common crime category in Houston is other-crime, while in Inverkip 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 Houston: 94.8% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 88% in Inverkip.
Houston School Inspection Breakdown
94.8% of 63 schools (52 primary, 11 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Inverkip School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Houston | Inverkip |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 63 | 28 |
| Primary | 52 | 21 |
| Secondary | 11 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 94.8% | 88% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Inverkip enjoy 407.6 Mbps on average, while Houston lags behind at 373.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 85.5% of premises in Houston and 96% in Inverkip. Gigabit availability stands at 72.2% in Houston and 78.5% in Inverkip.
Inverkip is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (408 vs 373 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Inverkip is band D (score 57.1), ahead of Houston's band D (score 56.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,371 in Houston and £1,735 in Inverkip. 43% of homes in Houston have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 49.8% in Inverkip.
Inverkip has more energy-efficient housing — 49.8% reach band C or above, vs 43% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Houston has a population of 6,430 while Inverkip has 3,490. Median household income is £29,661 in Houston and £24,857 in Inverkip. The median age is 40.7 in Houston and 41.1 in Inverkip. Employment rates stand at 74% in Houston and 72.6% in Inverkip.
| Indicator | Houston | Inverkip |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,430 | 3,490 |
| Median Age | 40.7 | 41.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,661 | £24,857 |
| Employment Rate | 74% | 72.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.8% | 59.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 22.3% | 32.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Houston and Inverkip?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Houston or Inverkip?
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