Town comparison
Inverkip vs Kilbirnie
Which is better to live in? 12.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Inverkip is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Kilbirnie has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Kilbirnie edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Inverkip
£108,376
Kilbirnie
£132,002
Crime Rate
Inverkip
1664.8
Kilbirnie
1616.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Inverkip
88.0%
Kilbirnie
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Inverkip
407.6
Kilbirnie
429.9
EPC Rating
Inverkip
57.1
Kilbirnie
54.8
Median Income
Inverkip
£24,857
Kilbirnie
£30,638
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £108,376, Inverkip undercuts Kilbirnie (£132,002) by around 18% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Inverkip is a flat at £83,352, while in Kilbirnie it is a flat at £84,787.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 14% pricier in Inverkip (£295,285 vs £258,273).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Kilbirnie prices grew faster — 105% vs 71%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandKilbirnie has a crime rate of 1,616.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 3% lower than Inverkip at 1,664.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Inverkip is other-crime, while in Kilbirnie 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 28 schools in Inverkip, 88% are in the top two inspection bands. In Kilbirnie, which has 59 schools, the figure is 90.9%.
Inverkip School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 28 schools (21 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kilbirnie School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 59 schools (51 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Inverkip | Kilbirnie |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 28 | 59 |
| Primary | 21 | 51 |
| Secondary | 7 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 88% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Kilbirnie averages 429.9 Mbps – ahead of Inverkip's 407.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Inverkip and 95.1% in Kilbirnie. Gigabit availability stands at 78.5% in Inverkip and 84% in Kilbirnie.
Kilbirnie is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (430 vs 408 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Inverkip leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 57.1 (D), while Kilbirnie averages 54.8 (D). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,735 in Inverkip and £1,593 in Kilbirnie. 49.8% of homes in Inverkip have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 34.2% in Kilbirnie.
Inverkip has more energy-efficient housing — 49.8% reach band C or above, vs 34.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,638 in Kilbirnie and £24,857 in Inverkip. The median age is 41.1 in Inverkip and 40.2 in Kilbirnie. Owner-occupancy is 59.8% in Inverkip versus 57.3% in Kilbirnie. Employment rates stand at 72.6% in Inverkip and 72.2% in Kilbirnie.
| Indicator | Inverkip | Kilbirnie |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,490 | 7,340 |
| Median Age | 41.1 | 40.2 |
| Median Household Income | £24,857 | £30,638 |
| Employment Rate | 72.6% | 72.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 59.8% | 57.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.7% | 36.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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