Innerleithen or Blairgowrie: Which Is Better Value?
Innerleithen averages £220,000 against £215,000 in Blairgowrie, a gap of £5,000 or 2%. You would need £500 more deposit and about £26 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Blairgowrie charges £55 more council tax at Band D.
Innerleithen averages £220,000 against £215,000 in Blairgowrie, a gap of £5,000 or 2%. You would need £500 more deposit and about £26 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Blairgowrie charges £55 more council tax at Band D.
Price and deposit
The headline gap is £5,000, or 2%. On a 10% deposit that is £500 more cash to find before you start. Detached homes average £305,000 against £235,000.
Innerleithen against Blairgowrie
Town guides for each: Mortgage advice in Innerleithen and Mortgage advice in Blairgowrie.
Schools and families
Scottish schools are inspected by Education Scotland without a single overall grade, so the choice turns on catchment and the latest inspection reports.
A strong catchment in the cheaper town can cost more than an average street in the dearer one. Compare catchments, not averages.
Running costs and getting to work
Band D council tax is £1,619 in Innerleithen and £1,674 in Blairgowrie, a difference of £55 a year.
The honest verdict
Blairgowrie is cheaper to buy on these figures.
Neither is right in the abstract. If the deposit is your constraint, the £500 difference matters more than anything else here. If catchment is the constraint, price follows the school you need.
What each town is actually like
Price is one axis. These are the things people move for, and the things they find out afterwards.
Innerleithen
In its favour- The mountain-biking capital of the Borders, Glentress and Innerleithen on the doorstep
- More affordable than Peebles or Melrose
- Real heritage, Traquair House and Robert Smail's Printing Works
- A simple Scottish council-tax bill, no police, fire or community precept
- No railway, the nearest railhead is Tweedbank, about 40 minutes away
- No A&E in the town, Borders General near Melrose is about 18 miles away
- A small town, not a shopping centre, Peebles is 15 minutes west for that
- Scottish Water is a separate charge added to the same bill (~£652 at Band D)
Best for Outdoor & mountain-biking buyers ★★★★★
One of the best mountain-biking bases in Britain, the Glentress and Innerleithen 7stanes trails, the Tweed Valley and national racing on the doorstep; hard to beat down here for the outdoors.
Blairgowrie
In its favour- An affordable, characterful Perthshire market town in beautiful berry country
- Superb outdoor access, the Cateran Trail, the River Ericht and the A93 to Glenshee
- More affordable than Perthshire's honeypot towns, with newer estates and rural homes
- A simple Scottish council-tax bill, no police, fire or community precept
- No railway station in the town, the nearest are Perth, Dunkeld and Pitlochry
- No full A&E in the town, the nearest emergency hospital is Perth Royal Infirmary
- Some low-lying homes near the River Ericht carry a flood consideration
- Scottish Water is a separate charge added to the same bill (~£652 at Band D)
Best for Outdoor & nature lovers ★★★★★
The Cateran Trail starts here, the A93 climbs to the Glenshee ski centre and the southern Cairngorms, and the River Ericht and Perthshire glens are on the doorstep, a superb base for walking, cycling and the hills.
Innerleithen and Blairgowrie, side by side
| Measure | Innerleithen | Blairgowrie |
|---|---|---|
| Average property price | £220,000 | £215,000 |
| Average detached | £305,000 | £235,000 |
| 10% deposit | £22,000 | £21,500 |
| Illustrative monthly payment | £1,157 | £1,131 |
| Band D council tax | £1,619 | £1,674 |
Local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own figures before acting.
Ask about Innerleithen
Three details is all we need. You are told before anything is passed to a partner firm.
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
Check broadband before you make an offer in Innerleithen or Blairgowrie
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in Innerleithen or Blairgowrie, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.
We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.
Questions people ask
Is Innerleithen or Blairgowrie cheaper?
Which has better schools?
Which is cheaper to run?
How do I check broadband speed at a property in Innerleithen or Blairgowrie?
Read next
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.