Area report
Is Aberdeenshire a good place to live?
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Report completeness: 80%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Aberdeenshire scores 68 out of 100 overall, putting it in the top 43 per cent of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is safety, scoring 74 against the Scottish median of 51; its biggest shortfall is transport, 0 against 75.
- Nearest scored area: Aberdeen, about 26 miles away, scoring 70.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 80 per cent: categories without data are excluded rather than estimated.
How detailed is this report?
Open data is published at different levels of detail, and this report always uses the most granular level available rather than pretending otherwise.
- Point-level for this exact location: Transport (stops within 800 m and the nearest railway station); Air quality (the 1 km grid cell containing this point).
- Council-level, covering all of Aberdeenshire: Cost of living, Affordability, Housing, Employment, Broadband, Safety. Every postcode and town in the council shares these figures.
- Neighbourhood-level: Education (the surrounding intermediate zone of roughly 2,500 to 6,000 residents).
- Not scored here: Weather (the nearest Met Office historic station, Braemar, is 45 km away), too far to describe this location, so it is left out of the overall score.
Research this area further with trusted open data: HM Land Registry sold prices, ONS local area profiles, Ofcom broadband checker, Scottish Government statistics. This report is open-source intelligence: everything is built from published government and public datasets you can check yourself.
Affordability
Source: HM Land RegistryWith a ten per cent deposit, the average Aberdeenshire home needs borrowing of 4.6 times a single UK median full-time salary of £39,039, beyond the 4.5 times most lenders will go to, so it takes a second income or a larger deposit. Try your own figures below.
Guidance only, using standard lending multiples and typical outgoings. Not a mortgage offer or financial advice. TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; always seek independent professional advice before financial decisions.
Housing
Source: HM Land RegistryUK House Price Index for Aberdeenshire, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.
Crime and safety
Source: Scottish GovernmentAnnual recorded crime for all of Aberdeenshire, from Scottish Government statistics. Police Scotland does not publish street-level data, so this is not comparable with English or Welsh reports. How safety is scored.
Weather and outdoors
Source: Met OfficeNo weather score for Aberdeenshire. The nearest Met Office historic station, Braemar, is 45 km away, beyond the 40 km we accept, so its climate would describe somewhere else. Weather is left out of the overall score here rather than borrowed. Why.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for Aberdeenshire: the share of premises that can get each service, not the share that has taken it up.
Schools and education
Source: DfE and devolved governmentsIntermediate zone (2011), three-year average. Source: Scottish Government (statistics.gov.scot). Each nation publishes its own measure, so this compares within Scotland only. How education is scored.
Healthcare
Source: OpenStreetMapHealthcare data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from OpenStreetMap, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Employment
Source: ONS / NOMISONS Annual Population Survey for Aberdeenshire, via NOMIS. Most UK councils fall between about 62% and 82% employment.
Environment
Source: Defra UK-AIRDefra modelled background air for the 1 km grid cell around this point (Crown copyright), scored against the WHO 2021 guidelines.
Transport
Source: DfT NaPTANDfT NaPTAN stops around this exact point. Twelve or more stops within 800 m, and a station within 1 km, each earn full marks.
Cost of living
Source: ONSAverage private rent for the Aberdeen and Shire rental area, from the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. Rent stands in for cost of living because it is the largest living cost and the one that varies most between places.
Lifestyle and amenities
Source: OpenStreetMapLifestyle data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from OpenStreetMap, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Who Aberdeenshire suits
Aberdeenshire is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 24% of the 539 areas we have scored for retirees, and the bottom 34% for young professionals. That gap comes from the same twelve categories weighted differently, which is why one overall score can never answer the question on its own.
| Household | Score | Standing | What it weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retirees | 71 | top 24% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Families | 67 | top 25% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Students | 69 | top 43% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Remote workers | 69 | bottom 49% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Young professionals | 64 | bottom 34% | Weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. |
The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.
Stands out on
- Affordability
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Transport
Built only from the categories with data; 3 are still to load for this area.
How Aberdeenshire compares
| Category | Aberdeenshire | Scotland median | UK median | vs Scotland median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 79 | 81 | 72 | -2 | top 38% |
| Affordability | 88 | 94 | 68 | -6 | top 20% |
| Safety | 74 | 51 | 52 | +23 | top 2% |
| Employment | 58 | 50 | 59 | +8 | bottom 46% |
| Housing | 53 | 84 | 83 | -31 | bottom 11% |
| Transport | 0 | 75 | 75 | -75 | bottom 1% |
| Broadband | 51 | 88 | 88 | -37 | bottom 1% |
| Environment | 100 | 100 | 91 | 0 | top 8% |
| Education | 61 | 42 | 40 | +19 | top 12% |
Medians and positions are across the 539 areas in our index. Safety and education are measured differently in each nation, so read those two rows against the Scotland median only.
What Aberdeenshire does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are safety (74, 23 above the median), education (61, 19 above the median) and employment (58, 8 above the median).
Where it falls short. Transport (0, 75 below), broadband (51, 37 below) and housing (53, 31 below).
Near Aberdeenshire, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of Aberdeenshire, 4 score higher: Aberdeen (70), Elgin (69), Montrose (69) and Forfar (69). Aberdeenshire scores 68. Aberdeen is ahead mainly on transport (+98), while Aberdeenshire keeps the advantage on housing (+43).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 26 miles | Aberdeen City, Scotland | 70 | Very good |
| Elgin | 36 miles | Moray, Scotland | 69 | Good |
| Montrose | 38 miles | Angus, Scotland | 69 | Good |
| Forfar | 41 miles | Angus, Scotland | 69 | Good |
| Peterhead | 41 miles | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | 65 | Good |
| Fraserburgh | 43 miles | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | 63 | Good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caernarfon | Gwynedd, Wales | 69 | 12.9 |
| Tavistock | West Devon, South West, England | 65 | 14.1 |
| Brecon | Powys, Wales | 71 | 14.6 |
| Lerwick | Shetland Islands, Scotland | 61 | 15.1 |
| Okehampton | West Devon, South West, England | 63 | 15.3 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in Aberdeenshire actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Aberdeenshire is £197,863, 27 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £19,786, repaying the rest costs about £1,147 a month, £298 more than renting at the local average of £849, and needs a household income of about £39,600 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £197,863 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | -2.2%, falling |
| Against our index median | 27% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £19,786 |
| 15% deposit | £29,679 |
| Price to earnings | 5.1 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,147 on a £178,077 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £298 more than the £849 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £39,600 a year at 4.5 times income |
Council-wide average across all property types; the multiple uses UK median full-time earnings (April 2025 (ONS ASHE)). Illustrative arithmetic, not a mortgage assessment or financial advice; TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Air quality in Aberdeenshire, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 4.0, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 and inside the World Health Organization guideline of 5, which few areas manage. Nitrogen dioxide, at 1.0, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Aberdeenshire | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 4.0 | 10 | 5 | Inside both |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 1.0 | 40 | 10 | Inside both |
Neighbourhood background levels from the Defra 1 km model; readings beside a busy road are higher. UK figures are the legal limit (NO₂) and 2040 target (PM2.5); WHO figures are health guidelines, not law.
Questions about Aberdeenshire
Is Aberdeenshire a good place to live?
Aberdeenshire has an overall liveability score of 68 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 80% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on cost of living and safety. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in Aberdeenshire?
Aberdeenshire records about 294 crimes per 10,000 people a year (2025/2026), giving Aberdeenshire a safety score of 74 out of 100. Figures are from Scottish Government statistics; Police Scotland does not publish street-level data to police.uk.
What is the weather like in Aberdeenshire?
The weather section shows annual sunshine, rainfall and typical temperatures for Aberdeenshire from Met Office climate data for the location.
How expensive is it to live in Aberdeenshire?
Average private rent in the Aberdeen and Shire area is about £849 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Aberdeenshire a cost-of-living score of 79 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in Aberdeenshire?
The average property price in Aberdeenshire is about £197,863 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed -2.2% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Is Aberdeenshire safe?
Aberdeenshire scores 74 out of 100 for safety - very good - measured from annual recorded crime per 10,000 residents across the Aberdeenshire council area (Scottish Government statistics). That puts it in the top 2% of every area in our index. A safety score is a comparison with other areas rather than a guarantee about a street. The figure covers the whole council, so it says nothing about differences between its towns.
Can I afford to buy a house in Aberdeenshire?
The average property in Aberdeenshire costs about £197,863, which is 5.1 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 88 out of 100. Mainstream lenders usually cap borrowing at around four to four and a half times income, so a ratio above that generally means a larger deposit, a second income or a cheaper property than the local average. With a ten per cent deposit, repaying the rest costs about £1,147 a month at 6% over 25 years, £298 more than the £849 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Aberdeenshire?
About 90.2% of premises in Aberdeenshire can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 43.9% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 51 out of 100 (Ofcom Connected Nations). These are council-area availability figures - the share of premises able to order each service, not the speed any single line achieves - so check the exact address with the Ofcom broadband checker before committing to it.
What is the job market like in Aberdeenshire?
76.4% of 16 to 64 year olds in Aberdeenshire are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 58 out of 100. Unemployment stands at 4.9%. UK local authorities typically range from about 62% to 82%. This is a whole-authority figure, so it describes the local labour market rather than any one town within it.
Are the schools good in Aberdeenshire?
The intermediate zone around this point records 5.73 on Average highest SCQF qualification score of school leavers (2022/23-2024/25), giving an education score of 61 out of 100. Each nation publishes its own attainment measure and they are not interchangeable, so education scores compare within England, Scotland or Wales and not across them. Scottish attainment is resolved to the intermediate zone around this point, which is finer than the council average used in England and Wales.
What is the air quality like in Aberdeenshire?
For the 1 km grid square containing Aberdeenshire, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 3.98 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 1.04 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 100 out of 100; an area meeting both guideline levels scores 100. These are modelled background concentrations for the square, not a reading taken at the roadside.
Does Aberdeenshire have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Insch Rail Station, about 15.2 km away, and there are 0 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 0 out of 100. Stops come from the DfT NaPTAN dataset and are counted for this exact point, so the figure measures access rather than how frequently anything runs.
Which council area is Aberdeenshire in?
Aberdeenshire is in the Aberdeenshire local authority, Scotland. It falls within the Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford ward and the Gordon and Buchan parliamentary constituency. Cost of living, housing, affordability, employment, broadband and crime figures in this report are published at local-authority level, so every postcode and town inside Aberdeenshire shares them. Education comes from the surrounding intermediate zone, and weather, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point.
How does Aberdeenshire compare with the rest of Scotland?
Aberdeenshire sits in the top 43% of the 539 UK areas we have scored. The median area in the index scores 67 out of 100. It is furthest above the benchmark for its nation on safety, education and employment. It is furthest below on transport, broadband and housing. Categories are compared against the area's own nation where the samples allow it, because crime and school attainment are measured differently either side of the border.
What are the best places to live near Aberdeenshire?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Aberdeenshire, the highest are Aberdeen (70 out of 100, about 26 miles away), Elgin (69 out of 100, about 36 miles away) and Montrose (69 out of 100, about 38 miles away). Aberdeenshire itself scores 68. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Aberdeenshire?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Caernarfon (Gwynedd, Wales), Tavistock (West Devon, South West, England) and Brecon (Powys, Wales). Similarity is the average gap across every category both areas have data for, with immediate neighbours excluded, so these are places that score alike rather than places that look alike or sit nearby.
What area does this report cover?
Weather, local amenities, healthcare access, transport access and air quality are measured for this exact point. Cost of living, affordability, housing, employment, broadband and crime come from official statistics for the Aberdeenshire council area, so nearby postcodes and towns in the same council share those figures. Education comes from the surrounding intermediate zone of roughly 2,500 to 6,000 residents. The "How detailed is this report" section explains each level.