Area report
Is Angus a good place to live?
Angus, Scotland
Report completeness: 100%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Angus scores 64 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is education, scoring 58 against the Scottish median of 42; its biggest shortfall is transport, 8 against 75.
- Nearest scored area: Forfar, about 6 miles away, scoring 69.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 100 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: Weather (from the Met Office Leuchars station, 39 km away); Lifestyle (amenities within about 2 km of this exact point); Healthcare (facilities within about 2 km, hospitals within about 8 km); 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 Angus: 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).
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 Angus home needs borrowing of 4.1 times a single UK median full-time salary of £39,039, inside the 4.5 times most lenders will go to, so one median earner can buy here. 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 Angus, 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 Angus, 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 OfficeOutdoor suitability
Angus averages about 1,456 sunshine hours a year, around the middle of the UK range, with relatively low rainfall for the UK (about 719 mm a year). Summer days typically reach around 19.3°C and winter nights fall to about 1.6°C.
Averages over 6 years (2020-2025) from the Met Office Leuchars station, 39 km away. How the outdoor score works. Contains Met Office data © Crown copyright.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for Angus: 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: OpenStreetMapCounted from OpenStreetMap around this exact point; a nearby GP and pharmacy carry the most weight. How it is scored. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Employment
Source: ONS / NOMISONS Annual Population Survey for Angus, 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 Dundee and Angus 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: OpenStreetMapWhat is nearby
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Food and drink | 0 |
| Shops | 0 |
| Health services | 0 |
| Schools and learning | 0 |
| Parks and sport | 1 |
| Culture and community | 0 |
Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Who Angus suits
Of the 5 profiles we score, Angus suits remote workers best, at 67 out of 100.
Angus is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 50% of the 539 areas we have scored for families, and the bottom 11% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Families | 64 | top 50% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Students | 64 | bottom 32% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Remote workers | 67 | bottom 31% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Retirees | 62 | bottom 23% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Young professionals | 58 | bottom 11% | 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
- Cost of living
- Affordability
- Housing
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Lifestyle
How Angus compares
| Category | Angus | Scotland median | UK median | vs Scotland median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 81 | 81 | 72 | 0 | top 29% |
| Affordability | 94 | 94 | 68 | 0 | top 11% |
| Safety | 59 | 51 | 52 | +8 | top 25% |
| Weather | 67 | 64 | 72 | +3 | bottom 33% |
| Employment | 46 | 50 | 59 | -4 | bottom 19% |
| Housing | 87 | 84 | 83 | +3 | top 37% |
| Transport | 8 | 75 | 75 | -67 | bottom 1% |
| Broadband | 61 | 88 | 88 | -27 | bottom 4% |
| Environment | 100 | 100 | 91 | 0 | top 8% |
| Healthcare | 4 | 40 | 52 | -36 | bottom 1% |
| Education | 58 | 42 | 40 | +16 | top 15% |
| Lifestyle | 1 | 45 | 54 | -44 | bottom 1% |
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 Angus does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are education (58, 16 above the median) and safety (59, 8 above the median).
Where it falls short. Transport (8, 67 below), lifestyle (1, 44 below) and healthcare (4, 36 below).
Near Angus, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of Angus, 6 score higher: Perth (74), Dundee (73), Arbroath (70) and 3 others. Angus scores 64. Perth is ahead mainly on transport (+84), while Angus keeps the advantage on affordability (+14).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forfar | 5.9 miles | Angus, Scotland | 69 | Good |
| Montrose | 16 miles | Angus, Scotland | 69 | Good |
| Arbroath | 17 miles | Angus, Scotland | 70 | Very good |
| Dundee | 19 miles | Dundee City, Scotland | 73 | Very good |
| St Andrews | 27 miles | Fife, Scotland | 69 | Good |
| Perth | 31 miles | Perth and Kinross, Scotland | 74 | Very 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 | 12.3 |
| Ilford | Somerset, South West, England | 63 | 13 |
| Glastonbury | Somerset, South West, England | 65 | 14.4 |
| Bideford | Torridge, South West, England | 66 | 14.4 |
| Fort William | Highland, Scotland | 67 | 14.5 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in Angus actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Angus is £176,959, 35 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £17,696, repaying the rest costs about £1,026 a month, £203 more than renting at the local average of £823, and needs a household income of about £35,400 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £176,959 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +4.4%, rising |
| Against our index median | 35% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £17,696 |
| 15% deposit | £26,544 |
| Price to earnings | 4.5 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,026 on a £159,263 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £203 more than the £823 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £35,400 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 Angus, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 3.9, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 and inside the World Health Organization guideline of 5, which few areas manage. Nitrogen dioxide, at 1.3, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Angus | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 3.9 | 10 | 5 | Inside both |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 1.3 | 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 Angus
Is Angus a good place to live?
Angus has an overall liveability score of 64 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 100% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on housing and cost of living. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in Angus?
Angus records about 425 crimes per 10,000 people a year (2025/2026), giving Angus a safety score of 59 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 Angus?
Angus averages 1,456 sunshine hours and about 719 mm of rain a year, giving an outdoor score of 67 out of 100. Summer highs average 19.3°C and winter lows 1.6°C. Based on the Met Office Leuchars station, 39 km away.
How expensive is it to live in Angus?
Average private rent in the Dundee and Angus area is about £823 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Angus a cost-of-living score of 81 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in Angus?
The average property price in Angus is about £176,959 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +4.4% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Is Angus safe?
Angus scores 59 out of 100 for safety - good - measured from annual recorded crime per 10,000 residents across the Angus council area (Scottish Government statistics). That puts it in the top 25% 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 Angus?
The average property in Angus costs about £176,959, which is 4.5 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 94 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 £1,026 a month at 6% over 25 years, £203 more than the £823 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Angus?
About 90.7% of premises in Angus can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 59.6% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 61 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 Angus?
71.9% of 16 to 64 year olds in Angus are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 46 out of 100. Unemployment stands at 7.2%. 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 Angus?
The intermediate zone around this point records 5.65 on Average highest SCQF qualification score of school leavers (2022/23-2024/25), giving an education score of 58 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 Angus?
For the 1 km grid square containing Angus, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 3.91 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 1.33 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.
What is there to do in Angus?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 1 mapped amenities, including 1 parks and sports facilities, giving a lifestyle score of 1 out of 100. Counts come from OpenStreetMap and are measured at this exact location rather than averaged across the council, so they reflect how well served this particular spot is. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Does Angus have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Montrose Rail Station, about 26.2 km away, and there are 2 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 8 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 Angus in?
Angus is in the Angus local authority, Scotland. It falls within the Brechin and Edzell ward and the Angus and Perthshire Glens 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 Angus shares them. Education comes from the surrounding intermediate zone, and weather, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point.
Is Angus a good place for remote workers?
Angus scores 67 out of 100 on our remote workers profile, which is weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. That is 3 points above its general score of 64, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-remote-workers/.
Is Angus a good place for families?
Angus scores 64 out of 100 on our families profile, which is weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. That is close to its general score of 64, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-families/.
How does Angus compare with the rest of Scotland?
Angus sits in the bottom 30% 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 education and safety. It is furthest below on transport, lifestyle and healthcare. 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 Angus?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Angus, the highest are Perth (74 out of 100, about 31 miles away), Dundee (73 out of 100, about 19 miles away) and Arbroath (70 out of 100, about 17 miles away). Angus itself scores 64. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Angus?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Caernarfon (Gwynedd, Wales), Ilford (Somerset, South West, England) and Glastonbury (Somerset, South West, England). 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 Angus 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.