Living in South Ayrshire
Police Scotland recorded 46 crimes per 1,000 residents in South Ayrshire in 2025–26, below the Scottish average of 57. 18.0% of households rent from the council or a housing association, close to the UK average of 17.5%. About 4.4% of homes are in areas where road or rail noise reaches 65 dB, against 6.9% across Great Britain. 61% of homes are within a five-minute walk of a public park (Great Britain: 56%).
South Ayrshire at a glance
| Measure | South Ayrshire | Comparison | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social housing (share of households) | 18.0% | UK 17.5% | 116th highest of 374 |
| Recorded crime per 1,000 residents | 46 | Scotland 57 | 19th highest of 32 in Scotland |
| Homes in areas with 65 dB+ road or rail noise | 4.4% | GB 6.9% | 138th quietest of 363 |
| Homes within 400 m of a public park | 61% | GB 56% | 112th of 363 |
| Homes within 400 m of a play space | 75% | GB 60% | |
| Median broadband speed available | 1,000 Mbit/s | Council median 1,000 Mbit/s |
How much crime is there in South Ayrshire?
Police Scotland recorded 5,182 crimes in South Ayrshire in 2025–26 — 46 per 1,000 residents, below the Scottish average of 57 and the 19th highest of 32 Scottish councils. The largest groups were theft, fraud and other dishonesty (35%), non-sexual violence (25%) and drugs, weapons and other crimes against society (22%).
Scotland is not on data.police.uk, so these figures come from the Scottish Government's recorded crime statistics. Scotland counts and groups crimes differently, so they are compared only with other Scottish councils.
How much social housing is there in South Ayrshire?
South Ayrshire ranks 116th of 374 UK local authorities by social-housing share. Of its 52,473 households, 9,439 are social homes (18.0%) — renting from the council or a housing association, according to the 2021–22 Census.
How does South Ayrshire compare with the UK average?
At +0.5 percentage points versus the UK average of 17.5%, South Ayrshire sits close to the national level.
How noisy is South Ayrshire?
In South Ayrshire, about 4.4% of homes are in areas where modelled road or rail noise reaches 65 dB Lden or more — the level Defra and the WHO treat as high. The Great Britain average is 6.9%, and South Ayrshire is the 138th quietest of 363 councils mapped.
Estimated from the official strategic noise maps: the share of each census area at 65 dB or more, weighted by its households. See noisy roads and railways on the map →
How close are parks in South Ayrshire?
61% of homes in South Ayrshire are within 400 m — about a five-minute walk — of a public park or garden, and 75% are that close to a children's play space. Across Great Britain the figures are 56% and 60%, which puts South Ayrshire 112th of 363 councils for access to a park.
Straight-line distance from the centre of each census area to the edge of the nearest site in OS Open Greenspace, weighted by households. See parks and play spaces on the map →
Schools, prices and more in South Ayrshire
What the map's other datasets say about South Ayrshire.
Broadband
Median available download speed is about 1,000 Mbit/s — what can be ordered, not what residents have bought (Ofcom Connected Nations).
Explore South Ayrshire on the map
Areas with a similar share of social housing
Sources: 2021–22 Census (social housing); Scottish Government recorded crime, 2025–26 (crime); strategic noise maps, Round 4 (noise); OS Open Greenspace (parks) · Page updated 27 September 2026 · Download the data (CSV, all 374 councils).