Living in West Lothian
Police Scotland recorded 55 crimes per 1,000 residents in West Lothian in 2025–26, close to the Scottish average of 57. 24.5% of households rent from the council or a housing association, above the UK average of 17.5%. About 5.0% of homes are in areas where road or rail noise reaches 65 dB, against 6.9% across Great Britain. 75% of homes are within a five-minute walk of a public park (Great Britain: 56%).
West Lothian at a glance
| Measure | West Lothian | Comparison | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social housing (share of households) | 24.5% | UK 17.5% | 41st highest of 374 |
| Recorded crime per 1,000 residents | 55 | Scotland 57 | 8th highest of 32 in Scotland |
| Homes in areas with 65 dB+ road or rail noise | 5.0% | GB 6.9% | 171st quietest of 363 |
| Homes within 400 m of a public park | 75% | GB 56% | 35th of 363 |
| Homes within 400 m of a play space | 88% | GB 60% | |
| Median broadband speed available | 1,000 Mbit/s | Council median 1,000 Mbit/s |
How much crime is there in West Lothian?
Police Scotland recorded 10,305 crimes in West Lothian in 2025–26 — 55 per 1,000 residents, close to the Scottish average of 57 and the 8th highest of 32 Scottish councils. The largest groups were theft, fraud and other dishonesty (39%), non-sexual violence (25%) and drugs, weapons and other crimes against society (16%).
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 West Lothian?
West Lothian ranks 41st of 374 UK local authorities by social-housing share. Of its 79,824 households, 19,579 are social homes (24.5%) — renting from the council or a housing association, according to the 2021–22 Census.
How does West Lothian compare with the UK average?
At +7.0 percentage points versus the UK average of 17.5%, West Lothian sits above the national level.
How noisy is West Lothian?
In West Lothian, about 5.0% 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 West Lothian is the 171st 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 West Lothian?
75% of homes in West Lothian are within 400 m — about a five-minute walk — of a public park or garden, and 88% are that close to a children's play space. Across Great Britain the figures are 56% and 60%, which puts West Lothian 35th 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 West Lothian
What the map's other datasets say about West Lothian.
Broadband
Median available download speed is about 1,000 Mbit/s — what can be ordered, not what residents have bought (Ofcom Connected Nations).
Explore West Lothian 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).