Highland and Orkney Islands
Council areasTwo neighbouring council areas in Scotland, side by side through the same published figures. Each figure keeps its own date and source.
Key figures
| Measure | Highland | Orkney Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price HM Land Registry · Jul 2026 | £221,136 Up 6.1% in a year | £214,106 Down 0.3% in a year |
| Median full-time pay ONS earnings survey · 2025 | £39,740 144th highest paid of 348 | £43,430 79th highest paid of 348 |
| House price to pay Worked out by Open Index | 5.6× Joint 65th most affordable of 348 | 4.9× Joint 39th most affordable of 348 |
| Population estimate ONS population estimates · 2025 | 237,260 Down 0.1% in a year | 21,920 Down 0.4% in a year |
In brief
- Highland and Orkney Islands are neighbours across the sea.
- Highland's average house price is 3% higher than Orkney Islands'.
- Highland's median full-time pay is 8% lower than Orkney Islands'.
- Highland's house price to pay is 5.6×, against 4.9× in Orkney Islands.
- Highland's population estimate is 11 times Orkney Islands'.
How they compare
Each dot is a council. The black line marks the middle one.
HighlandOrkney IslandsMiddle
Average house price360 councils, UK · Jul 2026
£221,136£214,106
Annual price change360 councils, UK · Jul 2026
6.1%−0.3%
Median full-time pay348 councils, Great Britain · 2025
£39,740£43,430
House price to pay348 councils, Great Britain · 2025
5.6×4.9×
Population estimate361 councils, UK · 2025
237,26021,920
Annual population change361 councils, UK · 2025
−0.1%−0.4%