Orkney Islands and Shetland 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 | Orkney Islands | Shetland Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price HM Land Registry · Jul 2026 | £214,106 Down 0.3% in a year | £179,493 Down 7.0% in a year |
| Median full-time pay ONS earnings survey · 2025 | £43,430 79th highest of 348 | £46,527 35th highest of 348 |
| House price to pay Worked out by Open Index | 4.9× 39th most affordable of 348 | 3.9× 6th most affordable of 348 |
| Population ONS Census 2021 · 2021 | 21,962 3rd lowest of 361 | 22,973 4th lowest of 361 |
In brief
- Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands share a border.
- Orkney Islands' average house price is 19% higher than Shetland Islands'.
- Orkney Islands' median full-time pay is 7% lower than Shetland Islands'.
- Orkney Islands' house price to pay is 4.9×, against 3.9× in Shetland Islands.
- Orkney Islands' population is 4% lower than Shetland Islands'.
How they compare
Each dot is a council. The black line marks the middle one.
Orkney IslandsShetland IslandsMiddle
Average house price360 councils, UK · Jul 2026
£214,106£179,493
Annual price change360 councils, UK · Jul 2026
−0.3%−7.0%
Median full-time pay348 councils, Great Britain · 2025
£43,430£46,527
House price to pay348 councils, Great Britain · 2025
4.9×3.9×
Population361 councils, UK · 2021
21,96222,973