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Housing in Orkney Islands

Council area

North Scotland. 21,920 people in 1,015 square kilometres, the 5th most sparsely populated council in the UK.

8 layers about housing for Orkney Islands, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Average house price by council

UK House Price Index · July 2026

Under £175k£600k or more

Orkney Islands’ average house price was £214,106 in July 2026.

Average house price

Council
£214,106
HM Land Registry and partners · Jul 2026

Orkney Islands’ average house price was £214,106 in July 2026.

That is 9% higher than Scotland and 21% lower than the UK average.

Prices fell 0.3% in the year to July 2026.

Against Scotland
9% higher£196,349
Against the UK
21% lower£272,611
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked

House prices since 2004

Monthly average house price, smoothed. Orkney Islands’ is 3.2 times its 2004 level, faster than Scotland’s.

House prices since 2004Average house price each month for Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, January 2004 to July 2026. Source: UK House Price Index.
House prices since 2004
MonthOrkney IslandsScotlandUnited Kingdom
Jan 2004£66,962£76,662£126,179
Jan 2005£65,680£90,440£138,759
Jan 2006£78,854£105,257£147,360
Jan 2007£88,147£121,923£162,825
Jan 2008£94,773£133,172£171,137
Jan 2009£98,647£119,792£144,840
Jan 2010£105,756£124,112£154,268
Jan 2011£103,032£124,856£154,113
Jan 2012£139,125£120,989£152,831
Jan 2013£112,784£117,973£154,495
Jan 2014£106,494£122,220£164,137
Jan 2015£119,544£129,869£175,636
Jan 2016£110,985£131,634£189,268
Jan 2017£114,514£133,141£198,276
Jan 2018£135,579£141,353£206,844
Jan 2019£149,595£144,124£210,317
Jan 2020£155,057£147,731£213,657
Jan 2021£158,073£157,866£228,417
Jan 2022£185,719£173,589£248,031
Jan 2023£203,526£175,092£260,941
Jan 2024£192,991£179,248£255,972
Jan 2025£210,639£185,315£264,936
Jan 2026£229,836£189,118£268,862
Jul 2026£214,106£196,349£272,611

House price to pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
4.9×
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

A home in Orkney Islands costs 4.9 times local full-time pay.

Worked out by Open Index from the UK House Price Index and the ONS earnings survey.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
House price to pay: Orkney Islands among every council348 areas from 3.1× to 23.4×. The middle area is 7.3×. Orkney Islands is 4.9×.

Annual price change

Council
−0.3%
HM Land Registry and partners · Jul 2026
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked

House price change since 2005

Monthly annual price change, smoothed.

House price change since 2005Annual price change each month for Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, January 2005 to July 2026. Source: UK House Price Index.
House price change since 2005
MonthOrkney IslandsScotlandUnited Kingdom
Jan 2005−1.9%18.0%10.0%
Jan 200620.1%16.4%6.2%
Jan 200711.8%15.8%10.5%
Jan 20087.5%9.2%5.1%
Jan 20094.1%−10.0%−15.4%
Jan 20107.2%3.6%6.5%
Jan 2011−2.6%0.6%−0.1%
Jan 201235.0%−3.1%−0.8%
Jan 2013−18.9%−2.5%1.1%
Jan 2014−5.6%3.6%6.2%
Jan 201512.3%6.3%7.0%
Jan 2016−7.2%1.4%7.8%
Jan 20173.2%1.1%4.8%
Jan 201818.4%6.2%4.3%
Jan 201910.3%2.0%1.7%
Jan 20203.7%2.5%1.6%
Jan 20211.9%6.9%6.9%
Jan 202217.5%10.0%8.6%
Jan 20239.6%0.9%5.2%
Jan 2024−5.2%2.4%−1.9%
Jan 20259.1%3.4%3.5%
Jan 20269.1%2.1%1.5%
Jul 2026−0.3%2.3%1.4%

Detached house price

Council
£285,968
HM Land Registry and partners · Jul 2026

The average price of a detached home in Orkney Islands was £285,968 in July 2026.

That is 21% lower than Scotland and 36% lower than the UK average for detached homes.

Against Scotland
21% lower£362,765
Against the UK
36% lower£444,936
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Detached house price: Orkney Islands among every council348 areas from £175,111 to £4,525,386. The middle area is £447,347. Orkney Islands is £285,968.

Flat price

Council
£109,676
HM Land Registry and partners · Jul 2026

The average price of a flat in Orkney Islands was £109,676 in July 2026.

That is 20% lower than Scotland and 43% lower than the UK average for flats.

Against Scotland
20% lower£136,950
Against the UK
43% lower£192,704
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Flat price: Orkney Islands among every council349 areas from £68,963 to £971,688. The middle area is £144,735. Orkney Islands is £109,676.

Semi-detached house price

Council
£201,074
HM Land Registry and partners · Jul 2026

The average price of a semi-detached home in Orkney Islands was £201,074 in July 2026.

That is 11% lower than Scotland and 28% lower than the UK average for semi-detached homes.

Against Scotland
11% lower£225,166
Against the UK
28% lower£278,555
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Semi-detached house price: Orkney Islands among every council348 areas from £116,420 to £3,051,816. The middle area is £280,428. Orkney Islands is £201,074.

Terraced house price

Council
£169,111
HM Land Registry and partners · Jul 2026

The average price of a terraced home in Orkney Islands was £169,111 in July 2026.

That is 7% lower than Scotland and 27% lower than the UK average for terraced homes.

Against Scotland
7% lower£182,762
Against the UK
27% lower£231,945
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Terraced house price: Orkney Islands among every council348 areas from £89,218 to £2,429,086. The middle area is £228,217. Orkney Islands is £169,111.

House sales per month

Council
33
HM Land Registry and partners · May 2026

33 home sales were recorded in Orkney Islands in May 2026.

Figures for the latest months are revised as more sales are registered.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
House sales per month: Orkney Islands among every council360 areas from 6 to 894. The middle area is 114. Orkney Islands is 33.