Where to Live in Edinburgh, According to Reddit

r/Edinburgh r/Scotland r/AskUK r/IWantOut

Last updated: 2026-04-26 · Next refresh: 2026-07-25 · Methodology

1,193 threads · 3,189 comments · 2011-08 to 2026-04

An analysis of where to live in Edinburgh, drawn from r/Edinburgh and adjacent UK subreddits. Which neighbourhoods come up, how positive the mentions are, what concerns get raised, and who each place suits.

Not advice. Check the exact street. Neighbourhoods are uneven internally; a postcode label hides a lot. Reddit also skews younger and more renter-oriented than the city's general population.

Simple answer

The three most-discussed Edinburgh neighbourhoods on Reddit, by total mention count.

Highest and lowest rated

Top three and bottom three by score. Score combines how often a place is mentioned with how positive those mentions are; neighbourhoods with few mentions are anchored to the city average so a handful of comments can't dominate the rankings. See methodology.

All Edinburgh neighbourhoods, ranked

109 neighbourhoods, drawn from 3,189 comments across 1,193 threads. 59% of 4,545 neighbourhood opinions are positive.

Click any column header to re-sort. Click a row to jump to the detail card.

Sort by
Rank Neighbourhood Score Mentions Positive % Negative % Top concerns Last mention
1 Portobello 0.72 131 76% 13% cost 7 safety 7 commute 6 2026-04
2 Abbeyhill 0.72 55 84% 11% safety 4 cost 3 commute 2 2026-04
3 Bruntsfield 0.71 160 74% 15% cost 13 student density 10 not family-friendly 4 2026-04
4 Merchiston 0.71 20 100% 0% none 2026-01
5 Gorgie 0.7 182 74% 12% safety 21 cost 10 noise 4 2026-04
6 Canonmills 0.7 36 86% 3% cost 3 cold flats 1 too quiet 1 2026-04
7 Morningside 0.69 156 72% 19% cost 18 character loss 5 stairs/cobbles 5 2026-04
8 Corstorphine 0.69 86 74% 9% commute 6 character loss 4 cost 4 2026-03
9 Fountainbridge 0.69 45 80% 9% cost 3 safety 2 student density 2 2026-02
10 Trinity 0.69 37 84% 5% cost 3 factor disputes 1 transport 1 2026-03
11 Broughton 0.69 28 86% 11% Airbnb pressure 1 cost 1 factor disputes 1 2025-08
12 Stockbridge 0.68 190 70% 21% cost 23 stairs/cobbles 5 transport 4 2026-04
13 Dalry 0.68 158 72% 13% safety 17 cost 9 noise 8 2026-04
14 Polwarth 0.68 39 79% 8% stairs/cobbles 2 character loss 1 cost 1 2026-04
15 Blackford 0.68 20 90% 0% cost 2 2026-02
16 West End 0.67 24 83% 17% cold flats 2 cost 2 2026-02
17 Newhaven 0.66 47 74% 15% cost 6 commute 4 cold flats 1 2026-04
18 Haymarket 0.66 38 76% 5% commute 3 cost 3 nightlife 1 2026-04
19 Currie 0.66 36 75% 11% too quiet 2 safety 2 commute 1 2026-02
20 Dean Village 0.66 33 76% 21% tourist pressure 2 nightlife 1 safety 1 2025-08
21 Carrick Knowe 0.66 26 81% 0% noise 4 not family-friendly 2 too quiet 2 2025-08
22 Colinton 0.66 26 81% 4% cost 3 nightlife 1 transport 1 2025-09
23 Meadowbank 0.66 22 82% 9% cost 1 safety 1 2026-04
24 Willowbrae 0.66 22 82% 0% cost 1 transport 1 2026-02
25 Duddingston 0.66 11 100% 0% none 2026-02
26 Shandon 0.66 11 100% 0% none 2025-03
27 Bonnington 0.65 20 80% 0% cost 1 flood/damp 1 noise 1 2026-04
28 Sciennes 0.65 18 83% 11% cost 2 student density 2 Airbnb pressure 1 2026-01
29 Juniper Green 0.65 15 87% 0% too quiet 2 not family-friendly 1 nightlife 1 2025-09
30 Balgreen 0.65 11 91% 9% safety 1 transport 1 2026-02
31 Leith 0.64 711 65% 17% safety 98 cost 55 gentrification 29 2026-04
32 Slateford 0.64 45 69% 7% cost 7 safety 4 transport 3 2026-02
33 Comely Bank 0.64 10 90% 0% factor disputes 1 2025-08
34 Silverknowes 0.64 10 90% 0% cost 1 2026-04
35 Fairmilehead 0.64 7 100% 0% none 2025-12
36 Murieston 0.63 11 82% 0% cost 1 2026-01
37 East Craigs 0.63 9 89% 11% safety 1 2026-01
38 Ravelston 0.63 9 89% 11% none 2025-08
39 Braid Hills 0.63 5 100% 0% none 2025-02
40 Greenbank 0.63 5 100% 0% none 2025-08
41 St Leonards 0.63 5 100% 0% none 2025-08
42 South Gyle 0.62 27 67% 30% character loss 3 commute 2 transport 2 2026-04
43 Cramond 0.62 25 68% 16% noise 4 commute 3 transport 3 2026-02
44 Murrayfield 0.62 19 68% 11% character loss 1 commute 1 noise 1 2025-12
45 Barnton 0.62 18 72% 6% cost 3 commute 1 factor disputes 1 2026-02
46 Hillside 0.62 18 72% 0% factor disputes 3 cost 2 too quiet 1 2026-03
47 Inverleith 0.62 18 72% 17% cost 3 commute 1 transport 1 2025-09
48 Joppa 0.62 12 75% 17% safety 2 commute 1 2026-02
49 Mayfield 0.62 9 78% 11% none 2024-11
50 Craiglockhart 0.62 7 86% 14% none 2024-01
51 Marchmont 0.61 119 62% 20% cost 19 student density 18 noise 4 2026-04
52 Piershill 0.61 20 65% 15% safety 4 commute 1 noise 1 2025-03
53 Stenhouse 0.61 16 69% 19% safety 2 cost 1 transport 1 2026-02
54 Pilrig 0.61 11 73% 9% cost 2 noise 1 2025-11
55 Wardie 0.61 8 75% 13% safety 2 2025-01
56 Bonaly 0.61 5 80% 0% none 2025-12
57 East Pilton 0.61 5 80% 0% cost 1 2026-03
58 West Craigs 0.61 5 80% 0% character loss 1 commute 1 transport 1 2026-02
59 The Grange 0.6 22 64% 18% cost 3 character loss 1 commute 1 2025-11
60 The Shore 0.6 22 64% 9% safety 4 cost 2 noise 2 2026-02
61 Holyrood 0.6 14 64% 29% safety 4 character loss 1 commute 1 2025-02
62 Davidson's Mains 0.6 12 67% 0% cost 2 nightlife 2 commute 1 2026-02
63 Prestonfield 0.6 11 64% 27% character loss 1 cost 1 2024-04
64 Mortonhall 0.6 9 67% 0% safety 2 too quiet 1 2023-08
65 Alnwickhill 0.6 7 71% 0% factor disputes 2 2024-11
66 Cammo 0.6 7 71% 0% commute 1 factor disputes 1 2025-09
67 Chesser 0.6 7 71% 0% noise 1 2025-08
68 Forrester 0.6 7 71% 0% character loss 1 safety 1 2021-07
69 Brunstane 0.6 6 67% 17% transport 2 commute 1 2026-02
70 Craigleith 0.6 6 67% 0% cost 1 2025-03
71 Newington 0.59 97 59% 12% student density 12 noise 11 cost 9 2026-04
72 New Town 0.59 71 59% 30% cost 17 commute 3 noise 3 2026-03
73 Roseburn 0.59 27 59% 7% noise 3 commute 2 cost 2 2026-03
74 Southside 0.59 25 60% 28% student density 3 noise 2 tourist pressure 2 2026-02
75 The Inch 0.59 18 61% 22% safety 5 noise 2 cost 1 2025-08
76 Northfield 0.59 10 60% 10% commute 1 cost 1 transport 1 2025-06
77 Liberton 0.58 50 58% 16% safety 6 cost 3 factor disputes 3 2026-02
78 Tollcross 0.58 38 58% 18% noise 6 cost 3 nightlife 3 2026-04
79 Hutchison 0.58 9 56% 44% none 2025-08
80 Greendykes 0.58 8 50% 25% safety 2 cost 1 noise 1 2026-04
81 Saughton 0.57 17 53% 35% safety 2 factor disputes 1 2026-01
82 Newcraighall Village 0.57 14 50% 21% commute 2 safety 2 cost 1 2025-08
83 Quartermile 0.57 9 44% 33% cost 4 2026-02
84 Gilmerton 0.56 43 53% 23% safety 8 cost 2 not family-friendly 2 2026-04
85 Clermiston 0.55 13 38% 46% commute 2 safety 2 character loss 1 2025-12
86 Wardieburn 0.55 7 29% 43% safety 5 noise 1 2026-03
87 The Calders 0.55 5 20% 80% safety 4 2016-06
88 Western Harbour 0.55 5 20% 80% factor disputes 1 safety 1 2021-04
89 Craigentinny 0.54 18 39% 17% safety 10 noise 1 transport 1 2026-02
90 Blackhall 0.54 8 25% 25% cost 4 not family-friendly 1 safety 1 2025-03
91 Lochend 0.52 35 43% 34% safety 12 cost 4 factor disputes 4 2025-06
92 Gracemount 0.52 11 18% 64% safety 6 2025-10
93 Seafield 0.52 10 20% 70% noise 1 safety 1 transport 1 2025-03
94 Restalrig 0.5 39 38% 36% safety 14 factor disputes 2 not family-friendly 2 2026-04
95 Moredun 0.5 13 15% 77% safety 7 2024-04
96 Burdiehouse 0.5 9 0% 89% safety 6 2025-06
97 West Pilton 0.48 20 20% 70% safety 16 cost 1 noise 1 2026-04
98 Broomhouse 0.46 19 11% 79% safety 14 character loss 1 cost 1 2025-10
99 Dumbiedykes 0.46 19 11% 53% safety 13 character loss 2 not family-friendly 2 2025-10
100 Oxgangs 0.45 48 31% 33% safety 10 nightlife 3 commute 2 2025-10
101 Craigmillar 0.44 54 30% 48% safety 34 character loss 2 cost 2 2026-04
102 Old Town 0.43 32 19% 69% tourist pressure 13 noise 6 cost 5 2026-03
103 Sighthill 0.42 58 28% 64% safety 24 character loss 3 cost 3 2025-11
104 Drylaw 0.42 40 20% 70% safety 26 gentrification 2 commute 1 2026-04
105 Granton 0.4 175 35% 39% safety 76 cost 14 factor disputes 8 2026-04
106 Wester Hailes 0.32 82 16% 71% safety 48 cost 5 not family-friendly 2 2026-04
107 Pilton 0.3 120 18% 68% safety 75 cost 10 factor disputes 4 2026-04
108 Muirhouse 0.28 82 10% 74% safety 59 commute 5 gentrification 2 2026-04
109 Niddrie 0.26 185 17% 62% safety 108 cost 10 character loss 6 2026-04

Concerns

Negative things people raise across neighbourhood mentions, ranked by how often they come up.

What's changed recently

Comparing the last 12 months of positive mentions to the 12 months before that, the two neighbourhoods that moved the most are below.

Edinburgh neighbourhood profiles

#1 Leith
711 mentions · 65% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Leith Links, Leith Links Colonies
Positive (459)
65%
Negative (123)
17%
Mixed (129)
18%

Concerns

safety
98
cost
55
gentrification
29

Recommended for

new_arrivals
75
20s_30s_professionals
56
families
29
couples
22
students
15
first_move
8
beach_lovers
5
quiet
1
retirees
1
Mentioned across 201 threads on Reddit
#2 Stockbridge
190 mentions · 70% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Stockbridge Colonies
Positive (133)
70%
Negative (39)
21%
Mixed (18)
9%

Concerns

cost
23
stairs/cobbles
5
transport
4

Recommended for

new_arrivals
15
families
13
20s_30s_professionals
10
couples
6
retirees
4
quiet
2
first_move
1
students
1
Mentioned across 99 threads on Reddit
#3 Niddrie
185 mentions · 17% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Niddrie House, Niddrie Mains, Niddrie Marischal, Niddrie Mill
Positive (32)
17%
Negative (114)
62%
Mixed (39)
21%

Concerns

safety
108
cost
10
character loss
6

Recommended for

families
5
couples
1
first_move
1
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 66 threads on Reddit
#4 Gorgie
182 mentions · 74% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (134)
74%
Negative (22)
12%
Mixed (26)
14%

Concerns

safety
21
cost
10
noise
4

Recommended for

students
22
new_arrivals
20
20s_30s_professionals
6
couples
4
families
3
first_move
2
retirees
1
Mentioned across 78 threads on Reddit
#5 Granton
175 mentions · 35% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Granton Harbour, Granton Mains, Granton Mill
Positive (61)
35%
Negative (69)
39%
Mixed (45)
26%

Concerns

safety
76
cost
14
factor disputes
8

Recommended for

first_move
6
new_arrivals
3
families
2
20s_30s_professionals
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 71 threads on Reddit
#6 Bruntsfield
160 mentions · 74% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (119)
74%
Negative (24)
15%
Mixed (17)
11%

Concerns

cost
13
student density
10
not family-friendly
4

Recommended for

new_arrivals
14
20s_30s_professionals
11
students
11
families
7
couples
5
quiet
3
retirees
2
Mentioned across 78 threads on Reddit
#7 Dalry
158 mentions · 72% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Dalry Colonies
Positive (113)
72%
Negative (21)
13%
Mixed (24)
15%

Concerns

safety
17
cost
9
noise
8

Recommended for

students
19
new_arrivals
16
20s_30s_professionals
9
couples
8
families
2
first_move
2
Mentioned across 76 threads on Reddit
#8 Morningside
156 mentions · 72% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (112)
72%
Negative (30)
19%
Mixed (14)
9%

Concerns

cost
18
character loss
5
stairs/cobbles
5

Recommended for

families
13
new_arrivals
13
students
7
20s_30s_professionals
5
retirees
5
couples
2
quiet
1
Mentioned across 82 threads on Reddit
#9 Portobello
131 mentions · 76% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Porty
Positive (100)
76%
Negative (17)
13%
Mixed (14)
11%

Concerns

cost
7
safety
7
commute
6

Recommended for

beach_lovers
27
families
25
new_arrivals
11
couples
6
20s_30s_professionals
4
students
3
retirees
2
quiet
1
Mentioned across 74 threads on Reddit
#10 Pilton
120 mentions · 18% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (22)
18%
Negative (81)
68%
Mixed (17)
14%

Concerns

safety
75
cost
10
factor disputes
4

Recommended for

families
2
first_move
1
students
1
Mentioned across 61 threads on Reddit
#11 Marchmont
119 mentions · 62% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (74)
62%
Negative (24)
20%
Mixed (21)
18%

Concerns

cost
19
student density
18
noise
4

Recommended for

students
21
20s_30s_professionals
9
new_arrivals
8
families
6
quiet
2
couples
1
Mentioned across 69 threads on Reddit
#12 Newington
97 mentions · 59% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (57)
59%
Negative (12)
12%
Mixed (28)
29%

Concerns

student density
12
noise
11
cost
9

Recommended for

students
26
20s_30s_professionals
9
new_arrivals
9
couples
1
families
1
quiet
1
retirees
1
Mentioned across 65 threads on Reddit
#13 Corstorphine
86 mentions · 74% positive · last mention 2026-03
Positive (64)
74%
Negative (8)
9%
Mixed (14)
16%

Concerns

commute
6
character loss
4
cost
4

Recommended for

families
16
20s_30s_professionals
4
new_arrivals
4
couples
1
first_move
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 47 threads on Reddit
#14 Wester Hailes
82 mentions · 16% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (13)
16%
Negative (58)
71%
Mixed (11)
13%

Concerns

safety
48
cost
5
not family-friendly
2

Recommended for

families
2
20s_30s_professionals
1
new_arrivals
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 51 threads on Reddit
#15 Muirhouse
82 mentions · 10% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (8)
10%
Negative (61)
74%
Mixed (13)
16%

Concerns

safety
59
commute
5
gentrification
2

Recommended for

families
3
first_move
1
Mentioned across 44 threads on Reddit
#16 New Town
71 mentions · 59% positive · last mention 2026-03
Positive (42)
59%
Negative (21)
30%
Mixed (8)
11%

Concerns

cost
17
commute
3
noise
3

Recommended for

20s_30s_professionals
2
couples
2
families
2
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 42 threads on Reddit
#17 Sighthill
58 mentions · 28% positive · last mention 2025-11
Positive (16)
28%
Negative (37)
64%
Mixed (5)
9%

Concerns

safety
24
character loss
3
cost
3

Recommended for

20s_30s_professionals
1
families
1
first_move
1
new_arrivals
1
students
1
Mentioned across 38 threads on Reddit
#18 Abbeyhill
55 mentions · 84% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Abbeyhill Colonies
Positive (46)
84%
Negative (6)
11%
Mixed (3)
5%

Concerns

safety
4
cost
3
commute
2

Recommended for

couples
4
first_move
4
students
4
20s_30s_professionals
3
families
3
new_arrivals
3
quiet
2
Mentioned across 35 threads on Reddit
#19 Craigmillar
54 mentions · 30% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Craigmillar Park
Positive (16)
30%
Negative (26)
48%
Mixed (12)
22%

Concerns

safety
34
character loss
2
cost
2

Recommended for

families
3
20s_30s_professionals
1
first_move
1
new_arrivals
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 38 threads on Reddit
#20 Liberton
50 mentions · 58% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (29)
58%
Negative (8)
16%
Mixed (13)
26%

Concerns

safety
6
cost
3
factor disputes
3

Recommended for

families
11
first_move
4
new_arrivals
2
20s_30s_professionals
1
couples
1
Mentioned across 29 threads on Reddit
#22 Newhaven
47 mentions · 74% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (35)
74%
Negative (7)
15%
Mixed (5)
11%

Concerns

cost
6
commute
4
cold flats
1

Recommended for

new_arrivals
6
20s_30s_professionals
4
beach_lovers
2
families
2
first_move
2
couples
1
quiet
1
students
1
Mentioned across 39 threads on Reddit
#23 Fountainbridge
45 mentions · 80% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (36)
80%
Negative (4)
9%
Mixed (5)
11%

Concerns

cost
3
safety
2
student density
2

Recommended for

students
8
new_arrivals
3
20s_30s_professionals
2
Mentioned across 30 threads on Reddit
#24 Slateford
45 mentions · 69% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (31)
69%
Negative (3)
7%
Mixed (11)
24%

Concerns

cost
7
safety
4
transport
3

Recommended for

couples
2
students
2
20s_30s_professionals
1
new_arrivals
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 25 threads on Reddit
#25 Gilmerton
43 mentions · 53% positive · last mention 2026-04
Includes: Gilmerton Dykes
Positive (23)
53%
Negative (10)
23%
Mixed (10)
23%

Concerns

safety
8
cost
2
not family-friendly
2

Recommended for

families
5
new_arrivals
2
20s_30s_professionals
1
Mentioned across 20 threads on Reddit
#27 Polwarth
39 mentions · 79% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (31)
79%
Negative (3)
8%
Mixed (5)
13%

Concerns

stairs/cobbles
2
character loss
1
cost
1

Recommended for

new_arrivals
3
20s_30s_professionals
2
families
2
quiet
2
students
2
couples
1
Mentioned across 31 threads on Reddit
#28 Restalrig
39 mentions · 38% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (15)
38%
Negative (14)
36%
Mixed (10)
26%

Concerns

safety
14
factor disputes
2
not family-friendly
2

Recommended for

new_arrivals
6
couples
2
families
2
first_move
2
students
1
Mentioned across 22 threads on Reddit
#29 Haymarket
38 mentions · 76% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (29)
76%
Negative (2)
5%
Mixed (7)
18%

Concerns

commute
3
cost
3
nightlife
1

Recommended for

20s_30s_professionals
4
students
4
new_arrivals
3
couples
1
Mentioned across 25 threads on Reddit
#30 Tollcross
38 mentions · 58% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (22)
58%
Negative (7)
18%
Mixed (9)
24%

Concerns

noise
6
cost
3
nightlife
3

Recommended for

students
7
new_arrivals
5
20s_30s_professionals
3
couples
1
first_move
1
Mentioned across 31 threads on Reddit
#31 Trinity
37 mentions · 84% positive · last mention 2026-03
Positive (31)
84%
Negative (2)
5%
Mixed (4)
11%

Concerns

cost
3
factor disputes
1
transport
1

Recommended for

families
6
new_arrivals
3
20s_30s_professionals
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 29 threads on Reddit
#32 Canonmills
36 mentions · 86% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (31)
86%
Negative (1)
3%
Mixed (4)
11%

Concerns

cost
3
cold flats
1
too quiet
1

Recommended for

20s_30s_professionals
2
new_arrivals
2
couples
1
families
1
quiet
1
students
1
Mentioned across 26 threads on Reddit
#36 Old Town
32 mentions · 19% positive · last mention 2026-03
Positive (6)
19%
Negative (22)
69%
Mixed (4)
13%

Concerns

tourist pressure
13
noise
6
cost
5

Recommended for

new_arrivals
3
20s_30s_professionals
2
Mentioned across 25 threads on Reddit
#37 Broughton
28 mentions · 86% positive · last mention 2025-08
Positive (24)
86%
Negative (3)
11%
Mixed (1)
4%

Concerns

Airbnb pressure
1
cost
1
factor disputes
1

Recommended for

20s_30s_professionals
2
couples
2
families
1
first_move
1
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 22 threads on Reddit
#39 Roseburn
27 mentions · 59% positive · last mention 2026-03
Positive (16)
59%
Negative (2)
7%
Mixed (9)
33%

Concerns

noise
3
commute
2
cost
2

Recommended for

20s_30s_professionals
2
families
2
retirees
1
Mentioned across 16 threads on Reddit
#41 Colinton
26 mentions · 81% positive · last mention 2025-09
Includes: Colinton Mains
Positive (21)
81%
Negative (1)
4%
Mixed (4)
15%

Concerns

cost
3
nightlife
1
transport
1

Recommended for

families
6
new_arrivals
2
Mentioned across 22 threads on Reddit
#42 Cramond
25 mentions · 68% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (17)
68%
Negative (4)
16%
Mixed (4)
16%

Concerns

noise
4
commute
3
transport
3

Recommended for

families
5
beach_lovers
2
quiet
2
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 15 threads on Reddit
#43 Southside
25 mentions · 60% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (15)
60%
Negative (7)
28%
Mixed (3)
12%

Concerns

student density
3
noise
2
tourist pressure
2

Recommended for

students
5
20s_30s_professionals
2
Mentioned across 21 threads on Reddit
#45 Meadowbank
22 mentions · 82% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (18)
82%
Negative (2)
9%
Mixed (2)
9%

Concerns

cost
1
safety
1

Recommended for

couples
3
20s_30s_professionals
2
families
2
students
2
first_move
1
Mentioned across 17 threads on Reddit
#46 Willowbrae
22 mentions · 82% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (18)
82%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (4)
18%

Concerns

cost
1
transport
1

Recommended for

families
9
couples
3
quiet
3
beach_lovers
1
students
1
Mentioned across 12 threads on Reddit
#51 Bonnington
20 mentions · 80% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (16)
80%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (4)
20%

Concerns

cost
1
flood/damp
1
noise
1

Recommended for

new_arrivals
4
couples
2
families
1
Mentioned across 16 threads on Reddit
#52 Piershill
20 mentions · 65% positive · last mention 2025-03
Positive (13)
65%
Negative (3)
15%
Mixed (4)
20%

Concerns

safety
4
commute
1
noise
1

Recommended for

families
5
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 9 threads on Reddit
#54 Murrayfield
19 mentions · 68% positive · last mention 2025-12
Positive (13)
68%
Negative (2)
11%
Mixed (4)
21%

Concerns

character loss
1
commute
1
noise
1

Recommended for

families
3
20s_30s_professionals
1
couples
1
new_arrivals
1
retirees
1
Mentioned across 16 threads on Reddit
#55 Broomhouse
19 mentions · 11% positive · last mention 2025-10
Positive (2)
11%
Negative (15)
79%
Mixed (2)
11%

Concerns

safety
14
character loss
1
cost
1

Recommended for

families
1
Mentioned across 14 threads on Reddit
#56 Dumbiedykes
19 mentions · 11% positive · last mention 2025-10
Positive (2)
11%
Negative (10)
53%
Mixed (7)
37%

Concerns

safety
13
character loss
2
not family-friendly
2

Recommended for

families
2
Mentioned across 8 threads on Reddit
#58 Barnton
18 mentions · 72% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (13)
72%
Negative (1)
6%
Mixed (4)
22%

Concerns

cost
3
commute
1
factor disputes
1

Recommended for

families
4
quiet
2
Mentioned across 14 threads on Reddit
#59 Hillside
18 mentions · 72% positive · last mention 2026-03
Positive (13)
72%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (5)
28%

Concerns

factor disputes
3
cost
2
too quiet
1

Recommended for

No recommended-for tags.
Mentioned across 6 threads on Reddit
#60 Inverleith
18 mentions · 72% positive · last mention 2025-09
Positive (13)
72%
Negative (3)
17%
Mixed (2)
11%

Concerns

cost
3
commute
1
transport
1

Recommended for

families
1
Mentioned across 9 threads on Reddit
#62 Craigentinny
18 mentions · 39% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (7)
39%
Negative (3)
17%
Mixed (8)
44%

Concerns

safety
10
noise
1
transport
1

Recommended for

families
3
beach_lovers
1
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 9 threads on Reddit
#63 Saughton
17 mentions · 53% positive · last mention 2026-01
Positive (9)
53%
Negative (6)
35%
Mixed (2)
12%

Concerns

safety
2
factor disputes
1

Recommended for

first_move
1
students
1
Mentioned across 11 threads on Reddit
#66 Holyrood
14 mentions · 64% positive · last mention 2025-02
Positive (9)
64%
Negative (4)
29%
Mixed (1)
7%

Concerns

safety
4
character loss
1
commute
1

Recommended for

families
2
Mentioned across 8 threads on Reddit
#67 Newcraighall Village
14 mentions · 50% positive · last mention 2025-08
Positive (7)
50%
Negative (3)
21%
Mixed (4)
29%

Concerns

commute
2
safety
2
cost
1

Recommended for

families
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 6 threads on Reddit
#68 Clermiston
13 mentions · 38% positive · last mention 2025-12
Positive (5)
38%
Negative (6)
46%
Mixed (2)
15%

Concerns

commute
2
safety
2
character loss
1

Recommended for

families
4
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 11 threads on Reddit
#69 Moredun
13 mentions · 15% positive · last mention 2024-04
Positive (2)
15%
Negative (10)
77%
Mixed (1)
8%

Concerns

safety
7

Recommended for

students
1
Mentioned across 8 threads on Reddit
#70 Joppa
12 mentions · 75% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (9)
75%
Negative (2)
17%
Mixed (1)
8%

Concerns

safety
2
commute
1

Recommended for

families
2
20s_30s_professionals
1
beach_lovers
1
Mentioned across 11 threads on Reddit
#71 Davidson's Mains
12 mentions · 67% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (8)
67%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (4)
33%

Concerns

cost
2
nightlife
2
commute
1

Recommended for

families
3
beach_lovers
1
Mentioned across 11 threads on Reddit
#72 Duddingston
11 mentions · 100% positive · last mention 2026-02
Includes: Duddingston Village
Positive (11)
100%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

families
7
beach_lovers
1
retirees
1
Mentioned across 8 threads on Reddit
#75 Murieston
11 mentions · 82% positive · last mention 2026-01
Positive (9)
82%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (2)
18%

Concerns

cost
1

Recommended for

families
5
Mentioned across 4 threads on Reddit
#76 Pilrig
11 mentions · 73% positive · last mention 2025-11
Positive (8)
73%
Negative (1)
9%
Mixed (2)
18%

Concerns

cost
2
noise
1

Recommended for

new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 8 threads on Reddit
#77 Prestonfield
11 mentions · 64% positive · last mention 2024-04
Positive (7)
64%
Negative (3)
27%
Mixed (1)
9%

Concerns

character loss
1
cost
1

Recommended for

families
1
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 7 threads on Reddit
#79 Comely Bank
10 mentions · 90% positive · last mention 2025-08
Positive (9)
90%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (1)
10%

Concerns

factor disputes
1

Recommended for

retirees
2
couples
1
families
1
new_arrivals
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 9 threads on Reddit
#80 Silverknowes
10 mentions · 90% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (9)
90%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (1)
10%

Concerns

cost
1

Recommended for

families
3
beach_lovers
1
Mentioned across 9 threads on Reddit
#81 Northfield
10 mentions · 60% positive · last mention 2025-06
Positive (6)
60%
Negative (1)
10%
Mixed (3)
30%

Concerns

commute
1
cost
1
transport
1

Recommended for

families
2
Mentioned across 8 threads on Reddit
#82 Seafield
10 mentions · 20% positive · last mention 2025-03
Positive (2)
20%
Negative (7)
70%
Mixed (1)
10%

Concerns

noise
1
safety
1
transport
1

Recommended for

No recommended-for tags.
Mentioned across 5 threads on Reddit
#83 East Craigs
9 mentions · 89% positive · last mention 2026-01
Positive (8)
89%
Negative (1)
11%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

safety
1

Recommended for

families
4
Mentioned across 9 threads on Reddit
#84 Ravelston
9 mentions · 89% positive · last mention 2025-08
Positive (8)
89%
Negative (1)
11%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

families
2
quiet
2
Mentioned across 6 threads on Reddit
#85 Mayfield
9 mentions · 78% positive · last mention 2024-11
Positive (7)
78%
Negative (1)
11%
Mixed (1)
11%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

families
2
quiet
1
Mentioned across 7 threads on Reddit
#86 Mortonhall
9 mentions · 67% positive · last mention 2023-08
Positive (6)
67%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (3)
33%

Concerns

safety
2
too quiet
1

Recommended for

first_move
3
families
2
couples
1
Mentioned across 4 threads on Reddit
#87 Hutchison
9 mentions · 56% positive · last mention 2025-08
Positive (5)
56%
Negative (4)
44%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

families
1
first_move
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 7 threads on Reddit
#88 Quartermile
9 mentions · 44% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (4)
44%
Negative (3)
33%
Mixed (2)
22%

Concerns

cost
4

Recommended for

couples
1
retirees
1
Mentioned across 7 threads on Reddit
#89 Burdiehouse
9 mentions · 0% positive · last mention 2025-06
Positive (0)
0%
Negative (8)
89%
Mixed (1)
11%

Concerns

safety
6

Recommended for

No recommended-for tags.
Mentioned across 6 threads on Reddit
#90 Wardie
8 mentions · 75% positive · last mention 2025-01
Positive (6)
75%
Negative (1)
13%
Mixed (1)
13%

Concerns

safety
2

Recommended for

first_move
2
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 4 threads on Reddit
#91 Greendykes
8 mentions · 50% positive · last mention 2026-04
Positive (4)
50%
Negative (2)
25%
Mixed (2)
25%

Concerns

safety
2
cost
1
noise
1

Recommended for

20s_30s_professionals
1
couples
1
families
1
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 7 threads on Reddit
#92 Blackhall
8 mentions · 25% positive · last mention 2025-03
Positive (2)
25%
Negative (2)
25%
Mixed (4)
50%

Concerns

cost
4
not family-friendly
1
safety
1

Recommended for

families
2
Mentioned across 6 threads on Reddit
#93 Fairmilehead
7 mentions · 100% positive · last mention 2025-12
Positive (7)
100%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

families
2
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 7 threads on Reddit
#94 Craiglockhart
7 mentions · 86% positive · last mention 2024-01
Positive (6)
86%
Negative (1)
14%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

families
5
new_arrivals
1
Mentioned across 7 threads on Reddit
#95 Alnwickhill
7 mentions · 71% positive · last mention 2024-11
Positive (5)
71%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (2)
29%

Concerns

factor disputes
2

Recommended for

families
2
Mentioned across 4 threads on Reddit
#96 Cammo
7 mentions · 71% positive · last mention 2025-09
Positive (5)
71%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (2)
29%

Concerns

commute
1
factor disputes
1

Recommended for

beach_lovers
1
Mentioned across 6 threads on Reddit
#97 Chesser
7 mentions · 71% positive · last mention 2025-08
Positive (5)
71%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (2)
29%

Concerns

noise
1

Recommended for

No recommended-for tags.
Mentioned across 5 threads on Reddit
#98 Forrester
7 mentions · 71% positive · last mention 2021-07
Positive (5)
71%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (2)
29%

Concerns

character loss
1
safety
1

Recommended for

families
2
first_move
1
Mentioned across 2 threads on Reddit
#99 Wardieburn
7 mentions · 29% positive · last mention 2026-03
Positive (2)
29%
Negative (3)
43%
Mixed (2)
29%

Concerns

safety
5
noise
1

Recommended for

No recommended-for tags.
Mentioned across 5 threads on Reddit
#100 Brunstane
6 mentions · 67% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (4)
67%
Negative (1)
17%
Mixed (1)
17%

Concerns

transport
2
commute
1

Recommended for

families
2
20s_30s_professionals
1
beach_lovers
1
couples
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 6 threads on Reddit
#101 Craigleith
6 mentions · 67% positive · last mention 2025-03
Positive (4)
67%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (2)
33%

Concerns

cost
1

Recommended for

families
3
Mentioned across 6 threads on Reddit
#102 Braid Hills
5 mentions · 100% positive · last mention 2025-02
Positive (5)
100%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

families
1
first_move
1
Mentioned across 4 threads on Reddit
#103 Greenbank
5 mentions · 100% positive · last mention 2025-08
Positive (5)
100%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

families
1
quiet
1
Mentioned across 3 threads on Reddit
#104 St Leonards
5 mentions · 100% positive · last mention 2025-08
Positive (5)
100%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

first_move
1
retirees
1
students
1
Mentioned across 4 threads on Reddit
#105 Bonaly
5 mentions · 80% positive · last mention 2025-12
Positive (4)
80%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (1)
20%

Concerns

No concerns logged.

Recommended for

20s_30s_professionals
1
families
1
Mentioned across 5 threads on Reddit
#106 East Pilton
5 mentions · 80% positive · last mention 2026-03
Positive (4)
80%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (1)
20%

Concerns

cost
1

Recommended for

No recommended-for tags.
Mentioned across 5 threads on Reddit
#107 West Craigs
5 mentions · 80% positive · last mention 2026-02
Positive (4)
80%
Negative (0)
0%
Mixed (1)
20%

Concerns

character loss
1
commute
1
transport
1

Recommended for

families
1
Mentioned across 2 threads on Reddit
#108 The Calders
5 mentions · 20% positive · last mention 2016-06
Positive (1)
20%
Negative (4)
80%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

safety
4

Recommended for

No recommended-for tags.
Mentioned across 4 threads on Reddit
#109 Western Harbour
5 mentions · 20% positive · last mention 2021-04
Positive (1)
20%
Negative (4)
80%
Mixed (0)
0%

Concerns

factor disputes
1
safety
1

Recommended for

No recommended-for tags.
Mentioned across 3 threads on Reddit

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to live in Edinburgh?
Based on 3189 comments across 1193 threads, Leith is the most discussed neighbourhood (711 mentions, 65% positive) and the top audience pick for 20s and 30s professionals, new arrivals, families, couples, and first-time movers. By confidence-adjusted score, Bruntsfield (74% positive across 160 mentions) and Morningside (72% across 156) rank above Leith. Newington leads for students; Portobello leads for beach lovers; Bruntsfield leads for people who want quiet; Morningside leads for retirees.
Which Edinburgh neighbourhoods have the most repeated concerns?
The neighbourhoods with the most repeated negative comments in the dataset are Muirhouse (10% positive across 82 mentions), Wester Hailes (16% across 82), Niddrie (17% across 185), Pilton (18% across 120), and Granton in the bottom third. Safety is the dominant concern across all of them, with anti-social behaviour and isolation from the rest of the city repeatedly cited. These reflect the patterns that come up in r/Edinburgh discussions; they are not a recommendation about where someone should or should not live, and any specific street in any of these areas can read very differently from the area average.
Is Leith a good place to live in Edinburgh?
Yes, with caveats. Leith is the most-mentioned neighbourhood at 711 mentions, 65% positive, and the top pick across five audience tags including 20s and 30s professionals, families, and new arrivals to the city. Common positives: independent food and bar scene, relative affordability versus the New Town and Stockbridge, and improving transport links.
What are the main concerns when choosing where to live in Edinburgh?
Counting only negative or mixed mentions, safety is the most cited concern (837 mentions), followed by cost (338), commute (115), noise (107), transport (100), character loss (78), and factors disputes (67). Positive endorsements that touch the same topics ("great bus links", "easy commute") are excluded so the counts reflect what people complain about rather than what they discuss. Two universal warnings appear in nearly every thread: check the exact street rather than trusting the district label, and check whether the area still functions as a residential neighbourhood rather than as short-let or festival accommodation.
Is Edinburgh expensive to rent?
Cost is the second most cited concern, at 338 negative or mixed mentions across 1193 threads. The New Town, Stockbridge, Bruntsfield, and Morningside are consistently described as the most expensive. Leith, Dalry, Gorgie, and parts of Newington are recommended as more affordable alternatives with good city-centre access. The rental market timeline shows a recurring tough vs easing flip, with the most recent year leaning closer to easing than the 2023-2024 peak.
Is Stockbridge a good area to live in Edinburgh?
Stockbridge sits at 70% positive across 190 mentions, score 0.63. Frequently praised for its village feel, independent shops, the Water of Leith walkway, and easy access to both the New Town and Comely Bank. The recurring downside is cost: Stockbridge is one of Edinburgh's most expensive residential areas, and several positives in the dataset carry an explicit affordability caveat.

Methodology

Below is the data pipeline that produces the figures on this page. The pipeline is deterministic: the same inputs always produce the same dataset.

How the data was collected

  1. Search. 144 search queries were issued across r/Edinburgh, r/Scotland, r/AskUK, and r/IWantOut, drawn from a hand-written list matching the patterns redditors use ("where to live Edinburgh", "moving to Edinburgh", "best neighbourhood Edinburgh", and variants). Each query returned all-time results sorted by relevance.
  2. Thread discovery. 3,572 distinct threads were collected across those queries.
  3. Relevance filter. Many search-matched threads are not substantive where-to-live discussions (festival chat, transport disputes, food). A binary classifier was applied to thread title and opening text to retain only genuine where-to-live discussions. 1193 threads survived, approximately one third of the discovered set.
  4. Comment extraction. Every comment was retrieved from every retained thread, including reply chains. 27012 comments in total.
  5. Candidate prefilter. A regex over the neighbourhood gazetteer (suburb names plus a small set of rental-related keywords: "factor", "Fringe", "tram") flags comments that plausibly contain a neighbourhood evaluation. The remainder is discarded; the survivors go to the classifier. 6,135 candidates from 28,205 total source items.
  6. Classification. Each candidate is classified by a constrained-output model against a strict JSON schema. Two row types are produced where applicable: neighbourhood opinions (one place, plus sentiment, concern tags, audience tags, and an evidence excerpt) and city-wide opinions (cross-cutting themes such as factor disputes or Fringe eviction pressure, not tied to a single place). 4667 neighbourhood opinions and 1190 city-wide opinions were produced.
  7. Aggregation. Rows are deduplicated by (comment, slug), rolled up per neighbourhood, scored, and ranked.

How the score is computed

Each neighbourhood gets a single score in [0, 1]: its own positive rate, weighted toward the city-wide rate (59% across 4667 opinions) so small samples can't dominate.

score = (positive + 50 × 0.59) / (mentions + 50)

Same formula IMDb uses for Top 250. 5 unanimous positives don't outrank 70 positives out of 100.

How neighbourhoods are defined

Neighbourhoods come from OpenStreetMap, scoped to the city council boundary. Smaller named areas roll up into the suburb they sit inside where the name suggests it (so "Niddrie House" rolls up into Niddrie, "Granton Harbour" into Granton). 109 of 161 entries have at least 5 mentions in this dataset and appear in the rank table; the rest fall below the sample-size threshold.

Limitations

  • Classification accuracy. Classification is high-precision but not perfect. Approximately 0.2% of rows reference a slug not in the registry. The schema enum should prevent this, but the model occasionally returns invalid output, which is filtered post-hoc. A small number of duplicate rows (same comment, same slug, scored twice) are deduplicated on the same pass.
  • Sample bias. Reddit is not a representative sample of Edinburgh's population: younger, more online, and more renter-oriented than the general public. Treat the page as a structured read of one corpus, not as census-level evidence about a city.
  • Relevance-filter recall. The thread-level relevance classifier is given the title and opening text. It loses some genuine where-to-live discussions and admits a small number of off-topic threads.
  • Per-comment sentiment. Sentiment is recorded per neighbourhood opinion, not per individual statement. A comment that says "Leith is great but Pilton is rough" produces two opinion rows: positive Leith, negative Pilton. This is handled correctly in the majority of cases.
  • Sample-size threshold. Neighbourhoods with fewer than 5 mentions are excluded from the rank table; the score is too noisy at that sample size. Small-sample unanimity (≥90% positive or ≤15% positive between 5 and 50 mentions) is surfaced separately in Beyond the ranking as supplementary signal.

Dataset at a glance

City
Edinburgh
Topic
where to live
Subs sampled
r/Edinburgh, r/Scotland, r/AskUK, r/IWantOut
Date range
2011-08 to 2026-04
Threads
1193 (kept after relevance filter, of 3,572 discovered)
Comments
3189 mentioned a neighbourhood, of 27012 total
Opinion rows
4667 neighbourhood opinions, 1190 city-wide opinions
Options shown
109 (of 161 OSM-derived options with at least one mention; 95 OSM suburbs plus standalone neighbourhoods)
Edinburgh average
59% of mentions across the city are positive. The score formula uses this as the baseline that thinly-discussed neighbourhoods are anchored to.
Last updated
2026-04-26
Refresh
Every 90 days. Next: 2026-07-25.
Sample bias
Reddit skews younger, more online, and more rental-oriented than the broader city population.

Spotted something wrong? If a classification looks off or a thread is misread, email [email protected].