What it's like to live in Musselburgh

Across the East Lothian council area, 64.8% of homes are owner-occupied, 24.7% are social rented and 10.2% are private rented. The social rented share is slightly above the Scottish figure of 23.1%, so there is a decent base of council and housing association homes to swap within.

East Lothian Council is by far the largest social landlord with around 9,491 homes, followed by East Lothian Housing Association with 1,413. Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association has 741 homes, Homes for Life Housing Partnership 304 and Wheatley Homes East 289. Rents and conditions differ between landlords, so check who holds the tenancy on any home you are considering.

The age profile leans slightly older than Scotland overall: 27.8% are aged 45 to 64 and 22.3% are 65 or over, against 26.5% and 21% nationally. There is still a solid working-age and family population, with 23.4% aged 25 to 44.

Families are well covered for schools. Musselburgh Burgh Primary and Loretto RC Primary are both around 0.1 miles away, with Pinkie St Peter's Primary at 0.4 miles. Loretto Junior and Senior Schools are also nearby. For secondary, Musselburgh Grammar School is roughly 0.3 miles from the centre, with Rosehill High, Portobello High, Dalkeith High and St David's RC High all within three miles. Check catchments with East Lothian Council before you commit to a swap.

For days out with children, Lewisvale Park and River Esk Park are close, and Levenhall Links gives bigger open space towards the coast. Fisherrow Links combines grass and beach, which is handy when the weather turns.

Community centres at Fisherrow, OliveBank and Stoneyfarm run local activities, and Musselburgh Library is an easy walk for story times and homework space. Across East Lothian, 17.2% of residents are under 16, a little above the Scottish figure of 15.8%, so this is an area with plenty of young families.

Trains are a real asset. Musselburgh station is about 1.1 miles from the town centre, with Wallyford 1.3 miles away and Newcraighall, Brunstane and Shawfair all within a few miles. That gives several options for reaching Edinburgh and points along the coast, which matters if you do not drive or if a car is shared in your household.

By road, the town links quickly to Edinburgh's eastern approaches and out into East Lothian. Parking varies: older streets near the centre and the river are tighter than the newer estates further out.

On foot, Musselburgh is kind. The High Street, library, pharmacies and supermarkets cluster close together, and the riverside and Fisherrow Links give flat walking routes away from traffic. Many residents manage daily errands without a car, though a bus or lift helps for bigger shops and for getting to the stations if the walk feels long.

The outdoors does a lot of the work here. Fisherrow Links and its harbour, Levenhall Links, Lewisvale Park, Haugh Park and the River Esk walkway all sit within a mile or so, giving you coast, river and parkland without travelling.

For indoor life, Musselburgh Library is central, and there is a cinema, an Odeon, around 2.2 miles away. Gyms range from J&L Fitness and Boxing Club in the town to Bannatyne Health Club, The Club and PureGym a couple of miles out, plus Pilates 4 All further along.

The pub scene is traditional and local. The Coach & Horses, Sportsman Bar, Muss Bar and Kitchen, The Horseshoe Inn and Stagg's are all in or very near the centre, so an evening out does not need a taxi home. Add the community centres, which host classes and groups, and there is enough going on for most weeks without heading into Edinburgh.

Many Musselburgh residents work locally, and many commute into Edinburgh using the train or the road links. The town's own centre, schools, health services and shops provide a share of local jobs.

The wider East Lothian council area is doing comparatively well on employment. The employment rate for 16 to 64 year olds is 77.2%, above the Scottish figure of 74.6%. Unemployment-related benefit claimants stood at 2.4% of working-age residents in September 2026, lower than the 3.2% recorded across Scotland.

These figures cover the whole council area rather than Musselburgh alone, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise. What they suggest is a reasonably steady local labour market with Edinburgh's much larger job market within commuting distance. If your work is flexible or city-based, the rail options from Musselburgh and Wallyford are worth weighing up before you decide.