Wicklow vs Bray: which is better to live in? (2026)

Wicklow (A67) and Bray (A98) compared on price, safety, schools and quality of life.

The verdict
Wicklow is the cheaper of the two — a median €425,000 against Bray's €510,000 (20% lower). Across the facets we measure the two are closely matched — it's a genuine toss-up, so let the categories that matter most to you decide.

Wicklow vs Bray: common questions

Is Wicklow cheaper than Bray?
Yes. The median sale price in Wicklow over the last 12 months was €425,000, against €510,000 in Bray (Property Price Register).
Is Wicklow or Bray safer?
Wicklow scores higher on safety — 69/100 vs 69/100, based on Garda-division crime rates per 1,000 residents.
Which is better for buy-to-let, Wicklow or Bray?
Wicklow has the stronger gross rental yield — 5.1% vs 4.3% — though net returns depend on price, condition and tenancy regulation.

Dig deeper

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Methodology

Sale prices, premiums and days-to-sale are computed from the Property Price Register (rolling 12 months) matched to original listing prices. Safety scores derive from Garda-division crime rates per 1,000 residents; education and profile figures from CSO census small-area data. The Quality of Life composite averages six equally-weighted dimensions built from 40+ metrics across 13 public datasets. Figures refresh daily; both areas are scoped to their Eircode routing key (A67 and A98).