Place profile · Abbeyleix, Co. Laois

Is Abbeyleix a good place to live?

Abbeyleix, Co. Laois scores 53/100 for quality of life, #91 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €275,000 (most €221,000–€381,000), it scores 40/100 for safety (90.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,897 people live here, up 8.7% since 2016. It's strongest on affordability and family & community, weakest on local economy.

Updated July 2026 · Property Price Register + 20+ official sources, refreshed daily

Abbeyleix is on the up.

Below average today — but the fundamentals are turning, faster than the national trend.

Unemployment fell 13% → 9%, in line with nationally Prices up 68.5% Recorded crime falling

Where Abbeyleix sits.

Co. Laois · 4 bus stops · no rail.

70 min
drive to Waterford

#91 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

53/100
#91 liveability#85 value
Affordability99
Family & community78
Transport & services61
Environment58
Schools & education44
Safety40
Local economy36

Ranked on quality of life alone — cost of living excluded, so the genuinely best areas rank top even though they cost more. Factor in price and Abbeyleix is #85 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €275,000.

€221,000€381,000
↑ +68.5%0% new-build59 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

99/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

78/100
Family & community score

Well connected.

61/100
Transport & services score

Safety is a watch-point.

40/100
90.8/1,000 · Laois/Offaly
Recorded crime falling

A community that's growing.

1,897 people, up 8.7% since 2016.

Who lives here.

34%
third-level
39%
professional
11%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

74.3% own12.5% rent8.9% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 44/100 Local economy 36/100

Abbeyleix: common questions

Is Abbeyleix a good place to live?

Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, scores 53/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #91 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Abbeyleix safe?

Abbeyleix scores 40/100 on safety, ~90.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Abbeyleix?

The median sale price in Abbeyleix over the last 24 months was €275,000, most between €221,000 and €381,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Abbeyleix on the up?

Abbeyleix is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 13% → 9%, in line with nationally, prices up 68.5%, recorded crime falling.

Are there new builds in Abbeyleix?

New builds are rare in Abbeyleix — under 1% of recent sales (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Abbeyleix?

33 planning applications were lodged within Abbeyleix in the last 12 months, covering 64 residential units (149 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Abbeyleix good for families?

Abbeyleix scores 78/100 for families and community, and its population is growing (up 8.7% since 2016).

What are the schools like in Abbeyleix?

Abbeyleix scores 44/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Abbeyleix?

Abbeyleix is about 70 minutes by road from Waterford.

Sale prices from the Property Price Register (rolling 24 months). Quality of Life averages seven equal-weighted dimensions from 40+ metrics across 13 public datasets (CSO census + SAPS, Garda crime, SEAI, EPA, DES schools, GTFS). Population is CSO Census 2022; the “on the up” trajectory compares 2016→2022. Figures refresh daily · an area assessment, not advice on a specific property. Updated July 2026.