Place profile · Athy, Co. Kildare

Is Athy a good place to live?

Athy, Co. Kildare scores 57/100 for quality of life, #72 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €324,500 (most €250,000–€361,233), it scores 63/100 for safety (55.1 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 11,035 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services, weakest on local economy.

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

Athy is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 27% → 15% — faster than nationally Prices up 26.8%

Where Athy sits.

Co. Kildare · 27 bus stops · 1 rail.

62 min
drive to Dublin

#72 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

57/100
#72 liveability#66 value
Affordability94
Transport & services88
Family & community71
Environment64
Safety63
Schools & education34
Local economy23

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 Athy is #66 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €324,500.

€250,000€361,233
↑ +26.8%39.9% new-build469 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

94/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

88/100
Transport & services score

Good for families.

71/100
Family & community score

Quiet and safe.

63/100
55.1/1,000 · Kildare

The community here.

11,035 people.

Going out, and getting things done.

41st most vibrant large town in Ireland, of 65 ranked.

41
social venues
#41 of 65 large towns · #21 per head
37
everyday shops & services
#48 of 65 large towns · #22 per head

Vibrancy is the plain count of places to eat, drink and go out — restaurants, cafés, pubs, takeaways, nightclubs and cinemas in and around the town. Per head is the different question of whether a town is well served for its size.

Ranked against large towns only. Tourist towns read high — the venues are real, but not all of them are there for the people who live here.

Who lives here.

27%
third-level
26%
professional
20.8%
unemployment
Affluence: disadvantaged

Mostly owner-occupied.

60.2% own21.9% rent13.7% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 34/100 Local economy 23/100

Athy: common questions

Is Athy a good place to live?

Athy, Co. Kildare, scores 57/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #72 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.

Is Athy safe?

Athy scores 63/100 on safety, ~55.1 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Athy over the last 24 months was €324,500, most between €250,000 and €361,233 (Property Price Register).

Is Athy on the up?

Athy is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 27% → 15% — faster than nationally, prices up 26.8%.

Are there new builds in Athy?

About 40% of homes sold in Athy in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Athy?

46 planning applications were lodged within Athy in the last 12 months, covering 122 residential units (267 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Athy good for families?

Athy scores 71/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Athy?

Athy scores 34/100 for schools and education, with 6 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Athy?

Athy is about 62 minutes by road from Dublin, with 1 rail stop nearby.

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 August 2026.