Place profile · Balbriggan, Co. Fingal

Is Balbriggan a good place to live?

Balbriggan, Co. Fingal scores 60/100 for quality of life, #55 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “stagnating”. The median home sells for €329,000 (most €270,000–€383,260), it scores 59/100 for safety (61.5 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 22,570 people live here, up 3.4% since 2016. It's strongest on environment and affordability, weakest on local economy.

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

Balbriggan is stagnating.

Below average today — improving in absolute terms, but falling behind the national trend.

Unemployment fell 16% → 10% — faster than nationally Population grew just 3.4% vs 8% nationally Prices up 10.1% Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

Where Balbriggan sits.

Co. Fingal · 36 bus stops · 1 rail.

31 min
drive to Dublin

#55 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

60/100
#55 liveability#58 value
Environment95
Affordability86
Family & community68
Safety59
Schools & education50
Transport & services50
Local economy38

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 Balbriggan is #58 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €329,000.

€270,000€383,260
↑ +10.1%0.7% new-build561 sales / 2yr

Clean, green surrounds.

95/100
Environment score

Affordable for its access.

86/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

68/100
Family & community score

Middling on safety.

59/100
61.5/1,000 · DMR North
Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

A community that's growing.

22,570 people, up 3.4% since 2016.

Who lives here.

34%
third-level
31%
professional
13.3%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

62.6% own23% rent12.1% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 38/100

Balbriggan: common questions

Is Balbriggan a good place to live?

Balbriggan, Co. Fingal, scores 60/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #55 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on environment and affordability.

Is Balbriggan safe?

Balbriggan scores 59/100 on safety, ~61.5 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Balbriggan over the last 24 months was €329,000, most between €270,000 and €383,260 (Property Price Register).

Is Balbriggan on the up?

Balbriggan is rated "Stagnating" — unemployment fell 16% → 10% — faster than nationally, population grew just 3.4% vs 8% nationally, prices up 10.1%, recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing.

Are there new builds in Balbriggan?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in Balbriggan?

64 planning applications were lodged within Balbriggan in the last 12 months (317 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Balbriggan good for families?

Balbriggan scores 68/100 for families and community, and its population is growing (up 3.4% since 2016).

What are the schools like in Balbriggan?

Balbriggan scores 50/100 for schools and education, with 10 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Balbriggan?

Balbriggan is about 31 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 July 2026.