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 “steady — moves with the market”. The median home sells for €330,000 (most €271,750–€384,130), it scores 59/100 for safety (61.5 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 22,570 people live here. It's strongest on environment and affordability, weakest on local economy.

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

Balbriggan is moving with the market.

Below average today — tracking the national trend — no strong local tailwind or headwind.

Unemployment fell 16% → 10% — faster than nationally Prices up 9.0% Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

Where Balbriggan sits.

Co. Fingal · 41 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

These seven scores and the 60/100 are measured across the K32 Eircode area, not Balbriggan alone — an area that takes in much of FINGAL. A strong or weak pocket inside it can read very differently from the area average.

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 €330,000.

€271,750€384,130
↑ +9%20.2% new-build559 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

The score is for the K32 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (DMR North). Neither is measured for Balbriggan on its own.

The community here.

22,570 people.

Population is for Balbriggan itself (Census 2022, Small-Area boundary).

Going out, and getting things done.

50th most vibrant large town in Ireland, of 65 ranked.

31
social venues
#50 of 65 · #52 per head
32
everyday shops & services
#52 of 65 · #55 per head

Ranked against large towns only; tourist towns read high.

Who lives here.

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

Census profile and the affluence rating are Electoral Division figures — the CSO/Pobal area around Balbriggan, which is why this unemployment rate can differ from the one behind the quality-of-life scores above (those are Eircode-area wide).

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 €330,000, most between €271,750 and €384,130 (Property Price Register).

Is Balbriggan on the up?

Balbriggan is rated "Steady — moves with the market" — unemployment fell 16% → 10% — faster than nationally, prices up 9.0%, recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing.

Are there new builds in Balbriggan?

About 20% of homes sold in Balbriggan in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Balbriggan?

68 planning applications were lodged within Balbriggan in the last 12 months, covering 815 residential units (334 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Balbriggan good for families?

Balbriggan scores 68/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Balbriggan?

Balbriggan scores 50/100 for schools and education, with 14 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 August 2026.