Place profile · Bearna, Co. Galway

Is Bearna a good place to live?

Bearna, Co. Galway scores 65/100 for quality of life, #23 of the 107 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €370,772 (most €350,415–€558,320), it scores 67/100 for safety (60.1 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,187 people live here. It's strongest on transport & services and environment, weakest on local economy.

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

Bearna is on the up.

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

↓ Unemployment fell 17% → 5% — faster than nationally

Where Bearna sits.

Co. Galway · 3 bus stops · no rail.

14 min
drive to Galway

#23 of 107 for quality of life in Ireland.

65/100
#23 liveability#19 value
Transport & services81
Environment80
Family & community73
Affordability71
Safety67
Schools & education47
Local economy41

These seven scores and the 65/100 are measured across the H91 Eircode area, not Bearna alone — an area that takes in much of Galway. 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 Bearna is #19 of 107 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

House prices in Bearna: €370,772 median.

€350,415€558,320
65.6% new-build64 sales / 2yr

Well connected.

81/100
Transport & services score

Clean, green surrounds.

80/100
Environment score

Good for families.

73/100
Family & community score

Quiet and safe.

67/100
60.1/1,000 · Galway

The score is for the H91 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Galway). Neither is measured for Bearna on its own.

The community here.

1,187 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

11
social venues
1 per 108 residents · not ranked
6
everyday shops & services
1 per 198 residents · not ranked

Not ranked: under 2,000 residents, one pub swings the per-head figure too far.

Who lives here.

28%
third-level
48%
professional
10.7%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Census profile and the affluence rating are Electoral Division figures — the CSO/Pobal area around Bearna, 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.

84.2% own8.7% rent4.4% social

The honest trade-offs.

↓ Local economy 41/100

Bearna: common questions

Is Bearna a good place to live?

Bearna, Co. Galway, scores 65/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #23 of the 107 areas we rank. It's strongest on transport & services and environment.

Is Bearna safe?

Bearna scores 61/100 on safety, ~60.1 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

What are house prices in Bearna?

The median sale price in Bearna over the last 24 months was €370,772, with most sales between €350,415 and €558,320 (Property Price Register, rolling 24 months).

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

The median sale price in Bearna over the last 24 months was €370,772, most between €350,415 and €558,320 (Property Price Register).

Is Bearna on the up?

Bearna is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 17% → 5% — faster than nationally.

Are there new builds in Bearna?

About 66% of homes sold in Bearna in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Bearna?

18 planning applications were lodged within Bearna in the last 12 months, covering 16 residential units (110 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Bearna good for families?

Bearna scores 73/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Bearna?

Bearna scores 47/100 for schools and education, with 1 school in the area.

What is the commute like from Bearna?

Bearna is about 14 minutes by road from Galway.

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 October 2026.