Place profile · Bray, Co. Wicklow

Is Bray a good place to live?

Bray, Co. Wicklow scores 70/100 for quality of life, #19 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €502,202 (most €405,000–€610,000), it scores 70/100 for safety (43.9 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 32,430 people live here. It's strongest on environment and transport & services.

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

Bray is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 13% → 9%, in line with nationally Third-level education up 8 points — faster than nationally Prices up 27.3% Recorded crime falling

Where Bray sits.

Co. Wicklow · 101 bus stops · 1 rail.

31 min
drive to Dublin

#19 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

70/100
#19 liveability#31 value
Environment89
Transport & services75
Family & community74
Safety70
Schools & education57
Local economy55
Affordability49

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 Bray is #31 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €502,202.

€405,000€610,000
↑ +27.3%4.4% new-build720 sales / 2yr

Clean, green surrounds.

89/100
Environment score

Well connected.

75/100
Transport & services score

Good for families.

74/100
Family & community score

Quiet and safe.

70/100
43.9/1,000 · Wicklow
Recorded crime falling

The community here.

32,430 people.

Who lives here.

42%
third-level
42%
professional
10.2%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

69.2% own15.3% rent13.7% social

Bray: common questions

Is Bray a good place to live?

Bray, Co. Wicklow, scores 70/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #19 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on environment and transport & services.

Is Bray safe?

Bray scores 70/100 on safety, ~43.9 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Bray over the last 24 months was €502,202, most between €405,000 and €610,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Bray on the up?

Bray is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 13% → 9%, in line with nationally, third-level education up 8 points — faster than nationally, prices up 27.3%, recorded crime falling.

Are there new builds in Bray?

About 4% of homes sold in Bray in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Bray?

176 planning applications were lodged within Bray in the last 12 months, covering 489 residential units (1,309 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Bray good for families?

Bray scores 74/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Bray?

Bray scores 57/100 for schools and education, with 12 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Bray?

Bray 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.