Place profile · Castlemaine, Co. Kerry

Is Castlemaine a good place to live?

Castlemaine, Co. Kerry scores 67/100 for quality of life, #26 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “declining”. The median home sells for €190,000 (most €150,000–€310,000), it scores 72/100 for safety (42.6 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 177 people live here, down 30.9% since 2016. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services, weakest on schools & education.

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

Castlemaine is on the slide.

Below average today — the fundamentals are slipping behind the rest of the country.

Unemployment fell 11% → 7%, in line with nationally Third-level education up only 3 points — behind the national rise Population fell 30.9% since 2016

Where Castlemaine sits.

Co. Kerry · 2 bus stops · no rail.

95 min
drive to Cork

#26 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

67/100
#26 liveability#18 value
Affordability89
Transport & services89
Environment82
Family & community78
Safety72
Local economy42
Schools & education41

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 Castlemaine is #18 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €190,000.

€150,000€310,000
0% new-build25 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

89/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

89/100
Transport & services score

Clean, green surrounds.

82/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

72/100
42.6/1,000 · Kerry

The community here.

177 people, down 30.9% since 2016.

Who lives here.

31%
third-level
32%
professional
9.2%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

87.5% own7.9% rent2.3% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 42/100 Schools & education 41/100

Castlemaine: common questions

Is Castlemaine a good place to live?

Castlemaine, Co. Kerry, scores 67/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #26 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.

Is Castlemaine safe?

Castlemaine scores 72/100 on safety, ~42.6 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Castlemaine over the last 24 months was €190,000, most between €150,000 and €310,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Castlemaine on the up?

Castlemaine is rated "Declining" — unemployment fell 11% → 7%, in line with nationally, third-level education up only 3 points — behind the national rise, population fell 30.9% since 2016.

Are there new builds in Castlemaine?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in Castlemaine?

1 planning application was lodged within Castlemaine in the last 12 months (10 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Castlemaine good for families?

Castlemaine scores 78/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Castlemaine?

Castlemaine scores 41/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Castlemaine?

Castlemaine is about 95 minutes by road from Cork.

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.