Place profile · Clara, Co. Offaly

Is Clara a good place to live?

Clara, Co. Offaly scores 52/100 for quality of life, #93 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “stagnating”. The median home sells for €200,000 (most €140,250–€298,750), it scores 40/100 for safety (90.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 3,381 people live here, up 5.7% since 2016. It's strongest on affordability and family & community, weakest on schools & education.

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

Clara is stagnating.

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

Unemployment rose 8% → 11% — lagging the national fall Third-level education up only 0 points — behind the national rise Prices up 154.2% Recorded crime falling

Where Clara sits.

Co. Offaly · 3 bus stops · 1 rail.

79 min
drive to Dublin

#93 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

52/100
#93 liveability#85 value
Affordability96
Family & community77
Environment69
Transport & services58
Safety40
Local economy37
Schools & education34

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 Clara is #85 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €200,000.

€140,250€298,750
↑ +154.2%0% new-build82 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

96/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

77/100
Family & community score

Clean, green surrounds.

69/100
Environment score

Safety is a watch-point.

40/100
90.8/1,000 · Laois/Offaly
Recorded crime falling

A community that's growing.

3,381 people, up 5.7% since 2016.

Who lives here.

36%
third-level
38%
professional
9.3%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

72.1% own9% rent7.7% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 37/100 Schools & education 34/100

Clara: common questions

Is Clara a good place to live?

Clara, Co. Offaly, scores 52/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #93 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Clara safe?

Clara scores 40/100 on safety, ~90.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Clara over the last 24 months was €200,000, most between €140,250 and €298,750 (Property Price Register).

Is Clara on the up?

Clara is rated "Stagnating" — unemployment rose 8% → 11% — lagging the national fall, third-level education up only 0 points — behind the national rise, prices up 154.2%, recorded crime falling.

Are there new builds in Clara?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in Clara?

25 planning applications were lodged within Clara in the last 12 months, covering 54 residential units (156 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Clara good for families?

Clara scores 77/100 for families and community, and its population is growing (up 5.7% since 2016).

What are the schools like in Clara?

Clara scores 34/100 for schools and education, with 3 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Clara?

Clara is about 79 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.