Clifden, Co. Galway scores 62/100 for quality of life, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €252,720 (most €190,000–€320,000), it scores 61/100 for safety (60.1 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,014 people live here, up 44.2% 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
Below average today — but the fundamentals are turning, faster than the national trend.
1,014 people, up 44.2% since 2016.
Clifden, Co. Galway, scores 62/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded). It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.
Clifden scores 61/100 on safety, ~60.1 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.
The median sale price in Clifden over the last 24 months was €252,720, most between €190,000 and €320,000 (Property Price Register).
Clifden is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 14% → 9%, in line with nationally, population grew 44.2% — well above the national 8%.
New builds are rare in Clifden — under 1% of recent sales (Property Price Register).
6 planning applications were lodged within Clifden in the last 12 months, covering 3 residential units (47 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.
Clifden scores 81/100 for families and community, and its population is growing (up 44.2% since 2016).
Clifden scores 21/100 for schools and education, with 1 school in the area.
Clifden is about 67 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 August 2026.