Place profile · Clifden, Co. Galway

Is Clifden a good place to live?

Clifden, Co. Galway scores 62/100 for quality of life, and its fundamentals are rated “stagnating”. The median home sells for €253,860 (most €192,500–€320,000), it scores 61/100 for safety (60.1 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,014 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services, weakest on schools & education.

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

Clifden is stagnating.

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

Unemployment fell 14% → 9%, in line with nationally Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

Where Clifden sits.

Co. Galway · 7 bus stops · no rail.

67 min
drive to Galway

Quality of life.

62/100
Affordability94
Transport & services89
Family & community81
Environment64
Safety61
Local economy26
Schools & education21

These seven scores and the 62/100 are measured across the H71 Eircode area, not Clifden alone — an area that takes in much of GALWAY. A strong or weak pocket inside it can read very differently from the area average.

Homes sell for €253,860.

€192,500€320,000
1.3% new-build78 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

94/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

89/100
Transport & services score

Good for families.

81/100
Family & community score

Quiet and safe.

61/100
60.1/1,000 · Galway
Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

The score is for the H71 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Galway). Neither is measured for Clifden on its own.

The community here.

1,014 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

27
social venues
1 per 38 residents · not ranked
21
everyday shops & services
1 per 48 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

35%
third-level
31%
professional
11.8%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

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

60.4% own24.2% rent9.6% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 26/100 Schools & education 21/100

Clifden: common questions

Is Clifden a good place to live?

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.

Is Clifden safe?

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

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

The median sale price in Clifden over the last 24 months was €253,860, most between €192,500 and €320,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Clifden on the up?

Clifden is rated "Stagnating" — unemployment fell 14% → 9%, in line with nationally, recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing.

Are there new builds in Clifden?

About 1% of homes sold in Clifden in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Clifden?

7 planning applications were lodged within Clifden in the last 12 months, covering 3 residential units (54 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Clifden good for families?

Clifden scores 81/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Clifden?

Clifden scores 21/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Clifden?

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.