Place profile · Hacketstown, Co. Carlow

Is Hacketstown a good place to live?

Hacketstown, Co. Carlow scores 56/100 for quality of life, #74 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €290,500 (most €212,500–€325,000), it scores 62/100 for safety (57.6 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 653 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and family & community, weakest on local economy.

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

Hacketstown is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 24% → 10% — faster than nationally Recorded crime falling

Where Hacketstown sits.

Co. Carlow · 3 bus stops · no rail.

80 min
drive to Dublin

#74 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

56/100
#74 liveability#66 value
Affordability96
Family & community70
Environment69
Transport & services64
Safety62
Schools & education42
Local economy32

These seven scores and the 56/100 are measured across the R93 Eircode area, not Hacketstown alone — an area that takes in much of CARLOW. A strong or weak pocket inside it can read very differently from the area average.

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 Hacketstown is #66 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €290,500.

€212,500€325,000
28 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

96/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

70/100
Family & community score

Clean, green surrounds.

69/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

62/100
57.6/1,000 · Kilkenny/Carlow
Recorded crime falling

The score is for the R93 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Kilkenny/Carlow). Neither is measured for Hacketstown on its own.

The community here.

653 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

4
social venues
1 per 163 residents · not ranked
5
everyday shops & services
1 per 131 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

20%
third-level
26%
professional
16.7%
unemployment
Affluence: disadvantaged

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

71.5% own9.7% rent15.9% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 42/100 Local economy 32/100

Hacketstown: common questions

Is Hacketstown a good place to live?

Hacketstown, Co. Carlow, scores 56/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #74 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Hacketstown safe?

Hacketstown scores 62/100 on safety, ~57.6 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Hacketstown over the last 24 months was €290,500, most between €212,500 and €325,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Hacketstown on the up?

Hacketstown is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 24% → 10% — faster than nationally, recorded crime falling.

Is there much new development or planning activity in Hacketstown?

10 planning applications were lodged within Hacketstown in the last 12 months, covering 3 residential units (38 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Hacketstown good for families?

Hacketstown scores 70/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Hacketstown?

Hacketstown scores 42/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Hacketstown?

Hacketstown is about 80 minutes by road from Dublin.

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.