Place profile · Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow

Is Kilcoole a good place to live?

Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow scores 76/100 for quality of life, #9 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “stagnating”. The median home sells for €480,000 (most €375,000–€612,334), it scores 70/100 for safety (43.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 4,569 people live here. It's strongest on local economy and environment, weakest on affordability.

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

Kilcoole is stagnating.

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

Unemployment fell just 2 points — lagging the national fall Prices up 38.1%

Where Kilcoole sits.

Co. Wicklow · 20 bus stops · 1 rail.

40 min
drive to Dublin

#9 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

76/100
#9 liveability#10 value
Local economy81
Environment80
Family & community80
Schools & education76
Safety70
Transport & services69
Affordability41

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 Kilcoole is #10 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €480,000.

€375,000€612,334
↑ +38.1%26.9% new-build93 sales / 2yr

A working local economy.

81/100
Local economy score

Clean, green surrounds.

80/100
Environment score

Good for families.

80/100
Family & community score

Quiet and safe.

70/100
43.8/1,000 · Wicklow

The community here.

4,569 people.

Going out, and getting things done.

80th most vibrant small town in Ireland, of 131 ranked.

13
social venues
#80 of 131 small towns · #91 per head
14
everyday shops & services
#88 of 130 small towns · #97 per head

Vibrancy is the plain count of places to eat, drink and go out — restaurants, cafés, pubs, takeaways, nightclubs and cinemas in and around the town. Per head is the different question of whether a town is well served for its size.

Ranked against small towns only. Tourist towns read high — the venues are real, but not all of them are there for the people who live here.

Who lives here.

51%
third-level
52%
professional
7.1%
unemployment
Affluence: affluent

Mostly owner-occupied.

74.2% own18.7% rent7.2% social

The honest trade-offs.

Affordability 41/100

Kilcoole: common questions

Is Kilcoole a good place to live?

Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, scores 76/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #9 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on local economy and environment.

Is Kilcoole safe?

Kilcoole scores 70/100 on safety, ~43.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Kilcoole over the last 24 months was €480,000, most between €375,000 and €612,334 (Property Price Register).

Is Kilcoole on the up?

Kilcoole is rated "Stagnating" — unemployment fell just 2 points — lagging the national fall, prices up 38.1%.

Are there new builds in Kilcoole?

About 27% of homes sold in Kilcoole in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Kilcoole?

35 planning applications were lodged within Kilcoole in the last 12 months, covering 62 residential units (203 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Kilcoole good for families?

Kilcoole scores 80/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Kilcoole?

Kilcoole scores 76/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Kilcoole?

Kilcoole is about 40 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.