Place profile · Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow

Is Shillelagh a good place to live?

Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow scores 60/100 for quality of life, #54 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “steady — moves with the market”. The median home sells for €245,000 (most €189,000–€320,000), it scores 70/100 for safety (43.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 183 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services, weakest on local economy.

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

Shillelagh is moving with the market.

Below average today — tracking the national trend — no strong local tailwind or headwind.

Unemployment fell 17% → 9% — faster than nationally Third-level education up only 1 points — behind the national rise

Where Shillelagh sits.

Co. Wicklow · 4 bus stops · no rail.

79 min
drive to Waterford

#54 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

60/100
#54 liveability#50 value
Affordability91
Transport & services88
Family & community75
Safety70
Environment64
Schools & education37
Local economy28

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 Shillelagh is #50 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €245,000.

€189,000€320,000
13 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

91/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

88/100
Transport & services score

Good for families.

75/100
Family & community score

Quiet and safe.

70/100
43.8/1,000 · Wicklow

The community here.

183 people.

Going out, and getting things done.

3
social venues
1 per 61 residents · not ranked
4
everyday shops & services
1 per 46 residents · not ranked

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.

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

Who lives here.

32%
third-level
36%
professional
12.8%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

74.7% own11.3% rent13% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 37/100 Local economy 28/100

Shillelagh: common questions

Is Shillelagh a good place to live?

Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow, scores 60/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #54 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.

Is Shillelagh safe?

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

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

The median sale price in Shillelagh over the last 24 months was €245,000, most between €189,000 and €320,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Shillelagh on the up?

Shillelagh is rated "Steady — moves with the market" — unemployment fell 17% → 9% — faster than nationally, third-level education up only 1 points — behind the national rise.

Is there much new development or planning activity in Shillelagh?

2 planning applications were lodged within Shillelagh in the last 12 months (11 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Shillelagh good for families?

Shillelagh scores 75/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Shillelagh?

Shillelagh scores 37/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Shillelagh?

Shillelagh is about 79 minutes by road from Waterford.

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.