Place profile · Wicklow, Co. Wicklow

Is Wicklow a good place to live?

Wicklow, Co. Wicklow scores 60/100 for quality of life, #58 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €417,000 (most €325,000–€523,917), it scores 70/100 for safety (43.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 12,150 people live here. It's strongest on environment and family & community, weakest on schools & education.

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

Wicklow is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 17% → 12% — faster than nationally Prices up 11.8%

Where Wicklow sits.

Co. Wicklow · 21 bus stops · 1 rail.

50 min
drive to Dublin

#58 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

60/100
#58 liveability#77 value
Environment82
Family & community77
Safety70
Affordability68
Local economy47
Transport & services46
Schools & education35

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 Wicklow is #77 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €417,000.

€325,000€523,917
↑ +11.8%17.8% new-build1902 sales / 2yr

Clean, green surrounds.

82/100
Environment score

Good for families.

77/100
Family & community score

Affordable for its access.

68/100
Affordability score

Quiet and safe.

70/100
43.8/1,000 · Wicklow

The community here.

12,150 people.

Going out, and getting things done.

56th most vibrant large town in Ireland, of 65 ranked.

25
social venues
#56 of 65 large towns · #42 per head
32
everyday shops & services
#53 of 65 large towns · #33 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 large 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.

37%
third-level
39%
professional
14.5%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

68% own14.7% rent14.3% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 35/100

Wicklow: common questions

Is Wicklow a good place to live?

Wicklow, Co. Wicklow, scores 60/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #58 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on environment and family & community.

Is Wicklow safe?

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

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

The median sale price in Wicklow over the last 24 months was €417,000, most between €325,000 and €523,917 (Property Price Register).

Is Wicklow on the up?

Wicklow is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 17% → 12% — faster than nationally, prices up 11.8%.

Are there new builds in Wicklow?

About 18% of homes sold in Wicklow in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Wicklow?

109 planning applications were lodged within Wicklow in the last 12 months, covering 965 residential units (571 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Wicklow good for families?

Wicklow scores 77/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Wicklow?

Wicklow scores 35/100 for schools and education, with 8 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Wicklow?

Wicklow is about 50 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.