Living in Athy, Co. Kildare: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Athy
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Athy
- Schools in Athy
- Things to do in and around Athy
- Where Athy is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Athy
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Athy
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Athy
- Nearby Kildare towns
- Population and demographics
Is Athy a nice place to live?
Athy is home to about 4,045 households, 56% owner-occupied and 38% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €384,992, versus €458,500 across the Mid-East region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €1,368 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 8 schools keyed to the town (6 primary, 2 post-primary), and there are 11 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Athy, 0.5 km away, and 9 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Athy is a town in Co. Kildare, about 62 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 8 schools, 56.4% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €384,992 to buy or €1,368 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025) (a 4.3% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 343 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Athy: 56.4% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Athy
11,035 people live in Athy on Census 2022 night. 56% of households own their home and 38% rent, so Athy leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (63%). It skews young: 23% are under 15 against 12% aged 65 and over. 30% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 11,035 |
| Owner-occupied households | 56% |
| Rented households | 38% |
| Aged under 15 | 23% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 28% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12% |
| Third level or higher | 30% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 50% |
| Unemployment rate | 11% |
| Commute by car | 63% |
| Commute by public transport | 11% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 21% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Athy built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Athy (in the town), on the Waterford line
Public transport serving Athy: Rail + bus
Getting around Athy
Athy is served by 5 public-transport operators running 9 scheduled routes. Operators are Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail, JJ Kavanagh, TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow and TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
| Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail | Rail |
| JJ Kavanagh | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 130 - Dublin - Athy
- 883 - Athy - Newbridge
- 888 - Athy - Allenwood
- 897 - Kilkenny - Athy
- 130A - Dublin - Athy
- IW02 - Newbridge - Carlow
- IW06 - Portlaoise - Carlow
- UM06 - Athy - Maynooth
- rail - Dublin - Waterford
Source: Transport for Ireland GTFS_All feed (NTA), CC-BY 4.0. Stops matched to the town within a 6 km radius; route list capped.
Schools in Athy
There are 6 primary and 2 post-primary schools in and around Athy, 5 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Árdscoil Na Trionóide | Post-primary | 882 | |
| Athy Community College | Post-primary | 655 | DEIS |
| Scoil Phadraig Naofa | Primary | 592 | DEIS |
| Scoil Mhichil Naofa | Primary | 496 | DEIS |
| Gaelscoil Átha Í | Primary | 151 | DEIS |
| Athy Model School | Primary | 90 | |
| Churchtown N S | Primary | 55 | |
| Ballyroe Central N S | Primary | 18 | DEIS |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Athy
- Heritage nearby: Timahoe Round Tower (15 km) · Dunamase Castle (16 km) · Browneshill Megalithic Tomb (19 km) · Baltinglass Abbey (19 km)
- Walking trails in County Kildare: Barrow Way · Royal Canal Way · Grand Canal Way · Ballydermot/Killyguise Loop
- Nature reserve: Pollardstown Fen Nature Reserve
Where Athy is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Athy
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €384,992 (+43.7% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2025) | €1,368 |
| Gross rental yield | 4.3% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.3% |
| Kildare county median | €458k |
| New build / second-hand | €399,000 / €280,000 |
What this means: New builds in Athy sell at about a 43% premium to second-hand homes (€399,000 vs €280,000).
Recent sales in Athy
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 26 | 18 The Ash, Meadow Mil, Athy | New | €374,450 |
| 23 Sep 26 | 4 The Holly, Meadow Mill, Athy | New | €312,775 |
| 22 Sep 26 | 6 THE HOLLANDS PARK, ATHY, KILDARE | Second-hand | €285,500 |
| 18 Sep 26 | 38 WHITECASTLE LAWNS, ATHY, KILDARE | Second-hand | €300,000 |
| 17 Sep 26 | 74 MARINA COURT, ATHY, KILDARE | Second-hand | €250,000 |
| 16 Sep 26 | 11 The Holly, Meadow Mill, Athy | New | €343,612 |
| 11 Sep 26 | 2 The Holly, Meadow Mill, Athy | New | €383,260 |
| 11 Sep 26 | 3 The Larch, Meadow Mill, Athy | New | €365,639 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Athy median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €225,000 | 187 sales | |
| 2024 | €250,000 | 170 sales | |
| 2025 | €355,000 | 239 sales | |
| 2026 | €385,000 | 203 sales |
Average rent by size (Q4 2025)
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a | €1,268 | €1,505 | n/a |
Maximum legal rent increase in Athy
Since 1 March 2026 a rent review is capped at the lower of 2% a year (pro rata) or CPI inflation.
The full March 2026 rent review rules
Athy compared with County Kildare
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Kildare median | 458000 | |
| Athy | 384992 |
Rent or buy in Athy?
At a glance: €384,992 to buy versus €1,368 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 4.3% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Athy
The median home (€384,992) falls in LPT Band 3, a base charge of €333 a year before Kildare County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Athy: the March 2026 rent rules
Every rent increase is now capped at the lesser of 2% a year (pro rata) or CPI inflation, nationwide since 1 March 2026. A review needs 90 days' notice on the RTB form, no more than one in any 12 months, and the notice must cite three comparable homes from the RTB Rent Register. Check any rent increase against the legal cap, or see average rents for every Leinster town.
Before you move: planning and flood
Recent development in Athy
In the 12 months to September 2026, 49 planning grants were recorded in and around Athy, including 90 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-13 | for (a) The provision of a total of 96no. two-storey semi-detached dwellings which will consist of the following unit mix: 8no. 4-bed dwellings... | 74 |
| 2026-02-11 | a material alteration to the previously approved development (Pl. Ref. 24/60683). The changes pertain to no. 28 (a 3-bed Type F dwelling) and no.27... | 2 |
| 2025-10-07 | of the front porch and retention of conversion of garage to bedroom & utility | 2 |
| 2025-10-22 | construct a dwelling house, domestic garage, waste water treatment system, percolation area, new bored well, new splayed entrance and associated site... | 1 |
| 2026-07-14 | (A) permission to remove condition 3 of planning file 99/1433 regarding sterilisation of the lands subject to this application (B) permission for a... | 1 |
Source: Irish Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (ArcGIS, CC-BY 4.0). Granted applications keyed to the nearest town within 7 km. Homes column shows residential units in the application where recorded.
What this means: The 90 homes approved here in the last year are about 2% of Athy's roughly 4,045 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Athy, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Athy, Kildare.
View the official OPW flood maps for Athy →
Source: Office of Public Works, floodinfo.ie. No OPW flood-extent values are reproduced here.
County context
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022 Census) | 247,774 |
| Population change 2016 to 2022 | +11.4% |
| Disposable income per person (index, State = 100) | 103.8 |
| New dwelling permissions (Mid-East region, 2017) | 657 thousand m² |
Planning permissions are reported at NUTS3 region level; counties in this region share a figure.
Sources: CSO F1001, CIA02, BHQ09. CC-BY 4.0.
Nearby Kildare towns
Maynooth · Leixlip · Naas · Kilcock · Celbridge · Kill
All Kildare house prices · All Leinster house prices
Sources: CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, Property Price Register (PSRA), CSO RPPI, RTB via CSO. CC-BY. Figures verifiable at the official source.
Common questions about living in Athy
What's it like to live in Athy?
Athy is a town in Co. Kildare, about 62 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 8 schools, 56.4% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Athy?
A home in Athy costs a median €384,992 to buy or €1,368 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 4.3% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Athy to Dublin?
About 62 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, estimated.
What schools are in Athy?
Schools in Athy include Árdscoil Na Trionóide, Athy Community College, Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Scoil Mhichil Naofa, among 6 primary and 2 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Athy?
Athy had a population of 11,035 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Athy had a population of 11,035 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 11,035 |
|---|---|
| Households | 4,045 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56% |
| Rented homes | 38% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0). Household tenure from the same release.
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Each point is the median of that calendar year's open-market sales on the Property Price Register. 2026 is a part year, covering the 203 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €384,992.
Could a home in Athy pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Athy's median price and average rent (RTB Q4 2025). Change any figure and it recalculates instantly.
Illustrative. Assumes ~18% of rent for management, insurance and voids; 25-year mortgage on the borrowed share; ~4% acquisition costs. Not financial advice.
What can you afford to buy in Athy?
Pre-filled with Athy's median price. Adjust the income and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Assumes 4x gross income for a first-time buyer or 3.5x otherwise, plus your deposit, with no minimum deposit applied (the Central Bank's 10% floor can cap the price lower; the affordability calculator applies it), and a 3.7% rate over 30 years unless you change them.
Central Bank of Ireland mortgage measures (since Jan 2023): first-time buyers can borrow up to 4x gross income, movers and second or subsequent buyers up to 3.5x, both with a minimum 10% deposit. Figures are illustrative, not financial advice.
Stamp duty on a Athy property
Pre-filled with Athy's median price. Change the purchase price, tick new build if it applies, and see your stamp duty and total cost instantly.
Irish residential stamp duty (rates in force since 2 October 2024): 1% on the first €1,000,000; 2% from €1,000,000 to €1,500,000; 6% on any amount above €1,500,000. New builds: duty is charged on the price net of 13.5% VAT. Figures are illustrative, not legal or financial advice.
Local Property Tax for a Athy home
Pre-filled with Athy's median price. Uses the 2026 Revenue valuation bands (valuation date: 1 November 2025) and your local authority's 2026 adjustment factor.
Revenue LPT 2026-2030 band table and Local Adjustment Factors (source: revenue.ie). Each local authority can vary the base charge by up to 15%. Figures are illustrative; verify at Revenue's LPT service for your exact property.
Rent cap calculator for Athy
Pre-filled with Athy's average rent (RTB). From 1 March 2026 all private tenancies in Ireland are covered by national rent control: for a standard tenancy the annual increase is capped at 2% or CPI inflation, whichever is lower. This computes the 2% leg as an illustrative cap.
No figure for this tenancy type: it follows CPI with no 2% cap and this widget holds no CPI series. Use the official RTB Rent Calculator.
Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025; national rent control from 1 March 2026 (source: rtb.ie). Illustrative, not legal advice: if CPI is below 2% the lawful ceiling is lower, and the RTB Rent Calculator at rtb.ie is the official tool.
What a month in Athy costs
Real figures for Athy: RTB average rent and an ownership estimate built on the median sale price. Adjust the mortgage rate and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Average rent by size: 2 bed €1,268 · 3 bed €1,505
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02), Q4 2025. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Athy's median Property Price Register sale price over 30 years, plus Revenue's 2026 LPT band charge divided by 12. Excludes utilities, insurance, management fees and council LPT adjustments. Illustrative, not financial advice.
More on Athy
- Athy house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- Things to do in Athy: attractions, heritage sites and walks nearby.
- What's on in Co. Kildare: festivals, markets and gigs, grouped by week and refreshed every Monday.
- Planning applications in Co. Kildare: what has been lodged, granted and refused in the last 12 months.
Weighing it against somewhere else? See Athy vs Kildare for a family, side by side on price, rent, yield and rail access.