Living in Callan, Co. Kilkenny: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Callan
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Callan
- Schools in Callan
- Things to do in and around Callan
- Where Callan is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Callan
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Callan
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Callan
- Nearby Kilkenny towns
- Population and demographics
Is Callan a nice place to live?
Callan is home to about 952 households, 58% owner-occupied and 37% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €345,040, versus €369,438 across the South-East region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €972 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 2 schools keyed to the town (1 primary, 1 post-primary), and there are 6 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Kilkenny, 15.7 km away, and 2 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Callan is a town in Co. Kilkenny, about 108 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 2 schools, 57.7% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €345,040 to buy or €972 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2024).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 69 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Callan: 57.7% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Callan
2,678 people live in Callan on Census 2022 night. 58% of households own their home and 37% rent, so Callan leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (67%). It skews young: 24% are under 15 against 14% aged 65 and over. 33% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 2,678 |
| Owner-occupied households | 58% |
| Rented households | 37% |
| Aged under 15 | 24% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 27% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14% |
| Third level or higher | 33% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 55% |
| Unemployment rate | 7% |
| Commute by car | 67% |
| Commute by public transport | 6% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 20% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Callan built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Kilkenny (15.7 km away), on the Waterford line
Public transport serving Callan: 2 operators
Getting around Callan
Callan is served by 2 public-transport operators running 2 scheduled routes. Operators are JJ Kavanagh and TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| JJ Kavanagh | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 717 - Clonmel - Kilkenny - Dublin Airport
- 817c - Sean Treacy Park - Grangemockler
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 Callan
There are 1 primary and 1 post-primary schools in and around Callan.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coláiste Abhainn Rí | Post-primary | 681 | |
| Bunscoil Mcauley Rice | Primary | 406 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Callan
- Heritage nearby: Kells Priory (8 km) · Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny City (15 km) · Jerpoint Abbey (16 km) · Dunmore Cave (23 km)
- Walking trails in County Kilkenny: South Leinster Way · Nore Valley Walk - Inistioge to Thomastown Section · Nore Valley Walk - Kilkenny to Bennetsbridge Section · Brandon Hill Loop
- Nature reserves: Ballykeeffe Wood Nature Reserve · Fiddown Island Nature Reserve · Garryricken Wood Nature Reserve
Where Callan is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Callan
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €345,040 (+10.2% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2024) | €972 |
| Gross rental yield | n/a |
| Net yield (est.) | n/a |
| Kilkenny county median | €369k |
| New build / second-hand | €355,000 / €240,000 |
What this means: Callan's rent figure is the last published RTB quarter (Q4 2024). RTB has not yet published a more recent quarter for this town.
What this means: New builds in Callan sell at about a 48% premium to second-hand homes (€355,000 vs €240,000).
Recent sales in Callan
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep 26 | 53 Kingscourt, Callan | New | €305,310 |
| 11 Sep 26 | 57 Kings Court, Callan | New | €303,965 |
| 10 Sep 26 | 58 Kingscourt, Callan | New | €306,707 |
| 27 Aug 26 | No54 Kingscourt, Callan | New | €303,963 |
| 25 Aug 26 | No 55, Kingscourt, Callan | New | €306,709 |
| 21 Aug 26 | 56 Kings Court, Callan | New | €303,965 |
| 21 Aug 26 | 59 KINGSCOURT, CALLAN | New | €330,396 |
| 21 Aug 26 | 60 KINGSCOURT, CALLAN | New | €330,396 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Callan median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €255,400 | 45 sales | |
| 2024 | €297,266 | 38 sales | |
| 2025 | €316,500 | 50 sales | |
| 2026 | €345,020 | 48 sales |
Maximum legal rent increase in Callan
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
Callan compared with County Kilkenny
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Kilkenny median | 369000 | |
| Callan | 345040 |
Rent or buy in Callan?
At a glance: €345,040 to buy versus €972 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2024).
Local Property Tax in Callan
The median home (€345,040) falls in LPT Band 3, a base charge of €333 a year before Kilkenny County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Callan: 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 Callan
In the 12 months to September 2026, 38 planning grants were recorded in and around Callan, including 17 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-08 | for the construction of 9 No. 3-storey semi-detached and detached housing units, together with proposed boundary treatments, landscaping, and all... | 8 |
| 2026-09-21 | for a new two-storey detached dwelling, including associated treatment system works, all ancillary site works, and shared access to a private driveway | 1 |
| 2026-07-07 | TO CONSTRUCT A PART 2 STOREY AND PART SINGLE STOREY DWELLING, GARAGE, ENTRANCE, WASTEWATER SYSTEM, BOREHOLE, SOAKPITS AND ALL OTHER ASSOCIATED SITE... | 1 |
| 2026-02-13 | A new build two-storey detached dwelling, and detached garage to include associated treatment system works and all site ancillary works | 1 |
| 2026-06-30 | for a two-storey dormer style, four-bedroom dwelling house, a new site entrance, a wastewater treatment system and a raised polishing treatment area... | 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 17 homes approved here in the last year are about 2% of Callan's roughly 952 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Callan, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Callan, Kilkenny.
View the official OPW flood maps for Callan →
Source: Office of Public Works, floodinfo.ie. No OPW flood-extent values are reproduced here.
County context
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022 Census) | 104,160 |
| Population change 2016 to 2022 | +5.0% |
| Disposable income per person (index, State = 100) | 89.4 |
| New dwelling permissions (South-East region, 2017) | 292 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 Kilkenny towns
Thomastown · Kilkenny · Castlecomer
All Kilkenny 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 Callan
What's it like to live in Callan?
Callan is a town in Co. Kilkenny, about 108 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 2 schools, 57.7% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Callan?
A home in Callan costs a median €345,040 to buy or €972 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2024) (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Callan to Dublin?
About 108 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, estimated.
What schools are in Callan?
Schools in Callan include Coláiste Abhainn Rí, Bunscoil Mcauley Rice, among 1 primary and 1 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Callan?
Callan had a population of 2,678 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Callan had a population of 2,678 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 2,678 |
|---|---|
| Households | 952 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58% |
| Rented homes | 37% |
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 48 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €345,040.
Could a home in Callan pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Callan's median price and average rent (RTB Q4 2024). 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 Callan?
Pre-filled with Callan'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 Callan property
Pre-filled with Callan'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 Callan home
Pre-filled with Callan'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 Callan
Pre-filled with Callan'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 Callan costs
Real figures for Callan: RTB average rent and an ownership estimate built on the median sale price. Adjust the mortgage rate and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02), Q4 2024. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Callan'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 Callan
- Callan house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- Things to do in Callan: attractions, heritage sites and walks nearby.
- What's on in Co. Kilkenny: festivals, markets and gigs, grouped by week and refreshed every Monday.
- Planning applications in Co. Kilkenny: what has been lodged, granted and refused in the last 12 months.