Living in Clara, Co. Offaly: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Clara
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Clara
- Schools in Clara
- Things to do in and around Clara
- Where Clara is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Clara
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Clara
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Clara
- Nearby Offaly towns
- Population and demographics
Is Clara a nice place to live?
Clara is home to about 1,231 households, 66% owner-occupied and 30% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €280,000, versus €315,000 across the Midland region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €1,027 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 4 schools keyed to the town (3 primary, 1 post-primary). The nearest rail station is Clara, 0 km away, and 5 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Clara is a town in Co. Offaly, about 85 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 4 schools, 65.6% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €280,000 to buy or €1,027 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2024).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 39 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Clara: 65.6% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Clara
3,403 people live in Clara on Census 2022 night. 66% of households own their home and 30% rent, so Clara leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (72%). It skews young: 21% are under 15 against 15% aged 65 and over. 26% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 3,403 |
| Owner-occupied households | 66% |
| Rented households | 30% |
| Aged under 15 | 21% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 27% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15% |
| Third level or higher | 26% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 49% |
| Unemployment rate | 9% |
| Commute by car | 72% |
| Commute by public transport | 7% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 16% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Clara built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Clara (in the town), on the Galway and Westport lines
Public transport serving Clara: Rail + bus
Getting around Clara
Clara is served by 3 public-transport operators running 5 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail and TFI Local Link Laois Offaly.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail | Rail |
| TFI Local Link Laois Offaly | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 73 - Waterford - Athlone - Longford
- 815 - Tullamore - Athlone
- 840 - Banagher - Tullamore
- rail - Dublin - Galway
- rail - Dublin - Westport
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 Clara
There are 3 primary and 1 post-primary schools in and around Clara, 3 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardscoil Chiaráin Naofa | Post-primary | 331 | DEIS |
| S N Phroinsiais Naofa | Primary | 186 | DEIS |
| Clara Convent N S | Primary | 180 | DEIS |
| S N Mhanachain | Primary | 176 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Clara
- Heritage nearby: Hill of Uisneach (17 km) · Clonmacnoise (25 km) · Sierkieran Monastic Site (32 km) · Corlea Trackway (34 km)
- Walking trails in County Offaly: Grand Canal Way · Slieve Bloom Way · Derryounce Bog Lake Walk · Derryounce Bog Oak Walk
- Nature reserves: Clara Bog Nature Reserve · Raheenmore Bog Nature Reserve · Mongan Bog Nature Reserve
Where Clara is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Clara
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €280,000 (+55.6% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2024) | €1,027 |
| Gross rental yield | n/a |
| Net yield (est.) | n/a |
| Offaly county median | €315k |
| New build / second-hand | n/a / €280,000 |
What this means: Clara's rent figure is the last published RTB quarter (Q4 2024). RTB has not yet published a more recent quarter for this town.
Recent sales in Clara
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09 Sep 26 | 45 BEECHMOUNT AVE, CLARA, OFFALY | Second-hand | €290,000 |
| 04 Sep 26 | 28 WESTWOOD PARK, CLARA, OFFALY | Second-hand | €268,000 |
| 01 Sep 26 | 16 KILBRIDE CLOSE, CLARA, OFFALY | Second-hand | €275,000 |
| 31 Aug 26 | 55 CLUAIN FIA, CURRAGH RD, CLARA | Second-hand | €355,000 |
| 27 Aug 26 | KILCOURSEY, CLARA, OFFALY | Second-hand | €262,500 |
| 26 Aug 26 | 192 BALLICKNATTEE, CLARA, OFFALY | Second-hand | €410,000 |
| 25 Aug 26 | AUGHAMORE, CLARA, OFFALY | Second-hand | €299,000 |
| 14 Aug 26 | RAHEEN, CLARA, CO. OFFALY | Second-hand | €172,500 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Clara median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €180,000 | 34 sales | |
| 2024 | €190,000 | 31 sales | |
| 2025 | €180,000 | 37 sales | |
| 2026 | €271,500 | 28 sales |
Maximum legal rent increase in Clara
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
Clara compared with County Offaly
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Offaly median | 315000 | |
| Clara | 280000 |
Rent or buy in Clara?
At a glance: €280,000 to buy versus €1,027 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2024).
Local Property Tax in Clara
The median home (€280,000) falls in LPT Band 2, a base charge of €235 a year before Offaly County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Clara: 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 Clara
In the 12 months to September 2026, 38 planning grants were recorded in and around Clara, including 29 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-06 | the construction of two number two bedroom dwellings. The application will also include new connections to existing public services, Domestic... | 2 |
| 2026-04-22 | an as built dormer dwelling and for a separate as built single storey living accommodation with attached garage to the rear of site | 2 |
| 2026-07-03 | the construction of a second-storey extension (20.46 sq m) to the rear of the existing dwelling, internal and external alterations and all associated... | 2 |
| 2026-07-06 | the construction of a new dwelling house, new garage and all associated site development works | 1 |
| 2026-03-18 | demolishing an existing cottage and shed building, and permission to construct a new single storey dwelling house, new domestic garage, entrance... | 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 29 homes approved here in the last year are about 2% of Clara's roughly 1,231 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Clara, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Clara, Offaly.
View the official OPW flood maps for Clara →
Source: Office of Public Works, floodinfo.ie. No OPW flood-extent values are reproduced here.
County context
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022 Census) | 83,150 |
| Population change 2016 to 2022 | +6.7% |
| Disposable income per person (index, State = 100) | 76.7 |
| New dwelling permissions (Midland region, 2017) | 168 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 Offaly towns
Tullamore · Edenderry · Birr · Banagher
All Offaly 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 Clara
What's it like to live in Clara?
Clara is a town in Co. Offaly, about 85 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 4 schools, 65.6% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Clara?
A home in Clara costs a median €280,000 to buy or €1,027 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2024) (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Clara to Dublin?
About 85 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, estimated.
What schools are in Clara?
Schools in Clara include Ardscoil Chiaráin Naofa, S N Phroinsiais Naofa, Clara Convent N S, S N Mhanachain, among 3 primary and 1 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Clara?
Clara had a population of 3,403 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Clara had a population of 3,403 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 3,403 |
|---|---|
| Households | 1,231 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 66% |
| Rented homes | 30% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0). Household tenure from the same release.
Shortlist is full (max 3 towns). View your shortlist to remove a town first.
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 28 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €280,000.
Could a home in Clara pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Clara'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 Clara?
Pre-filled with Clara'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 Clara property
Pre-filled with Clara'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 Clara home
Pre-filled with Clara'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 Clara
Pre-filled with Clara'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 Clara costs
Real figures for Clara: 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 Clara'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 Clara
- Clara house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- What's on in Co. Offaly: festivals, markets and gigs, grouped by week and refreshed every Monday.
- Planning applications in Co. Offaly: what has been lodged, granted and refused in the last 12 months.