Living in Kildare, Co. Kildare: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Kildare
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Kildare
- Schools in Kildare
- Things to do in and around Kildare
- Where Kildare is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Kildare
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Kildare
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Kildare
- Nearby Kildare towns
- Population and demographics
Is Kildare a nice place to live?
Kildare is home to about 3,463 households, 60% owner-occupied and 35% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €380,000, versus €458,500 across the Mid-East region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €1,734 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 4 schools keyed to the town (3 primary, 1 post-primary), and there are 24 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Kildare, 0.7 km away, and 19 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Kildare is a town in Co. Kildare, about 49 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 4 schools, 59.7% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €380,000 to buy or €1,734 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025) (a 5.5% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 189 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Kildare: 59.7% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Kildare
10,302 people live in Kildare on Census 2022 night. 60% of households own their home and 35% rent, so Kildare leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (66%). It skews young: 23% are under 15 against 9% aged 65 and over. 33% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 10,302 |
| Owner-occupied households | 60% |
| Rented households | 35% |
| Aged under 15 | 23% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 31% |
| Aged 65 and over | 9% |
| Third level or higher | 33% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 59% |
| Unemployment rate | 7% |
| Commute by car | 66% |
| Commute by public transport | 13% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 17% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Kildare built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Kildare (in the town), on several Dublin intercity lines
Public transport serving Kildare: Rail + bus
Getting around Kildare
Kildare is served by 5 public-transport operators running 19 scheduled routes. Operators are Dublin Coach, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail, JJ Kavanagh and TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Dublin Coach | Bus / coach |
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
| Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail | Rail |
| JJ Kavanagh | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes (a sample of 19)
- 126 - Dublin - Rathangan
- 300 - Ennis/Killarney/Tralee - Dublin
- 726 - Portlaoise - Dublin Airport
- 735 - Limerick - Nenagh - Dublin Airport
- 883 - Athy - Newbridge
- 126A - Dublin - Kildare
- 126B - Dublin - Rathangan
- 126D - Dublin - Kildare
- 126E - Dublin - Kildare
- 126T - Dublin - Kildare
- 126U - Dublin UCD - Kildare
- IW02 - Newbridge - Carlow
- UM14 - Portlaoise - Maynooth
- rail - Dublin - Galway
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 Kildare
There are 3 primary and 1 post-primary schools in and around Kildare, 1 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Brigid'S Kildare Town Primary School | Primary | 1025 | DEIS |
| Kildare Town Community School | Post-primary | 1021 | |
| Kildare Town Educate Together Ns | Primary | 417 | |
| Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha | Primary | 215 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Kildare
- Heritage nearby: Old Kilcullen Monastic Site (11 km) · Dunamase Castle (24 km) · Baltinglass Abbey (27 km) · Timahoe Round Tower (29 km)
- Walking trails in County Kildare: Barrow Way · Royal Canal Way · Grand Canal Way · Ballydermot/Killyguise Loop
- Nature reserve: Pollardstown Fen Nature Reserve
Where Kildare is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Kildare
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €380,000 (+3.5% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2025) | €1,734 |
| Gross rental yield | 5.5% |
| Net yield (est.) | 4.3% |
| Kildare county median | €458k |
| New build / second-hand | €460,000 / €370,000 |
What this means: New builds in Kildare sell at about a 24% premium to second-hand homes (€460,000 vs €370,000).
Recent sales in Kildare
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 26 | 2968 MARYVILLE GROVE, KILDARE, KILDARE | Second-hand | €314,000 |
| 23 Sep 26 | 27 PRESTON BROOK, RATHANGAN, KILDARE | Second-hand | €386,000 |
| 22 Sep 26 | 528 ST PATRICK'S PARK, RATHANGAN, CO KILDARE | Second-hand | €280,000 |
| 15 Sep 26 | 124 ARD NA PAIRCE THEAS, SOUTHGREEN, KILDARE | New | €466,960 |
| 14 Sep 26 | 2524 WOODSIDE PARK, MARYVILLE KILDARE TOWN, KILDARE | Second-hand | €300,000 |
| 08 Sep 26 | 5 DOORLEY PARK, RATHANGAN, KILDARE | Second-hand | €317,500 |
| 07 Sep 26 | 16 BEECHGROVE, KILDARE TOWN, CO KILDARE | Second-hand | €320,000 |
| 04 Sep 26 | 19 RUANBEG CLOSE, KILDARE, KILDARE | Second-hand | €420,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Kildare median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €310,000 | 187 sales | |
| 2024 | €350,000 | 118 sales | |
| 2025 | €375,000 | 165 sales | |
| 2026 | €375,000 | 113 sales |
Average rent by size (Q4 2025)
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| €1,244 | €1,592 | €1,902 | €2,376 |
Maximum legal rent increase in Kildare
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
Kildare compared with County Kildare
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Kildare median | 458000 | |
| Kildare | 380000 |
Rent or buy in Kildare?
At a glance: €380,000 to buy versus €1,734 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 5.5% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Kildare
The median home (€380,000) 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 Kildare: 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 Kildare
In the 12 months to September 2026, 62 planning grants were recorded in and around Kildare, including 195 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-24 | construction of a new residential scheme of 146 no. residential units (5 no. 1 beds, 10 no. 2 beds, 104 no. 3 beds and 27 no. 4 beds) in a mix of... | 136 |
| 2025-10-06 | for the demolition of an existing single-storey house and garage and the provision of twenty homes comprising two no. two-storey terrace blocks of... | 15 |
| 2025-10-24 | for development on a site of approx. 0.387 ha. (The site is generally bounded by existing residential development at Oaktree Avenue to the north and... | 13 |
| 2025-10-06 | for the construction of 11 no. houses at Oak Church, Kildare, Co. Kildare. The houses proposed are a mixture of 3 and 4 bedroom, 2 storey and 2... | 11 |
| 2026-09-21 | 1. Amendments to the previously granted boundaries to 12-20. 2. The change of the previously approved Q1 type house, 3-bed two storey end of terrace... | 3 |
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 195 homes approved here in the last year are about 6% of Kildare's roughly 3,463 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Kildare, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Kildare, Kildare.
View the official OPW flood maps for Kildare →
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 Kildare
What's it like to live in Kildare?
Kildare is a town in Co. Kildare, about 49 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 4 schools, 59.7% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Kildare?
A home in Kildare costs a median €380,000 to buy or €1,734 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 5.5% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Kildare to Dublin?
About 49 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, estimated.
What schools are in Kildare?
Schools in Kildare include St Brigid'S Kildare Town Primary School, Kildare Town Community School, Kildare Town Educate Together Ns, Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha, among 3 primary and 1 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Kildare?
Kildare had a population of 10,302 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Kildare had a population of 10,302 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 10,302 |
|---|---|
| Households | 3,463 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60% |
| Rented homes | 35% |
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 113 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €380,000.
Could a home in Kildare pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Kildare'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 Kildare?
Pre-filled with Kildare'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 Kildare property
Pre-filled with Kildare'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 Kildare home
Pre-filled with Kildare'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 Kildare
Pre-filled with Kildare'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 Kildare costs
Real figures for Kildare: 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: 1 bed €1,244 · 2 bed €1,592 · 3 bed €1,902 · 4+ bed €2,376
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02), Q4 2025. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Kildare'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 Kildare
- Kildare house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- Things to do in Kildare: 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 Kildare vs Newbridge for a commuting buyer and Kildare vs Athy for a family, side by side on price, rent, yield and rail access.