Living in Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Kilkenny
- Getting around and commuting
- Getting around Kilkenny
- Commute to Dublin from Kilkenny
- Schools in Kilkenny
- Things to do in and around Kilkenny
- Where Kilkenny is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Kilkenny
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Kilkenny
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Kilkenny
- Nearby Kilkenny towns
Leinster house prices & rents › Kilkenny › Living in Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a town in Co. Kilkenny, about 96 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 16 schools, 55.5% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €320,000 to buy or €1,216 a month to rent (a 4.6% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 509 sales · updated July 2026
How Kilkenny compares: at €320,000 it is 9% below the County Kilkenny median of €352k. Its 4.6% gross yield is above the county average of 4.1%.Recent activity in Kilkenny: latest recorded sale Jun 2026; 152 new homes approved in the last year; prices +6.7% year on year. This page updates as new official data lands.
Who lives in Kilkenny — 55.5% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Kilkenny
27,184 people live in Kilkenny on Census 2022 night. 56% of households own their home and 40% rent, so Kilkenny leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (63%). 20% are under 15 and 15% are aged 65 and over. 44% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 27,184 |
| Owner-occupied households | 56% |
| Rented households | 40% |
| Aged under 15 | 20% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 29% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15% |
| Third level or higher | 44% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 55% |
| Unemployment rate | 7% |
| Commute by car | 63% |
| Commute by public transport | 6% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 28% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Kilkenny built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Getting around and commuting
Nearest train station: Kilkenny (in the town), on the Waterford line
Public transport serving Kilkenny — Rail + bus
Getting around Kilkenny
Kilkenny is served by 10 public-transport operators running 17 scheduled routes. Operators are Bernard Kavanagh & Sons, Bus Éireann, City Direct, Dublin Coach, Dunnes Coaches, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail, JJ Kavanagh, JJ/Bernard Kavanagh, Slieve Bloom Coach Tours and TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bernard Kavanagh & Sons | Bus / coach |
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| City Direct | Bus / coach |
| Dublin Coach | Bus / coach |
| Dunnes Coaches | Bus / coach |
| Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail | Rail |
| JJ Kavanagh | Bus / coach |
| JJ/Bernard Kavanagh | Bus / coach |
| Slieve Bloom Coach Tours | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes (a sample of 17)
- 73 - Waterford - Athlone - Longford
- 374 - New Ross - Kilkenny
- 600 - Cork - Waterford - Dublin
- 717 - Clonmel - Kilkenny - Dublin Airport
- 736 - Dublin Airport - Waterford City
- 838 - Kilkenny - Portlaoise
- 871 - Urlingford - Kilkenny
- 881 - Graiguenamanagh - Kilkenny
- 882 - Inistioge - Kilkenny
- 891 - Fiddown - Kilkenny
- 897 - Kilkenny - Athy
- KK1 - Glenbawn - Danville Business Park
- KK1 - N77 Roundabout - Danville Business Park
- KK2 - Cillín Hill - Saint Luke's Hospital
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.
Commute to Dublin from Kilkenny
Driving from Kilkenny to Dublin city centre takes about 94 minutes by car on a clear run. That is faster than 2 of the 25 Leinster commuter towns we have routed to Dublin, the 23rd-shortest drive in that set.
| Town | Drive to Dublin |
|---|---|
| Kilkenny, Kilkenny This town | 94 min |
| Leixlip, Kildare Closest routed town | 22 min |
| Wexford, Wexford Farthest routed town | 106 min |
Door-to-centre driving time routed on OpenStreetMap road data via OSRM, no live traffic. Comparison is against the Leinster commuter towns routed so far. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Schools in Kilkenny
There are 9 primary and 7 post-primary schools in and around Kilkenny, 2 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loreto Secondary School | Post-primary | 994 | |
| Kilkenny College | Post-primary | 919 | |
| Presentation Secondary School | Post-primary | 902 | |
| Meánscoil Na Mbráithre Criostaí | Post-primary | 836 | |
| St Kieran'S College | Post-primary | 802 | |
| St Canices Central N S | Primary | 648 | |
| St. John'S National School | Primary | 441 | DEIS |
| Gaelscoil Osrai | Primary | 438 | |
| Scoil Mhuire | Primary | 400 | |
| S N Padraig Naofa | Primary | 331 | |
| Scoil Naomh Eoin Dea | Primary | 330 | |
| City Vocational School | Post-primary | 311 | DEIS |
| Scoil Iognaid De Ris | Primary | 278 | |
| Kilkenny School Project | Primary | 236 |
Showing the 14 largest of 16.
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Kilkenny
- Heritage nearby: Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny City (0 km) · Dunmore Cave (9 km) · Kells Priory (12 km) · St. Mary's Church, Gowran (13 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
Full guide: things to do in Kilkenny →
Where Kilkenny is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Kilkenny
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €320,000 (+6.7% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent | €1,216 |
| Gross rental yield | 4.6% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.5% |
| Kilkenny county median | €352k |
| New build / second-hand | €400,000 / €310,500 |
What this means: New builds in Kilkenny sell at about a 29% premium to second-hand homes (€400,000 vs €310,500).
Recent sales in Kilkenny
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 26 | 1 GREENFIELDS ROAD, BISHOP'S MEADOWS, KILKENNY | Second-hand | €372,000 |
| 22 Jun 26 | THE BEECHES, DEERPARK, INISTIOGE | Second-hand | €725,000 |
| 19 Jun 26 | 18 CEDARWOOD CRESCENT, LOUGHBOY, KILKENNY | Second-hand | €470,000 |
| 19 Jun 26 | 3 MOUNT BRILLIANT COURT, GREENSHILL, KILKENNY | Second-hand | €350,000 |
| 19 Jun 26 | MONARUE, KNOCKTOPHER, CO. KILKENNY | Second-hand | €170,000 |
| 18 Jun 26 | KILKENNY ST, FRESHFORD, CO KILKENNY | Second-hand | €75,000 |
| 18 Jun 26 | KILMADUM, BALLYFOYLE, KILKENNY | Second-hand | €60,000 |
| 17 Jun 26 | 5 COACH RD, DEAN ST, KILKENNY | Second-hand | €345,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Kilkenny median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €258,000 | 530 sales | |
| 2024 | €292,000 | 536 sales | |
| 2025 | €315,000 | 513 sales | |
| 2026 | €308,000 | 218 sales |
Average rent by size
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| €891 | €1,085 | €1,243 | €1,487 |
Maximum legal rent increase in Kilkenny
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
Kilkenny compared with County Kilkenny
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Kilkenny median | 352000 | |
| Kilkenny | 320000 |
Rent or buy in Kilkenny?
At a glance: €320,000 to buy versus €1,216 a month to rent, a 4.6% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Kilkenny
The median home (€320,000) 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 Kilkenny: 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 Kilkenny
In the 12 months to July 2026, 165 planning grants were recorded in and around Kilkenny, including 152 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-02 | for a new residential development of 39 new dwellings consisting of 4 No. Type A two bedroom single storey semi detached dwellings, 4 No. Type B... | 36 |
| 2026-01-21 | for development. The development will consist of: 1) 16 No. 3-bedroom terraced two-storey houses and 16 No. 2-bedroom own-door maisonette units in 2... | 28 |
| 2026-01-28 | for the proposed phase 2 construction of 29 No. residential dwellings consisting of; 3 No. Type C – four bedroom detached, 9 No. Type D – four... | 25 |
| 2025-12-10 | for a new residential development of 22 new detached dwellings consisting of: 3 no. 4 bedroom dwellings and 19 no. 5 bedroom dwellings, a detached... | 22 |
| 2026-02-24 | for development at this site. The development will consist of : 46 dwelling units consisting of 10 no. Houses (2 no. house Type C 5 bedroom detached... | 10 |
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 152 homes approved here in the last year are about 2% of Kilkenny's roughly 10,050 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Kilkenny, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Kilkenny, Kilkenny.
View the official OPW flood maps for Kilkenny →
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 · Callan · Castlecomer
All Kilkenny house prices · All Leinster house prices · Things to do in Kilkenny
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 Kilkenny
What's it like to live in Kilkenny?
Kilkenny is a town in Co. Kilkenny, about 96 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 16 schools, 55.5% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Kilkenny?
A home in Kilkenny costs a median €320,000 to buy or €1,216 a month to rent, a 4.6% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Kilkenny to Dublin?
About 96 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Kilkenny?
Schools in Kilkenny include Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny College, Presentation Secondary School, Meánscoil Na Mbráithre Criostaí, among 9 primary and 7 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
Shortlist is full (max 3 towns). View your shortlist to remove a town first.
Median of open-market sales each year (Property Price Register). Latest year is partial.
Could a home in Kilkenny pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Kilkenny's median price and average rent. 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 Kilkenny?
Pre-filled with Kilkenny's median price. Adjust the income and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Central Bank rules: 3.5x gross income for most buyers; first-time buyers can borrow up to 90% LTV. Figures are illustrative, not financial advice.
Stamp duty on a Kilkenny property
Pre-filled with Kilkenny's median price. Change the purchase price and see your stamp duty and total cost instantly.
Irish residential stamp duty: 1% on the first €1,000,000; 2% on any amount above. Figures are illustrative, not legal or financial advice.
Local Property Tax for a Kilkenny home
Pre-filled with Kilkenny's median price. Uses the 2026 Revenue valuation bands (valuation date: 1 November 2025).
Revenue LPT 2026-2030 band table (source: revenue.ie). Your local authority can vary the base charge by up to 15%. Figures are illustrative; verify at Revenue's LPT reckoner for your exact property.
Rent cap calculator for Kilkenny
Pre-filled with Kilkenny's median rent. From 1 March 2026 all private tenancies in Ireland are covered by national rent control: the annual increase is capped at 2% or CPI inflation, whichever is lower.
Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025; national rent control from 1 March 2026 (source: rtb.ie). RPZ_CAP_PCT = 2.0% per annum -- flagged for Bryan to verify the exact statutory rate before publishing. Figures are illustrative, not legal advice.