Composite profile
Overall score
66/100
Use the Bray profile to compare affordability, commuter access, and coastal nature dimensions alongside Dublin, Cork, and Galway.
Overall66/100
Affordability54/100
Air quality74/100
Energy61/100
Ireland / Western Europe
Bray, Ireland City Intelligence
Bray is a coastal town in County Wicklow on the southern edge of the Dublin commuter belt, functioning as a rail-linked residential center and gateway to the Wicklow Mountains. Bray is a western europe city of about ~34K in Ireland. On the composite city-intelligence score, Bray sits below the indexed median, with practical gaps to close (66/100).
- Last updated
- 2026-05-16
- Data year
- 2025
- Population
- ~34K
Image credit: Image: No machine-readable author provided. Tournesol assumed (based on copyright claims). / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall city intelligence
Mixed66/100
Composite directional score across affordability, air quality, clean energy, and resilience.
Data confidence
Directional
Directional indicators pending integration of verified city-level data.
Verified utility layers
See country hub
Emergency, healthcare, and transport verification status appears on the country hub.
Bray data table
The table is part of the initial server-rendered HTML and mirrors the key city score cards.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 66/100 | Composite score across major city intelligence modules. |
| Cost of Living | 54/100 | Bray's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies. |
| Air Quality | 74/100 | Bray's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated. |
| Energy | 61/100 | Bray's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context. |
| Safety | 68/100 | Bray's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available. |
| Internet Speed | 64/100 | Bray's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references. |
| Climate Risk | 70/100 | Bray's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity. |
| Resilience | 70/100 | Climate adaptation and infrastructure continuity context. |
Safety
Deterministic safety estimates from our index — planning signals derived from country priors and city data, not official crime statistics.
Safety
Overall safety79/100
Low crime81/100
Personal safety81/100
Night safety76/100
Road safety76/100
Bray is estimated to be a generally safe city (79/100 in our safety index), with solid personal-safety indicators.
Quality of Life
A composite quality-of-life estimate and its component indicators.
Quality of Life
Quality of life82/100
Healthcare86/100
Education82/100
Green space100/100
Cleanliness86/100
Infrastructure82/100
Mobility62/100
Bray has a very high quality-of-life estimate (82/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure.
Family Friendliness
How the city scores for raising a family, with the indicators that drive it.
Family Friendliness
Family friendliness83/100
Education82/100
Green space100/100
Overall safety79/100
Bray scores very high for family living (83/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Suitability for remote workers, based on connectivity, mobility, and livability.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Digital nomad suitability71/100
Walkability75/100
Cycling54/100
Infrastructure82/100
Bray is high for remote workers (71/100), based on connectivity, walkability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
Retirement Suitability
Suitability for retirement, weighing healthcare, affordability, climate, and environment.
Retirement Suitability
Retirement suitability77/100
Healthcare86/100
Cleanliness86/100
Outdoor lifestyle74/100
Bray is high for retirement (77/100), appealing for healthcare access and a clean environment.
Emergency and public safety in Bray
Local public safety guidance for Bray, with the country-level emergency contacts that apply when calling for police, fire, or ambulance.
For the universal emergency contacts that apply in Bray, including police, fire, and ambulance, see the Ireland emergency profile, which currently lists no verified national contacts.
Methodology and the wider source registry are documented on the scoring methodology and data sources pages.
Healthcare and hospitals in Bray
Healthcare context for Bray, with national-level information from Ireland where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only and does not provide medical advice.
For the national healthcare and public-health context that applies in Bray, see the Ireland healthcare profile, which currently lists no verified national healthcare information.
Related sections: emergency and public safety, scoring methodology, and data sources.
Transport and mobility in Bray
Local mobility context for Bray, with national-level context from Ireland where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only.
For national transport authorities and operators that apply in Bray, see the Ireland transport profile, which currently lists no verified national transport information.
Related sections: emergency and public safety, healthcare and hospitals, cities directory, countries directory, scoring methodology, data sources.
Air quality dataset
Source-attributed air-quality dataset for Bray. Verified measurements are surfaced when published from accepted official datasets; transparent fallback is shown otherwise.
Air quality dataset for Bray
Verified data unavailableLast updated 2026-05-16 / data year 2025
Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location
Source-attributed values for Bray will appear here after the platform integrates verified measurements from accepted official publishers. Until then, structured air-quality module context remains available on the dedicated module page.
| Metric | Value | Data year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location. | ||
Data provenance
Source attributionGlobal City Intelligence — air-quality dataset
Verified data unavailable- Publisher
- Global City Intelligence
- Last verified
- 2026-05-16
The air-quality dataset begins empty by design. Verified city-level measurements appear here only after they are sourced from accepted publishers (WHO, EEA, US EPA, OpenAQ, OECD, or official national/city environmental agencies).
Methodology and context
Numeric measurements appear in this section only after they are sourced from accepted official publishers. The dataset is independently validated at build time; malformed records cannot ship to production.
- Scoring methodology — how indicators across the platform are constructed.
- Data sources registry — the official sources cited by verified datasets.
- Open the Bray air-quality module
- Browse the clean-air city collection
Quick answers
Quick, evidence-based answers about Bray drawn from this profile's indexed cost, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data. Figures are deterministic estimates for orientation — verify specifics with official sources.
Quick answers about Bray
Is Bray worth visiting?
Yes — excellent quality of life (82/100), with nearby nature such as Wicklow Mountains National Park, Bray Head.
Is Bray good for families?
Excellent (83/100) on safety, schools and green space.
Is Bray affordable?
Around average cost; about €1,810/month for one person (estimate).
When is the best time to visit Bray?
Late spring to early autumn; warmest in Jul, coldest in Jan.
What are Bray's main industries?
Mainly tourism, hospitality, technology.
What is the climate in Bray?
An oceanic climate, averaging about 9.0°C.
Does Bray have universities?
Higher education is good (63/100).
What is healthcare like in Bray?
Healthcare access is strong (66/100).
Is Bray good for retirement?
Retirement suitability is strong (68/100).
What nature is near Bray?
Within ~170 km: Wicklow Mountains National Park, Bray Head.
Explore Bray modules
City pages link to module and ranking pages so crawlers can move through the topic cluster naturally.
Cost of Living in Bray
Bray's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies.
Air Quality in Bray
Bray's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated.
Energy in Bray
Bray's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context.
Safety in Bray
Bray's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available.
Internet Speed in Bray
Bray's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references.
Climate Risk in Bray
Bray's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity.
City rankings
Compare this city against other indexed cities in crawlable ranking tables.
Cost of living in Bray
Cost of living estimates for Bray — monthly budgets, rent, food, and transport in the local currency, plus an affordability score for comparison. Planning estimates derived from country baselines, not live prices.
Climate in Bray
Climate profile for Bray — Oceanic climate, annual average 9°C, comfort score 58/100. Month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, sunshine, and the best months to visit. Deterministic planning estimates, not a forecast.
Economy and jobs in Bray
Economy and jobs profile for Bray — tourism economy, economy score 79/100, key industries including tourism, hospitality, technology. Employment, salary, startup, remote-work, and career indicators. Deterministic planning estimates.
Universities and education in Bray
Education profile for Bray — regional education center, education score 62/100, 4 representative universities, plus research, student life, and international-student indicators. Deterministic dataset, not institutional rankings.
Healthcare and retirement in Bray
Healthcare and retirement profile for Bray — healthcare access city, healthcare score 66/100, retirement score 68/100. Medical access, specialist and emergency care, affordability, and retirement suitability. Deterministic planning estimates.
Visual guide to Bray
Source-attributed visual context for Bray using verified Wikimedia imagery from the existing media catalog, alongside structured city intelligence and planning links. Not a tourism guide or attractions ranking.
Weekend trip planning guide for Bray
Weekend trip planning checklist for Bray — links into arrival planning, Summer 2026 travel context, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not an itinerary, events calendar, hotel-price guide, restaurant guide, or tourism ranking.
Nearby weekend places from Bray
Source-backed nearby place records for local-first weekend planning, with verification status, official source links, Wikidata identity, and visual context.
Estimate a monthly budget for Bray
Estimate a monthly budget for Bray using your own housing, food, transport, healthcare, and lifestyle inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official cost-of-living measurement.
Plan a trip budget for Bray
Plan a trip budget for Bray using your own accommodation, food, local transport, activities, travel, healthcare buffer, and emergency buffer inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official travel cost estimate.
Nearby cities from Bray
Where else nearby you could spend a day or a weekend from Bray. Links are derived from geographic proximity, shared region, shared natural-recreation areas, transport corridors, and country borders — not popularity or tourism rankings.
Dublin, Ireland
Same region · about 19 km from Bray. Explore Dublin's city intelligence profile.
Swords, Ireland
Same region · about 30 km from Bray. Explore Swords's city intelligence profile.
Drogheda, Ireland
Same region · about 59 km from Bray. Explore Drogheda's city intelligence profile.
Dundalk, Ireland
Same region · about 91 km from Bray. Explore Dundalk's city intelligence profile.
Kilkenny, Ireland
Mountain cluster · about 98 km from Bray. Explore Kilkenny's city intelligence profile.
Athlone, Ireland
Mountain cluster · about 124 km from Bray. Explore Athlone's city intelligence profile.
Waterford, Ireland
Mountain cluster · about 125 km from Bray. Explore Waterford's city intelligence profile.
Belfast, United Kingdom
Cross-border · about 156 km from Bray. Explore Belfast's city intelligence profile.
Limerick, Ireland
Coastal cluster · about 179 km from Bray. Explore Limerick's city intelligence profile.
Galway, Ireland
Same region · about 196 km from Bray. Explore Galway's city intelligence profile.
Related collections
Regional discovery collections that include Bray — named natural regions grouping nearby nature, parks, lakes, coasts, and mountains for local-first day and weekend planning.
Ireland Mountains
Mountain region · 13 places across 11 cities.
Ireland–United Kingdom Borderlands
Cross-border region · 21 places across 12 cities.
Ireland Weekend Escapes
Weekend escapes · 29 places across 7 cities.
Weekend Escapes near Cork
Weekend escapes · 30 places across 9 cities.
Weekend Escapes near Dublin
Weekend escapes · 28 places across 6 cities.
Themed collections
Theme-first discovery collections that include Bray — grouped by outdoor interest (mountains, lakes, coasts, forests, national parks) rather than geography.
European Coastal Landscapes
Coastal Landscapes · 12 places across 80 cities.
Ireland Cycling Friendly Areas
Cycling Friendly Areas · 18 places across 11 cities.
Ireland Family Outdoor Escapes
Family Outdoor Escapes · 19 places across 10 cities.
Ireland Hiking Areas
Hiking Areas · 23 places across 14 cities.
Ireland Mountain Escapes
Mountain Escapes · 17 places across 13 cities.
Ireland Nature Photography Spots
Nature Photography Spots · 33 places across 15 cities.
Bray FAQ
Common questions about living in, visiting, working in, studying in and retiring to Bray, answered from the indexed cost-of-living, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data on this profile.
Frequently asked questions about Bray
Is Bray worth visiting?
Bray has a very high quality-of-life estimate (82/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. Visitors can also reach nature such as Wicklow Mountains National Park, Bray Head and Great Sugar Loaf within weekend range.
What is it like to live in Bray?
Bray has a very high quality-of-life estimate (82/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. It indexes 82/100 for overall quality of life.
How much does it cost to live in Bray?
A single resident of Bray spends roughly €1,810 per month, with a one-bedroom rent near €962. Overall the city is around average cost for Ireland. These are modelled estimates, not live quotes — verify locally.
What should I know about moving to Bray?
Plan for around-average living costs and check current rents before relocating. Bray is high for remote workers (71/100), based on connectivity, walkability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
What is the job market like in Bray?
Bray's labour market is very strong, with opportunities concentrated in tourism and hospitality, technology and healthcare. Bray has a tourism-driven economy with strengths in tourism, hospitality and technology.
Is Bray good for digital nomads and remote work?
Bray offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 84/100.
What are the education options in Bray?
Bray is a regional education center with a mix of universities and research activity in our dataset, spanning fields such as Mathematics, Healthcare and Business.
Is Bray a good place to study?
Bray offers a moderate student environment, supported by walkable neighborhoods, strong quality of life and good connectivity.
What is healthcare like in Bray?
Bray has solid baseline healthcare access, supported by hospitals, specialist services, and public-health infrastructure, with a healthcare score of 66/100. Residents have strong access to healthcare across primary, specialist, and emergency care.
Is Bray a good place to retire?
Bray offers a combination of healthcare access, safety, and amenities that may appeal to retirees, with a retirement score of 68/100. Residents benefit from parks and green space, walkable streets and broad urban amenities and day-to-day services.
What is the climate like in Bray?
Bray has an oceanic climate, averaging about 9.0°C annually with roughly 1148 mm of rain. The hottest month is Jul and the coldest Jan. The driest is typically Jun.
Is Bray a safe place to live?
Bray is estimated to be a generally safe city (79/100 in our safety index), with solid personal-safety indicators.
How easy is it to get around Bray?
Bray indexes a walkability score of 75 and a cycling score of 54 out of 100. Check the local operator for live transit routes and fares.
What nature and outdoor places are near Bray?
Nature destinations within about 170 km of Bray include Wicklow Mountains National Park, Bray Head and Great Sugar Loaf. Each is linked with its official source on the profile.
Is Bray good for families?
Bray scores very high for family living (83/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
What outdoor activities are there around Bray?
Bray rates 74/100 for outdoor lifestyle and 100/100 for green space. Nearby nature such as Wicklow Mountains National Park, Bray Head and Great Sugar Loaf supports day hikes, water activities and weekend trips.
Interpretation
Use the Bray profile to compare affordability, commuter access, and coastal nature dimensions alongside Dublin, Cork, and Galway. Its standout dimensions are air quality (74/100) and climate risk (70/100). The area most worth watching is cost of living (54/100), where the model registers practical gaps. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16. Drawn from 4 institutional references.
Country context is available on the Ireland country page. Related rankings include Overall Intelligence, Quality of Life, Remote Work. See where Bray appears in global rankings or read the scoring methodology.
Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation. Verified datasets are being integrated; official sources should be used for critical decisions.
Sources
4 institutional references inform this view, listed below with reliability notes. Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation; verified datasets are being integrated and official sources should be used for critical decisions.
- UN-Habitat: World Cities Report 2024
Used as a policy and methodology reference for urban exposure and resilience signals.
- European Environment Agency: Air Quality Status Report
Used where European city comparisons need monitored air-quality context.
- NASA: NASA POWER
Used as an energy-resource and weather-normalization reference.
- IPCC: AR6 WGII Chapter 6: Cities, settlements and key infrastructure
Used to explain urban climate vulnerability and adaptation scoring logic.