The median age of all buyers was 40 last year, unchanged from 2023, the data shows. That means as many people under 40 as over 40 bought a home and is a good guide to what’s typical.
In 2024 the national median income of residential property purchasers was €84,400, up from €80,100 in 2023, and €75,600 in 2022.
More than 60pc of homes were purchased jointly in 2024, meaning in most cases that number is the combined income of a couple.
The CSO research shows some striking findings in terms of the characteristics of buyers.
Home buyers who have children are significantly older – a median age of 43 for sole purchasers with children and 40 for joint buyers with children.
That compares to a median age of 36 for couple that don’t have kids and 42 for single buyers without children.
Despite high prices, the youngest cohort of purchasers on average was in South Dublin, with a median age of 37, while the oldest was in Kerry, with a median age of 45.
At local authority area level the Dublin suburb of Ballyfermot-Drimnagh had the youngest buyers anywhere in the country, with a median age of 35 last year. In Mayo’s Belmullet the median age of buyers was 56 – reflecting its older population and popularity among people retiring, including returning emigrants.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown had the highest median joint purchaser income in 2024 at €157,100, while the lowest was Monaghan, at €77,900.
Nationally, the number of homes purchased fell to 48,780 in 2024, after running at more than 50,000 in the previous two years, likely impacted by a drop in new home completions.
More than three quarters of buyers were Irish citizens, followed by EU citizens, Asian and UK nationals.
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