#1Kilcock
Kildare · 8,674 peopleScore 72.1·#1 of 14 in County Kildare
Strongest: health A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk B−
Kilcock, #1 on this list · Photo: Ben Brooksbank (CC BY-SA 2.0)Ireland · 2026
Best places to live in Ireland
Kilcock, Kildare, ranks first of 320 towns of 2,500 or more in Ireland. 17 of the 100 here grade A+, the top 5% of Irish towns; their scores run from 72.1 down to 55.8. County Dublin has the most of them (35), and 17 counties have at least one.
The overall score, sorted across Ireland; the letter and the county rank sit beside it. How grades work
#1A+
#2Rathangan
Kildare · 3,263 peopleScore 69.7·#2 of 14 in County Kildare
Strongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C
#3Celbridge
Kildare · 20,601 peopleScore 69.1·#3 of 14 in County Kildare
Strongest: safety A, health A−·lowest: cost of living B−
The top 100
Each county rank links to that county’s full list. The score (0–100) blends the six graded subjects and sets the order; the letter places that score among Irish towns of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbours on the list often share a letter.
100 towns on this page. Every ranked town is on its county’s list.
#TownScoreGrade · county rankWhat drives it
1KilcockKildare · 8,674 people72.1top 0.1%A+#1 of 14Strongest: health A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk B−
2RathanganKildare · 3,263 people69.7top 0.3%A+#2 of 14Strongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C
3CelbridgeKildare · 20,601 people69.1top 0.6%A+#3 of 14Strongest: safety A, health A−·lowest: cost of living B−
4AshbourneMeath · 15,680 people69.0top 0.9%A+#1 of 11Strongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability B−
5CarrigtwohillCork · 5,568 people68.9top 1.3%A+#1 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A+, safety A·lowest: walkability C
6DunboyneMeath · 7,155 people68.4top 1.6%A+#2 of 11Strongest: health A+, hazard risk A+·lowest: cost of living C
7CallanKilkenny · 2,678 people67.7top 1.9%A+Strongest: safety A, cost of living A−·lowest: walkability C
8PortmarnockDublin · 10,750 people67.0top 2.2%A+#1 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
9KilcullenKildare · 3,815 people66.7top 2.5%A+#4 of 14Strongest: safety A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D
10EnfieldMeath · 3,663 people66.7top 2.8%A+#3 of 11Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living B−
11RatoathMeath · 10,077 people66.5top 3.3%A+#4 of 11Strongest: hazard risk A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living C+
11CastleislandKerry · 2,536 people66.5top 3.3%A+#1 of 5Strongest: safety A−, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk C+
13BlarneyCork · 2,779 people65.9top 3.8%A+#2 of 54Strongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
14TerenureDublin · 10,391 people65.3top 4.1%A+#2 of 116Strongest: jobs & income A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D
15ClaremorrisMayo · 3,857 people65.2top 4.4%A+#1 of 6Strongest: cost of living A−, health A−·lowest: hazard risk C
16DouglasCork · 22,029 people64.9top 4.7%A+#3 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A+, safety A+·lowest: walkability C−
17CarrigalineCork · 18,239 people64.6top 5.0%A+#4 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: walkability D
18RathfarnhamDublin · 17,508 people64.5top 5.3%A#3 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
19BallybodenDublin · 5,246 people64.3top 5.6%A#4 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
20Frankfield and GrangeCork · 7,687 people64.2top 6.1%A#5 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: walkability C−
20SalthillGalway · 5,445 people64.2top 6.1%A#1 of 20Strongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D
22DunshaughlinMeath · 6,644 people64.2top 6.6%A#5 of 11Strongest: health A, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
23SallinsKildare · 6,269 people64.2top 6.9%A#5 of 14Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: safety B
24MacroomCork · 4,096 people63.9top 7.4%A#6 of 54Strongest: safety A, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C+
24KnocklyonDublin · 13,854 people63.9top 7.4%A#5 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D
26BallincolligCork · 21,940 people63.8top 7.8%A#7 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A+, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
27Kinsealy-DrinanDublin · 7,526 people63.5top 8.2%A#6 of 116Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D
28StillorganDublin · 18,212 people63.2top 8.5%A#7 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
29MaynoothKildare · 17,259 people63.1top 8.8%A#6 of 14Strongest: health A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C
30MalahideDublin · 18,608 people62.9top 9.1%A#8 of 116Strongest: health A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living D−
31BlackrockDublin · 12,816 people62.8top 9.4%A#9 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
32CarpenterstownDublin · 20,967 people62.8top 9.7%A#10 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: safety C+
33WestportMayo · 6,872 people62.7top 10.0%A#2 of 6Strongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: cost of living C
34RiverstownCork · 3,664 people62.6top 10.3%A#8 of 54Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D−
35SkibbereenCork · 2,903 people62.5top 10.7%A#9 of 54Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living A−·lowest: health C
36KinsaleCork · 5,991 people62.4top 11.0%A#10 of 54Strongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D−
37CahirTipperary · 3,679 people62.4top 11.3%A#1 of 9Strongest: cost of living A, health B+·lowest: walkability C+
38TowerCork · 3,300 people62.3top 11.6%A#11 of 54Strongest: safety A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D−
39ClaneKildare · 8,152 people62.1top 11.9%A#7 of 14Strongest: health A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C−
40CrosshavenCork · 3,263 people62.0top 12.2%A#12 of 54Strongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D
41StepasideDublin · 22,796 people61.8top 12.5%A#11 of 116Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D
42ChurchtownDublin · 10,044 people61.7top 12.9%A#12 of 116Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
43Rathmines WestDublin · 22,667 people61.7top 13.2%A#13 of 116Strongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living C
44GortGalway · 2,870 people61.6top 13.5%A#2 of 20Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income C
45LeixlipKildare · 16,733 people61.4top 13.8%A#8 of 14Strongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: cost of living C
46BooterstownDublin · 8,505 people61.3top 14.1%A#14 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
47AshtownDublin · 14,937 people61.2top 14.4%A#15 of 116Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C
48BandonCork · 8,196 people61.1top 14.7%A#13 of 54Strongest: safety A−, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk D
49Passage West-MonkstownCork · 6,051 people61.0top 15.0%A#14 of 54Strongest: safety A+, health B+·lowest: hazard risk D
50BallinteerDublin · 16,038 people60.9top 15.4%A−#16 of 116Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
51SwordsDublin · 40,776 people60.9top 15.7%A−#17 of 116Strongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living C
52MonkstownDublin · 9,831 people60.8top 16.0%A−#18 of 116Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
53RoscommonRoscommon · 6,555 people60.7top 16.3%A−Strongest: safety A−, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
54NaasKildare · 26,180 people60.7top 16.6%A−#9 of 14Strongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living C+
55SandyfordDublin · 8,844 people60.7top 16.9%A−#19 of 116Strongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D
56ClonakiltyCork · 5,112 people60.6top 17.2%A−#15 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
57GlanmireCork · 4,454 people60.6top 17.6%A−#16 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A+, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D−
58Newcastle WestLimerick · 7,209 people60.5top 17.9%A−#1 of 15Strongest: cost of living A, safety B+·lowest: hazard risk C−
59KenmareKerry · 2,566 people60.4top 18.2%A−#2 of 5Strongest: safety A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C+
60FoxrockDublin · 12,163 people60.4top 18.5%A−#20 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
61MitchelstownCork · 3,744 people60.2top 18.8%A−#17 of 54Strongest: cost of living A, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C
62OranmoreGalway · 5,819 people60.1top 19.1%A−#3 of 20Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: hazard risk D
63FirhouseDublin · 12,254 people60.0top 19.4%A−#21 of 116Strongest: health A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
64SkerriesDublin · 10,743 people59.9top 19.7%A−#22 of 116Strongest: health A−, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C−
65BantryCork · 2,929 people59.9top 20.1%A−#18 of 54Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B+·lowest: health C
66DonegalDonegal · 2,749 people59.8top 20.5%A−#1 of 6Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability B−
66InishkennyCork · 5,552 people59.8top 20.5%A−#19 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A−·lowest: cost of living C−
68DundrumDublin · 16,570 people59.7top 21.0%A−#23 of 116Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
69AthenryGalway · 4,603 people59.7top 21.3%A−#4 of 20Strongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
70GlounthauneCork · 5,000 people59.6top 21.6%A−#20 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: hazard risk D−
71DonabateDublin · 9,669 people59.6top 21.9%A−#24 of 116Strongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: cost of living C−
72KanturkCork · 2,803 people59.3top 22.3%A−#21 of 54Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C−
73Greystones-DelganyWicklow · 22,009 people59.3top 22.6%A−#1 of 9Strongest: health A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living D−
74MoateWestmeath · 3,013 people59.3top 22.9%A−Strongest: cost of living A−, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C
75OngarDublin · 13,390 people59.1top 23.2%A−#25 of 116Strongest: health A, walkability B·lowest: safety C+
76TrimMeath · 9,563 people59.0top 23.5%A−#6 of 11Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C
77TempleogueDublin · 18,076 people59.0top 23.8%A−#26 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: cost of living D−
78MidletonCork · 13,906 people58.5top 24.1%A−#22 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: walkability C−
79RathcooleDublin · 5,792 people58.5top 24.5%A−#27 of 116Strongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: safety C+
80MonaghanMonaghan · 7,894 people58.4top 24.8%A−Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability C+
81Rathmines EastDublin · 16,923 people58.3top 25.1%B+#28 of 116Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D
82MonasterevinKildare · 5,307 people58.2top 25.4%B+#10 of 14Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: health C
83BallyhaunisMayo · 2,773 people58.1top 25.7%B+#3 of 6Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability A−·lowest: jobs & income D
84LuskDublin · 8,806 people57.9top 26.0%B+#29 of 116Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C−
85KillKildare · 3,818 people57.9top 26.3%B+#11 of 14Strongest: health A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability D
86CastleknockDublin · 6,355 people57.9top 26.6%B+#30 of 116Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D
87Clontarf EastDublin · 18,626 people57.7top 27.0%B+#31 of 116Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
88KnocknacarraGalway · 18,398 people57.7top 27.3%B+#5 of 20Strongest: safety A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
89SuttonDublin · 5,789 people57.6top 27.6%B+#32 of 116Strongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
90StamullenMeath · 3,720 people57.4top 27.9%B+#7 of 11Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D
91BallyjamesduffCavan · 2,917 people57.4top 28.2%B+#1 of 5Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A−·lowest: health C
92LucanDublin · 23,033 people57.2top 28.5%B+#33 of 116Strongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living C−
93BallinloughCork · 5,435 people57.1top 28.8%B+#23 of 54Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D
94CabinteelyDublin · 15,864 people56.8top 29.2%B+#34 of 116Strongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D−
95BailieboroughCavan · 2,974 people56.6top 29.5%B+#2 of 5Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C−
96LehenaghCork · 4,154 people56.5top 29.8%B+#24 of 54Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D
97Muinebeag (Bagenalstown)Carlow · 2,945 people56.0top 30.1%B+Strongest: safety A−, walkability B+·lowest: hazard risk C−
98BallinrobeMayo · 3,148 people55.9top 30.4%B+#4 of 6Strongest: cost of living A, safety B·lowest: hazard risk C−
99BishopstownCork · 14,529 people55.8top 30.7%B+#25 of 54Strongest: safety A−, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D
100BallsbridgeDublin · 12,743 people55.8top 31.0%B+#35 of 116Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
Where they are
The top 100 by county
The grade curve is the same everywhere, so counties with many towns of 2,500 or more fill more of the list.
Big towns and cities
Places of 20,000+: the top 10
The same grade, among the 32 ranked towns and city neighbourhoods of 20,000+, so a town of 3,000 isn’t weighed against a city.
- 1A+Celbridge, Kildare20,601
- 2A+Douglas, Cork22,029
- 3ABallincollig, Cork21,940
- 4ACarpenterstown, Dublin20,967
- 5AStepaside, Dublin22,796
- 6ARathmines West, Dublin22,667
- 7A−Swords, Dublin40,776
- 8A−Naas, Kildare26,180
- 9A−Greystones-Delgany, Wicklow22,009
- 10B+Lucan, Dublin23,033
Method
How this list is made
The overall grade blends six graded subjects (safety, cost of living, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk), each comparing a town with every other town in Ireland of 1,000 or more; the towns of 2,500 or more are ranked on that blend, shown as the score (0–100), so the order has no ties. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Why isn’t my town on the list?
The list ranks towns of 2,500 people or more that have an overall grade, which needs a grade for each of cost of living, safety, health, jobs and income, and walkability. A smaller town, or one missing one of those, shows the grades it has on its own page.
Are university towns ranked?
No: where most residents are students, a town keeps its grades on its own page but sits out the rankings, since a student population changes what the figures mean.
County by county
Best places to live, county by county
Photos: Kilcock, Ben Brooksbank (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Rathangan, Jonathan Billinger (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Celbridge, Eirian Evans (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Irish towns against each other only, run #58 of 4 November 2026. Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).