BalbrigganCo. Dublin

With 24,322 residents, it is a town in Co. Dublin. It grew by 11% between the 2016 and 2022 censuses.

6 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Population

24,322

CSO, Census 2022 · Fingal County Council

Median age

34.9

8% are 65+ · Co. Dublin 14%

Degree level

30%

of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%

Walk, cycle, transit

25%

of working residents · Irish towns 23%

TownGrade

C⁻

#256 of 320

Is Balbriggan a good place to live?

Health is a weak point: bad health runs at 173 and disability at 116 per 100 expected for its ages. Balbriggan’s overall C− puts it #94 of 116 in Co. Dublin. On that grade it does better than 20% of Irish towns. Crime is the sore point: violent crime runs at 8.9 per 1,000 residents a year, burglary and criminal damage at 8. Cost of living is its strong suit (B+): prices run to a median €300,000, 4.9 times local household income.

Figures: prices, Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025 · incomes, CSO · health, CSO Census 2022 · crime, CSO recorded crime, 2023 to 2025.

This town's Hazard risk Grade uses radon and landslides only: open LiDAR heights don't cover enough of its homes to measure flooding, so flood isn't counted for or against it.

WeakestDHealth C⁻Safety

What makes Balbriggan stand out

The 2 things Balbriggan does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

Only 8% are 65 or over

The median of Irish towns: 14%

CSO, Census 2022

Health

Behind 87%

of Irish towns on health

Its health grade: D.

How Balbriggan grades

Each subject compares Balbriggan with Irish towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

Health116 with a disability per 100 predictedDOpen →SafetyCrime runs among the highest comparedC⁻Open →Hazard riskNear the bottom of the towns comparedC⁻Open →Jobs & income11% unemployedCOpen →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnB⁺Open →Walkability25% walk, cycle or take a bus or train to workBOpen →

SchoolsNot graded in Ireland: schools’ exam results aren’t published school by school (Education Act 1998, s.53)–

How TownRatings grades Irish towns →

43 places on the register, on Balbriggan’s outline

Balbriggan’s story

Balbriggan: 43 buildings on the National Inventory, one of them of national importance

19 archaeological sites are on the record here too.

2% of its homes were built before 1919, against 3% in the median of Irish towns.

1740Bedford House
1755Balbriggan Harbour (lighthouse)
1790House, Mill Street, Balbriggan

Explore the history →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Balbriggan.

HealthHealth D

For its ages, more people in Balbriggan live with a disability than in Co. Dublin’s towns or Irish towns: 116 per 100 expected

At the census, 2.4% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (1.9%) and Irish towns (2%). Among the 40 Irish towns closest to its size, Balbriggan ranks 38th on the Health Grade, near the foot. Family carers: 5% of the people in Balbriggan look after someone without pay.

88%good or very good healthDHealth Grade

Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised

Bad health173

Disability116

Co. Dublin103

Expected100

General health, self-reported

Good or very good 88%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 2%

Census 2022	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
Bad or very bad health	2.4%	1.9%	2%
Unpaid carers	5%	5.3%	5.4%
Good or very good health	88%	89%	88%

173

bad health per 100 expected · Co. Dublin 103

116

disability per 100 expected · Co. Dublin 99

83.4 · 80.1

life expectancy, women · men, the Dublin region, 2016

27%

hold a medical card, HSE Dublin and North East

Full pageBalbriggan’s health pageOpen the page

Health GradeBad health 173, disability 116 per 100 expected Getting care75% within 800 m of a pharmacy Census health88% in good or very good health The wider areaLife expectancy: women 83.4, men 80.1 Vs. the neighboursBehind its 6 graded neighbours

CSO, Census 2022 general health, disability and carers · CSO life expectancy by region, 2016 · HSE medical cards, 2024 · TownRatings age-standardised ratios

SafetySafety C⁻

Balbriggan has more crime per resident than four in five Irish towns

Town centres with shops, stations and nightlife record more incidents per resident: they are counted where they happen, not where victims live.

Among the 118 Irish towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people, Balbriggan has more crime per resident than 74% of them. Every year, 66.2 crimes are recorded per 1,000 residents. Theft, shown but not graded, ran at 13 per 1,000 a year, below Co. Dublin’s towns (18.5) and Irish towns (15.3) alike.

8.9violent incidents per 1,000 a yearC⁻Safety Grade

Compared with towns its sizeFewer incidents against residents per 1,000 than 26% of the 118 Irish towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.

More crimeLess crime

Recorded by type · per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025

Theft13

Road traffic11.3

Against justice7.7

Assault7.5

Drugs7.3

Public order5.8

Damage5.7

Dangerous acts3.8

Burglary2.2

Not in the gradeTheft, public order and offences found by Garda checks (drugs, road traffic, dangerous acts) are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence, burglary and damage.

Per 1,000 a year	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
Violent crime	8.9	5.3	5.7
Burglary & damage	8	7.5	6.4
All recorded crime	66.2	59.2	54.3
Theft	13	18.5	15.3

8.9

violent incidents per 1,000 a year

burglary and damage per 1,000 a year

1,963

incidents a year, Balbriggan Garda area

16.9

against residents per 1,000, as graded

Full pageBalbriggan’s safety reportOpen the page

Safety Grade8.9 violent incidents per 1,000 · Balbriggan has more crime per resident than 81% of Irish towns Crime by typeAssaults and harassment is the most common of the graded categories Vs. the neighboursBehind its 6 graded neighbours Questions“Is Balbriggan safe?”

CSO recorded crime by Garda station, 2023–2025, shared to towns by where residents live · Census 2022 populations

Natural hazardsHazard risk C⁻

An estimated 22% of Balbriggan’s homes have radon above the reference level

The nearest bathing water to Balbriggan is Balbriggan, Front Strand Beach, 0.8 km away, rated sufficient in 2025. 63% of its homes sit in high-radon areas, higher than both Co. Dublin’s towns (0%) and Irish towns (0%). Landslides: none of Balbriggan lies in a high-susceptibility zone.

63%of homes in high-radon areasC⁻Hazard risk Grade

Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes

In high-radon areas63%

On high landslide susceptibility0%

Share of homes	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
In high-radon areas	63%	0%	0%
On high landslide susceptibility	0%	0%	0%

22%

of homes over the radon level

0.8 km

to Balbriggan, Front Strand Beach bathing water (sufficient)

7,342

homes mapped for these shares

Full pageBalbriggan’s flood & hazards pageOpen the page

Low-lying homesunder 0.1% of homes · Homes low beside water GroundHigh landslide susceptibility · Irish towns 0%Radon63% of homes in high-radon areas Vs. the neighboursAhead of 1 of its 6 graded neighbours

EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.

Work & commuteJobs & income C

Only 64% of people aged 15 to 64 in Balbriggan were in work, fewer than in Co. Dublin’s towns and across Irish towns

One in ten workers did their job mainly from home at the census. The average trip to work took 32.4 min, above Co. Dublin’s towns (31.1 min) and Irish towns (27.6 min) alike. The unemployment rate comes to 11%.

25%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2022

Car or van64%

Train, DART or Luas9%

Walk9%

Bus7%

Bicycle1%

Census 2022	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
In work, 15 to 64	64%	71%	68%
Unemployment rate	11%	7.3%	9.2%
Average trip	32.4 min	31.1 min	27.6 min
Median household income	€60,627	€72,780	€57,760

€60,627

median household income, 2022 · Co. Dublin €71,123

10%

worked mainly from home, 2022

15%

trips of an hour or more

48,940

on the Live Register, County Dublin, September 2026

Walkability: better than 65% of Irish towns

Full pageBalbriggan’s work & commute pageOpen the page

Unemployment11% unemployed · Irish towns: 9.2%Getting to work25% walk, cycle or take transit Median income€60,627 a year · Median household income, before tax Benefits over time48,940 on the Live Register · +5.4% on a year earlier

CSO, Census 2022 travel to work, work and education · CSO Geographical Profiles of Income 2022 · Live Register · Census day was 3 April 2022, with working from home still common; shares are of those who travelled.

Schools

Boys and girls share classrooms around Balbriggan: 17% of secondaries are single-sex, below Co. Dublin’s towns and Irish towns

Pupil numbers changed −1% since 2019/20, below Co. Dublin’s towns (+4%) and Irish towns (+4%) alike. Families in Balbriggan have 17 schools within 3 km to choose from: 11 primary schools and 6 secondary schools. Balbriggan Community College is the nearest secondary school, 0.3 km away.

17schools within 3 km

School	Level	Pupils	Ethos
St Molaga Senior N.S. Special classesLargest primary schoolPrimary	Primary	422	Catholic
Loreto Secondary School GirlsLargest post-primary schoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary	Post-primary · Voluntary secondary	1,220	Catholic
Coláiste Ghlór na Mara GaelcholáisteTeaches through IrishPost-primary · Voluntary secondary	Post-primary · Voluntary secondary	520	Multi-denominational
Balbriggan Community College DEISIn the DEIS schemePost-primary · ETB	Post-primary · ETB	686	Inter-denominational

See all 17 schools →

Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km

Catholic7

Multi-denominational7

Church of Ireland1

Inter-denominational2

Schools within 3 km	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
Single-sex secondaries	17%	40%	39%
Teach through Irish	12%	7%	8%
Pupils since 2019/20	−1%	+4%	+4%
In the DEIS scheme	29%	40%	35%

8,295

pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26

−1%

pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%

0.3 km

to the nearest primary school

0.3 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageBalbriggan’s schools pageOpen the page

Who runs them17 schools within 3 km Language12% teach through Irish · 2 schools teach through Irish Pupils over time8,295 pupils · −1% since 2019/20 Questions“What schools are there in Balbriggan?”

Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · There are no letters or results on these cards, because Ireland publishes none school by school.

HousingCost of living B⁺

Social housing is more common in Balbriggan than in Co. Dublin’s towns or across Irish towns, at 16% of households

In 2010 the typical home in Balbriggan sold for €185K; by 2025 it was €325K, 76% more. Owners make up three in five households, lower than Co. Dublin’s towns (66%) and near Irish towns (61%). Renting privately is how 23% of households live.

€300Kmedian sale priceB⁺Cost of living Grade

Median sale price · Property Price Register, 2023–2025

Balbriggan€300K

Co. Dublin€454K

Irish towns€350K

By type	Median	Sales
New homes	€415,000	133
Second-hand homes	€289,000	681
The last 12 months	€342,500	260

Housing	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
Median sale price	€300K	€454K	€350K
Households in social housing	16%	10%	13%
Rent on a new tenancy, a month	€1,703	€2,066	€1,606
Households owning their home	60%	66%	61%

60%

own their home · Irish towns 61%

23%

rent privately · Irish towns 22%

€1,703

a month on new tenancies, Balbriggan

4.2

times median household income, County Dublin

Full pageBalbriggan’s cost of living pageOpen the page

Owners and renters60% own their home Cost of livingMedian sale price €300,000 Price trend€185K in 2010, €325K in 2025 Renting€1,703 a month · Average rent on new tenancies

Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure

Climate

Balbriggan has cooler summers than Co. Dublin’s towns or Irish towns: July highs of 19.5°C

A January night in Balbriggan drops to 3.3°C on average, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (2.9°C) and Irish towns (2.9°C). A year brings 765 mm of rain to Balbriggan. November is the wettest month here, with 85 mm of rain on average.

19.5°CJuly afternoon high

Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages

Winter8.8°C

Spring12.7°C

Summer18.9°C

Autumn14.2°C

Climate, 1991–2020	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
July high	19.5°C	19.9°C	19.9°C
January low	3.3°C	2.9°C	2.9°C
Rain a year	765 mm	770 mm	937 mm
Average temperature over the year	10.4°C	10.3°C	10.3°C

19.5°C

July high

3.3°C

January low

765 mm

Rain a year

85 mm

Wettest month

Air frosts

1,468 hrs

Sunshine

Full pageBalbriggan’s climate pageOpen the page

At a glanceJuly highs 19.5°C, January lows 3.3°C The yearSummer highs 18.9°C, winter lows 3.4°C Rain765 mm of rain a year · November is the wettest month, 85 mm Weather station21 km to the weather station · Dublin Airport

Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.

Outdoors

Balbriggan is on the coast

Balbriggan counts 3 parks, adding up to 118 ha of green space. The sea makes up 37% of the area within 5 km, higher than both Co. Dublin’s towns (3.7%) and Irish towns (0%). Green space lies within 400 m of 95% of homes.

95%of homes near green space

Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents

Balbriggan4.9 ha

Co. Dublin7.6 ha

Irish towns4.1 ha

Outdoors	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
Sea within 5 km	37%	3.7%	0%
Paths per km² of town	2.1 km per km²	5.5 km per km²	2.1 km per km²
Woodland within 1 km	1.6%	2.3%	2.7%
Near a park	95%	100%	92%

95%

Near a park

4.9 ha

Green space

41 km

Footpaths

1.6%

Woodland

Full pageBalbriggan’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Parks4.9 ha per 1,000 residents · 118 ha of green space, 3 parks Green space nearby95% of homes within 400 m Protected nature0% of the land within 5 km · North-West Irish Sea cSPA Paths and trails41 km of paths · 0 trails and greenways within 5 km

OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.

Weather

Balbriggan today: light showers, topping out at 12 degrees

Today brings about 1 mm of rain and a breeze of up to 39 km/h; the low is 10°C. Rain peaks later in the week on Saturday, at about 7 mm for the day. A typical November day reaches 11°C and drops to 5°C at night: the forecast for Balbriggan is set against that.

12°C / 10°CToday

This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages

November11°C

December9°C

January9°C

February9°C

Season	High	Low	Rain
Winter	9°C	3°C	188 mm
Spring	13°C	6°C	160 mm
Summer	19°C	12°C	190 mm
Autumn	14°C	8°C	227 mm

12°C / 10°C

Today

0.8 mm

Rain, next 24 hours

30 km/h

Wind

77%

Humidity

9 h 16 min

Daylight

Full pageBalbriggan’s weather pageOpen the page

Next 24 hours0.8 mm Rain, next 24 hours · Some rain The week ahead12°C / 10°C Today · A normal 4 November: 12°C / 6°C Warnings & more9 h 16 min Daylight · 07:30 to 16:46

Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020

Who lives here

A town of families: 25% of people in Balbriggan are under 15, more than in Co. Dublin’s towns and across Irish towns

People 65 and over make up 7.8% of the town, below both Co. Dublin’s towns (14%) and Irish towns (14%). Young adults of 15 to 24 account for 14% of the town. Degrees are held by 30% of adults.

34.9median age

BalbrigganCo. DublinIreland

Co. DublinIreland

Ages · share of residents

14%

Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education

Primary or none9%

Lower secondary14%

Leaving Cert40%

Diploma or cert7%

Degree or higher30%

Women and men · all residents

51.3% of Balbriggan’s residents are women

12,474 women and 11,848 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.

Ages and education in Balbriggan
	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
Under 15	25%	17%	20%
15–24	14%	12%	12%
25–44	29%	30%	29%
45–64	23%	24%	24%
65+	7.8%	14%	14%
Primary or none	9.1%	8.4%	9.7%
Lower secondary	14%	11%	14%
Leaving Cert	40%	30%	35%
Diploma or cert	6.7%	5.2%	5.8%
Degree or higher	30%	44%	36%

Full pageBalbriggan’s Who lives here pageOpen the page

Ages34.9 median age · 8% are 65 or over Households8,147 households · 3 people per household Where born31% born outside Ireland Irish speakers35% can speak Irish · 1.1% speak Irish daily outside school

CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Dublin and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+

Town hall

No party comes near a majority on Fingal County Council: the largest holds 7 of 40

Local elections drew 44% of voters to the polls last time. Balbriggan is run by Fingal County Council, its only council: Ireland has one tier of local government. With 7 of 40 seats, Independent are the largest group on Fingal County Council, short of the 21 a majority needs.

7/40seats held by Independent

Seats on Fingal County · June 2024

Independent7

Fine Gael7

Labour Party7

Fianna Fáil6

Sinn Féin4

Social Democrats2

Aontú2

People Before Profit–Solidarity2

Turnout	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
Local elections, June 2024	44%	42%	46%
General election, November 2024	59%	57%	59%

Councillors

7/40

Independent seats on Fingal County, the largest party

44%

turnout, June 2024

TDs elected for Dublin Fingal West

Full pageBalbriggan’s town hall & politics pageOpen the page

Who’s in chargeNo majority: Independent lead with 7 of 40 (21 needed)Councillors5 councillors · Balbriggan How Balbriggan voted44% turned out · Local elections, June 2024 · Co. Dublin towns 42%TDs3 TDs · Dublin Fingal West

Department of Housing count sheets, 2024

History

Inventory buildings in Balbriggan: 18 per 10,000 residents, against 9 in Co. Dublin’s towns and 48 in Irish towns

The Sites and Monuments Record lists 19 sites here, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (6) and Irish towns (11). Homes from before 1919 make up 2% of the total. Balbriggan has 43 buildings on the national inventory of architectural heritage, 1 of them rated of national or international importance.

43inventory buildings

Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH

International0

National1

Regional42

Among them

Balbriggan Martello Tower 1800

sites on the Sites and Monuments Record

1740

earliest dated inventory building

places pictured on the history page

Heritage	Balbriggan	Co. Dublin	Ireland
Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents	18	9	48
Archaeological sites on the record	19	6	11

Full pageBalbriggan’s history pageOpen the page

NIAH buildings43 buildings on the inventory Older homes2% built before 1919 · Irish towns: 3%Monuments19 sites · On the Sites and Monuments Record Questions“How many historic buildings are there in Balbriggan?”

NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built

Nearby attractions

Ardgillan Castle and Gardens and 5 more in and around Balbriggan

Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Balbriggan. Best known first.

All attractions →

CastleArdgillan Castle and Gardens1.2 km outside town, to the southeast

CastleBalrothery Tower1.1 km outside town, to the south MuseumMuseumSkerries Mills4.3 km outside town, to the southeast CastleCastleBremore Castle100 m outside town, to the north AttractionAttractionSt. Patrick's Footprint4.3 km outside town, to the southeast MuseumMuseumBalrothery Heritage Centre1.1 km outside town, to the south

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (2)

Ardgillan Castle and Gardens: GsmithEIDW at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Balrothery Tower: Offdaw, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Balbriggan

15pages on Balbriggan

The big questions

SafetyC⁻Housing & costB⁺Property pricesSchoolsHealthDWork & commuteCNatural hazardsC⁻21.6% of homes in high-radon areas

Out and about

OutdoorsAttractionsClimateWeather

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 34.9 History43 buildings on the National Inventory Town hallFamous people12 notable people born here

Landmarks

Balbriggan has 43 buildings on the national inventory of architectural heritage, 1 of them rated of national or international importance. The national record lists 19 archaeological sites in and around the town.

All historic buildings →

NIAH: National

Balbriggan Martello TowerMartello tower · 1800

NIAH: Regional

Bedford HouseHouse · 1740

NIAH: Regional

Balbriggan Harbour (lighthouse)Lighthouse · 1755

NIAH: Regional

House, Mill Street, BalbrigganHouse · 1790

Famous people from Balbriggan

12 notable people were born in Balbriggan.

See all 12 →

Harry ReynoldsIrish racing cyclist (1874–1940)

Myles O'ReillyBritish politician · 1825–1880

Diane CaldwellIrish soccer player · born 1988

Charles W. JonesAmerican politician (1834–1897)

Sinéad de ValeraWife of Eamon de Valera (1878–1975)

Laura PerrinsCo-editor, The Conservative Woman · born 1980

Photo credits

Harry Reynolds: Agence Rol, Public domain · Myles O'Reilly: Sahaal 17, CC BY-SA 4.0

Balbriggan’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.

BalrotheryStamullenSkerriesLuskLaytown-Bettystown-Mornington-DonacarneyRushBalbriggan

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Balbriggan	24,322	—	C⁻	B⁺	C⁻	D
Balrothery	2,282	2.7	—	C⁺	C⁻	A
Stamullen Meath	3,720	5.4	B⁺	B⁺	C	A
Skerries	10,743	6.1	A⁻	C⁻	A⁻	A⁻
Lusk	8,806	9.6	B⁺	C⁻	B	B⁺
Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington-Donacarney Meath	15,642	11	C⁺	B	C	B⁻
Rush	10,875	11	B	C	B	B

People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Balbriggan

Is Balbriggan growing?

Balbriggan had 24,322 people at the 2022 census, up from 21,945 in 2016: 10.8% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.

Is Balbriggan a young town or an old one?

The median age in Balbriggan is 34.9, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns. 25% of residents are under 15 and 8% are 65 or over.

About Balbriggan

Urban area in Co. Dublin

24,322 people live in Balbriggan, in the area of Fingal County Council. TownRatings uses the CSO’s 2022 Urban Areas as Ireland’s towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a county or a council area, so its figures cover the town itself.

Built from Tailte Éireann’s boundaries and the CSO’s Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0)

Population: 24,322 (CSO, Census 2022)
County: Dublin
Council: Fingal County Council
Local electoral area: Balbriggan
Dáil constituency: Dublin Fingal West
Name in Irish: Baile Brigín
Area: 1.7 sq mi (4.4 km²)
CSO code: UA:04352

Sources: CSO, Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (CC BY 4.0) · Tailte Éireann, Urban Areas and Electoral Divisions 2022 (CC BY 4.0) · TownRatings grades, run #544 (Irish towns only). 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).