Portmarnock, #1 on this list · Photo: Gpwitteveen (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Dublin · 2026

Best places to live in County Dublin

First of the 116 ranked towns in County Dublin is Portmarnock, #8 of 320 nationally. The list’s runner-up is Terenure, at A+. The A range holds 27 towns on this list. Scores on the list run from 67.0 down to 23.6.

The overall score, sorted within the county; the letter compares each town with every town in Ireland of 2,500+, and its national rank sits beside it. How grades work

Portmarnock

10,750 people

A⁺

Score 67.0·#8 of 320 Irish towns

Strongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

Terenure

10,391 people

A⁺

Score 65.3·#14 of 320 Irish towns

Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, walkability A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

Rathfarnham

17,508 people

Score 64.5·#18 of 320 Irish towns

Strongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

All 116 towns, ranked

By overall score against Irish towns; ranks are within the county, and each national rank links to the national list.

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116 towns

#TownScoreGrade · national rankWhat drives it

1Portmarnock10,750 people67.0top 2.2%A⁺#8 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

2Terenure10,391 people65.3top 4.1%A⁺#14 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, walkability A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

3Rathfarnham17,508 people64.5top 5.3%A#18 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

4Ballyboden5,246 people64.3top 5.6%A#19 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

5Knocklyon13,854 people63.9top 7.4%A#24 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

6Kinsealy-Drinan7,526 people63.5top 8.2%A#27 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

7Stillorgan18,212 people63.2top 8.5%A#28 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

8Malahide18,608 people62.9top 9.1%A#30 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, safety A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

9Blackrock12,816 people62.8top 9.4%A#31 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

10Carpenterstown20,967 people62.8top 9.7%A#32 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: safety C⁺

11Stepaside22,796 people61.8top 12.5%A#41 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D

12Churchtown10,044 people61.7top 12.9%A#42 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

13Rathmines West22,667 people61.7top 13.2%A#43 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C

14Booterstown8,505 people61.3top 14.1%A#46 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

15Ashtown14,937 people61.2top 14.4%A#47 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C

16Ballinteer16,038 people60.9top 15.4%A⁻#50 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

17Swords40,776 people60.9top 15.7%A⁻#51 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

18Monkstown9,831 people60.8top 16.0%A⁻#52 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

19Sandyford8,844 people60.7top 16.9%A⁻#55 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

20Foxrock12,163 people60.4top 18.5%A⁻#60 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

21Firhouse12,254 people60.0top 19.4%A⁻#63 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

22Skerries10,743 people59.9top 19.7%A⁻#64 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

23Dundrum16,570 people59.7top 21.0%A⁻#68 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

24Donabate9,669 people59.6top 21.9%A⁻#71 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

25Ongar13,390 people59.1top 23.2%A⁻#75 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability B·lowest: safety C⁺

26Templeogue18,076 people59.0top 23.8%A⁻#77 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

27Rathcoole5,792 people58.5top 24.5%A⁻#79 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: safety C⁺

28Rathmines East16,923 people58.3top 25.1%B⁺#81 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

29Lusk8,806 people57.9top 26.0%B⁺#84 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

30Castleknock6,355 people57.9top 26.6%B⁺#86 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

31Clontarf East18,626 people57.7top 27.0%B⁺#87 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

32Sutton5,789 people57.6top 27.6%B⁺#89 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

33Lucan23,033 people57.2top 28.5%B⁺#92 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

34Cabinteely15,864 people56.8top 29.2%B⁺#94 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

35Ballsbridge12,743 people55.8top 31.0%B⁺#100 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

36Marino6,272 people55.3top 31.8%B⁺#102 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

37Clontarf West15,296 people54.9top 32.6%B⁺#105 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

38Raheny8,734 people54.7top 33.2%B⁺#107 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

39Ballybrack2,872 people54.7top 33.5%B⁺#108 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

40Sallynoggin13,245 people54.2top 34.2%B⁺#110 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

41Newcastle4,526 people54.0top 35.1%B#113 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability C

42Rathgar5,768 people53.7top 35.4%B#114 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

43Beaumont19,072 people53.7top 35.7%B#115 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D

44Rush10,875 people52.9top 37.0%B#119 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C

45Baldoyle7,864 people52.3top 38.2%B#123 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

46Belmayne15,047 people52.2top 38.6%B#124 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety C

47Dún Laoghaire17,994 people52.1top 38.9%B#125 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B⁺·lowest: cost of living D

48Howth8,192 people52.0top 39.2%B#126 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

49Blanchardstown24,613 people52.0top 39.5%B#127 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: safety C⁺

50Clonskeagh14,142 people51.7top 40.8%B#131 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

51Saggart4,573 people51.2top 41.7%B#134 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: safety C⁺

52Hollystown12,884 people51.0top 42.6%B#137 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

53Sandymount22,340 people50.8top 43.9%B#141 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

54Dalkey8,275 people50.8top 44.2%B#142 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

55Dubber7,941 people50.6top 45.1%B⁻#145 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, health B⁺·lowest: safety D

56Clonsilla22,510 people50.0top 46.4%B⁻#149 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C⁻

57Ayrfield5,863 people49.2top 47.0%B⁻#151 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A·lowest: safety C

58Whitehall13,675 people49.0top 47.6%B⁻#153 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

59Glasnevin9,299 people48.2top 48.9%B⁻#157 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: safety D⁻

60Edmondstown5,451 people48.2top 49.2%B⁻#158 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

61Perrystown7,581 people48.1top 49.8%B⁻#160 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

62Tallaght15,588 people48.1bottom 49.8%B⁻#161 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D

63Drumcondra11,149 people48.1bottom 49.5%B⁻#162 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

64Ballygall11,704 people47.9bottom 48.9%B⁻#164 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

65Clongriffin7,438 people47.7bottom 48.3%B⁻#166 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C

66Ballyowen14,739 people47.7bottom 48.0%B⁻#167 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

67Mulhuddart19,252 people47.2bottom 47.6%B⁻#168 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

68Cabra East13,895 people46.7bottom 46.7%B⁻#171 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

69Chapelizod4,862 people46.6bottom 46.4%B⁻#172 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

70Clondalkin22,788 people46.2bottom 45.5%B⁻#175 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, health B·lowest: safety D

71Shankill11,009 people46.1bottom 44.8%C⁺#177 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability B⁺, health B·lowest: cost of living D

72Santry6,710 people46.0bottom 44.2%C⁺#179 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income B·lowest: safety C⁻

73Portobello5,732 people45.5bottom 42.9%C⁺#183 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

74Christchurch6,778 people44.7bottom 39.5%C⁺#194 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

75Grand Canal Dock8,320 people44.4bottom 38.9%C⁺#196 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D⁻

76Harmonstown5,769 people43.8bottom 37.0%C⁺#202 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

77Killiney9,776 people42.9bottom 34.8%C#209 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health B⁺, walkability B⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

78Esker19,110 people42.6bottom 33.9%C#212 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health B⁺, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living D

79Bohernabreena4,613 people42.1bottom 32.9%C#215 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety D

80Walkinstown7,442 people42.1bottom 32.6%C#216 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

81Cabra West9,786 people41.8bottom 31.7%C#219 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

82Donaghmede9,616 people41.8bottom 31.0%C#221 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

83O'Connell Street6,749 people40.3bottom 28.8%C#228 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health B·lowest: safety D⁻

84East Wall15,907 people38.7bottom 26.3%C#236 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

85Dolphins Barn18,799 people38.4bottom 24.8%C⁻#241 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income B·lowest: safety D⁻

86Darndale14,675 people37.8bottom 23.8%C⁻#244 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

87Ballymun22,321 people37.5bottom 23.5%C⁻#245 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D

88Stoneybatter18,644 people37.2bottom 22.9%C⁻#247 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D⁻

89Finglas North9,805 people37.0bottom 22.6%C⁻#248 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

90Decies2,713 people36.7bottom 21.9%C⁻#250 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

91Kimmage15,207 people36.4bottom 21.0%C⁻#253 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

92The Liberties18,460 people36.4bottom 20.7%C⁻#254 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D⁻

93Crumlin19,287 people36.3bottom 20.4%C⁻#255 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

94Balbriggan24,322 people36.2bottom 20.1%C⁻#256 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability B·lowest: health D

95Finglas South12,475 people36.0bottom 19.4%C⁻#258 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

96Summerhill11,911 people36.0bottom 19.1%C⁻#259 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

97Kilmainham10,240 people35.9bottom 18.8%C⁻#260 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

98Parnell Square10,117 people34.8bottom 16.0%C⁻#269 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

99Carna2,897 people34.7bottom 15.7%C⁻#270 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: health D⁻

100Ballyfermot3,632 people34.6bottom 15.4%C⁻#271 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: health D⁻

101Old Bawn18,758 people34.5bottom 15.0%C⁻#272 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety D

102Kylemore2,557 people34.4bottom 14.7%D#273 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: health D⁻

103Inchicore5,285 people34.2bottom 14.4%D#274 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

104Kilnamanagh11,703 people33.9bottom 14.1%D#275 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

105Palmerston11,012 people32.8bottom 13.2%D#278 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income C⁺·lowest: safety D

106Cherry Orchard8,280 people32.2bottom 12.2%D#281 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

107Temple Bar7,276 people32.1bottom 11.0%D#285 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

108Phibsborough11,657 people31.2bottom 9.7%D#289 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D⁻

109Kilmore9,786 people31.2bottom 9.4%D#290 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

110Edenmore2,831 people30.2bottom 8.8%D#292 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D

111Ballybough8,188 people30.0bottom 8.2%D#294 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

112St Stephen's Green5,319 people27.7bottom 5.3%D#303 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income C⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

113Jobstown23,437 people27.6bottom 4.7%D⁻#305 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: health D

114Ronanstown11,130 people25.6bottom 3.1%D⁻#310 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, cost of living B⁻·lowest: health D⁻

115Deansrath13,743 people24.1bottom 1.6%D⁻#315 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability B, cost of living C⁺·lowest: health D⁻

116Fettercairn12,970 people23.6bottom 0.9%D⁻#317 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: health D

Quick answers

Questions people ask

How are these towns ranked?

By the overall grade, which blends six graded subjects (safety, cost of living, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk) from public data, each comparing a town with every town in Ireland of 1,000 or more. The rank is among the towns of 2,500 or more in County Dublin, where five or more have an overall grade.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers places of 2,500 or more with an overall grade. Smaller places, and towns missing figures the overall grade needs, show their grades on their own pages; every town is listed on the County Dublin page.

County by county

Best places to live, county by county

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Photos: Portmarnock, Gpwitteveen (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Terenure, 瑞丽江的河水 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Rathfarnham, The original uploader was Suckindiesel at English Wikipedia… (CC BY 2.5), via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Irish towns against each other only, run #71 of 9 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).