Kilcock geograph-3186148-by-Ben-Brooksbank

Kilcock, #1 on this list · Photo: Ben Brooksbank (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Ireland · 2026

Best small towns in Ireland

Rathangan is second at A+, and Carrigtwohill third at A+. In all, 49 towns on this list earn an A. The bottom of the list is Rathbane, with D−. The ten best are scattered across 6 counties. Kilcock, Kildare, tops the list at A+.

Overall grade, the ranked towns under 10,000 How grades work

Kilcock

Kildare · 8,674 people

A⁺Overall

Overall A⁺·#1 of 320

Strongest: health A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: hazard risk B⁻

Rathangan

Kildare · 3,263 people

A⁺Overall

Overall A⁺·#2 of 320

Strongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C

Carrigtwohill

Cork · 5,568 people

A⁺Overall

Overall A⁺·#5 of 320

Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, safety A·lowest: walkability C

The top 100 of 201

Ranked by its measure (Overall), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.

The full ranking →

Find a town

100 towns

#TownOverallGrade · national rankWhat drives it

1KilcockKildare · 8,674 peopleA⁺A⁺#1 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: hazard risk B⁻

2RathanganKildare · 3,263 peopleA⁺A⁺#2 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C

3CarrigtwohillCork · 5,568 peopleA⁺A⁺#5 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, safety A·lowest: walkability C

4DunboyneMeath · 7,155 peopleA⁺A⁺#6 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, hazard risk A⁺·lowest: cost of living C

5CallanKilkenny · 2,678 peopleA⁺A⁺#7 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: walkability C

6KilcullenKildare · 3,815 peopleA⁺A⁺#9 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: walkability D

7EnfieldMeath · 3,663 peopleA⁺A⁺#10 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living B⁻

8CastleislandKerry · 2,536 peopleA⁺A⁺#11 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C⁺

9BlarneyCork · 2,779 peopleA⁺A⁺#13 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

10ClaremorrisMayo · 3,857 peopleA⁺A⁺#15 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C

11BallybodenDublin · 5,246 peopleAA#19 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

12Frankfield and GrangeCork · 7,687 peopleAA#20 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: walkability C⁻

13SalthillGalway · 5,445 peopleAA#20 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D

14DunshaughlinMeath · 6,644 peopleAA#22 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

15SallinsKildare · 6,269 peopleAA#23 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety B

16MacroomCork · 4,096 peopleAA#24 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁺

17Kinsealy-DrinanDublin · 7,526 peopleAA#27 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

18WestportMayo · 6,872 peopleAA#33 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

19RiverstownCork · 3,664 peopleAA#34 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

20SkibbereenCork · 2,903 peopleAA#35 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health C

21KinsaleCork · 5,991 peopleAA#36 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

22CahirTipperary · 3,679 peopleAA#37 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁺

23TowerCork · 3,300 peopleAA#38 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: walkability D⁻

24ClaneKildare · 8,152 peopleAA#39 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

25CrosshavenCork · 3,263 peopleAA#40 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D

26GortGalway · 2,870 peopleAA#44 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C

27BooterstownDublin · 8,505 peopleAA#46 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

28BandonCork · 8,196 peopleAA#48 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

29Passage West-MonkstownCork · 6,051 peopleAA#49 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁺, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

30MonkstownDublin · 9,831 peopleA⁻A⁻#52 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

31RoscommonRoscommon · 6,555 peopleA⁻A⁻#53 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

32SandyfordDublin · 8,844 peopleA⁻A⁻#55 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

33ClonakiltyCork · 5,112 peopleA⁻A⁻#56 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

34GlanmireCork · 4,454 peopleA⁻A⁻#57 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

35Newcastle WestLimerick · 7,209 peopleA⁻A⁻#58 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

36KenmareKerry · 2,566 peopleA⁻A⁻#59 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁺

37MitchelstownCork · 3,744 peopleA⁻A⁻#61 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C

38OranmoreGalway · 5,819 peopleA⁻A⁻#62 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: hazard risk D

39BantryCork · 2,929 peopleA⁻A⁻#65 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B⁺·lowest: health C

40DonegalDonegal · 2,749 peopleA⁻A⁻#66 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability B⁻

41InishkennyCork · 5,552 peopleA⁻A⁻#66 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

42AthenryGalway · 4,603 peopleA⁻A⁻#69 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

43GlounthauneCork · 5,000 peopleA⁻A⁻#70 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

44DonabateDublin · 9,669 peopleA⁻A⁻#71 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

45KanturkCork · 2,803 peopleA⁻A⁻#72 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C⁻

46MoateWestmeath · 3,013 peopleA⁻A⁻#74 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C

47TrimMeath · 9,563 peopleA⁻A⁻#76 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C

48RathcooleDublin · 5,792 peopleA⁻A⁻#79 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: safety C⁺

49MonaghanMonaghan · 7,894 peopleA⁻A⁻#80 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁺

50MonasterevinKildare · 5,307 peopleB⁺B⁺#82 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health C

51BallyhaunisMayo · 2,773 peopleB⁺B⁺#83 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D

52LuskDublin · 8,806 peopleB⁺B⁺#84 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

53KillKildare · 3,818 peopleB⁺B⁺#85 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability D

54CastleknockDublin · 6,355 peopleB⁺B⁺#86 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

55SuttonDublin · 5,789 peopleB⁺B⁺#89 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

56StamullenMeath · 3,720 peopleB⁺B⁺#90 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D

57BallyjamesduffCavan · 2,917 peopleB⁺B⁺#91 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health C

58BallinloughCork · 5,435 peopleB⁺B⁺#93 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

59BailieboroughCavan · 2,974 peopleB⁺B⁺#95 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

60LehenaghCork · 4,154 peopleB⁺B⁺#96 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D

61Muinebeag (Bagenalstown)Carlow · 2,945 peopleB⁺B⁺#97 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

62BallinrobeMayo · 3,148 peopleB⁺B⁺#98 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety B·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

63KingscourtCavan · 2,955 peopleB⁺B⁺#101 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

64MarinoDublin · 6,272 peopleB⁺B⁺#102 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

65FerrybankKilkenny · 5,766 peopleB⁺B⁺#102 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

66DuleekMeath · 4,899 peopleB⁺B⁺#104 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: walkability D⁻

67BoyleRoscommon · 2,915 peopleB⁺B⁺#106 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, safety B·lowest: jobs & income D

68RahenyDublin · 8,734 peopleB⁺B⁺#107 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

69BallybrackDublin · 2,872 peopleB⁺B⁺#108 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

70SixmilebridgeClare · 2,832 peopleB⁺B⁺#109 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: walkability D⁻

71KilcooleWicklow · 4,569 peopleB⁺B⁺#111 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

72NewcastleDublin · 4,526 peopleBB#113 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability C

73RathgarDublin · 5,768 peopleBB#114 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

74NenaghTipperary · 9,895 peopleBB#118 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health C⁻

75FarranshoneLimerick · 7,874 peopleBB#122 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, health A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

76BaldoyleDublin · 7,864 peopleBB#123 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

77HowthDublin · 8,192 peopleBB#126 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

78CarrickmacrossMonaghan · 5,745 peopleBB#128 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

79CashelTipperary · 4,805 peopleBB#129 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C

80KellsMeath · 6,608 peopleBB#130 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D

81ClaraOffaly · 3,403 peopleBB#132 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, safety B⁺·lowest: health D

82FermoyCork · 6,720 peopleBB#133 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health B·lowest: hazard risk C

83SaggartDublin · 4,573 peopleBB#134 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: safety C⁺

84RoscreaTipperary · 5,542 peopleBB#135 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health D

85KinnegadWestmeath · 3,064 peopleBB#136 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

86TivoliCork · 4,449 peopleBB#139 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, health B·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

87VirginiaCavan · 3,211 peopleBB#140 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health B⁺, safety B⁻·lowest: walkability C

88DalkeyDublin · 8,275 peopleBB#142 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

89LoughreaGalway · 6,322 peopleBB#143 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D

90Grange UpperWaterford · 2,510 peopleBB#144 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: safety D

91DubberDublin · 7,941 peopleB⁻B⁻#145 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, health B⁺·lowest: safety D

92ThurlesTipperary · 8,185 peopleB⁻B⁻#147 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety C

93BallinaTipperary · 2,959 peopleB⁻B⁻#148 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

94AyrfieldDublin · 5,863 peopleB⁻B⁻#151 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A·lowest: safety C

95Grantstown and BallinakillWaterford · 9,571 peopleB⁻B⁻#154 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: safety D

96TramoreCork · 4,803 peopleB⁻B⁻#155 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

97CarndonaghDonegal · 2,768 peopleB⁻B⁻#156 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D

98GlasnevinDublin · 9,299 peopleB⁻B⁻#157 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: safety D⁻

99EdmondstownDublin · 5,451 peopleB⁻B⁻#158 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

100PerrystownDublin · 7,581 peopleB⁻B⁻#160 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

Method

How this list is made

Overall grade, the ranked towns under 10,000. Towns of 2,500 or more in Ireland are listed by it, best first; a tie goes to the town with the better overall rank. How grades work

Rankings

More lists across Ireland

Best places to live Best big towns Best small towns Most affordable Safest Healthiest Jobs & income Most walkable Lowest hazard risk Highest incomes Most historic Mildest winters Warmest summers Coolest summers Driest Wettest

County by county

Best places to live, county by county

Cork Dublin Galway Limerick

Photos: Kilcock, Ben Brooksbank (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Rathangan, Jonathan Billinger (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Carrigtwohill, Robert Ashby (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 #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).