Ashbourne, #1 on this list · Photo: Trounce (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Ireland · 2026

Towns with the lowest hazard risk in Ireland

In all, 67 towns on this list earn an A. The bottom of the list is Ferrybank, with D−. The ten best are scattered across 4 counties. Ashbourne, Meath, tops the list at A+. Second and third places go to Dunboyne (A+) and Ratoath (A+).

Hazard risk grade: homes over the radon reference level, homes on landslide-prone ground and our flood measure, weighed equally How grades work

Ashbourne

Meath · 15,680 people

A⁺Hazard risk

Overall A⁺·#4 of 320

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

Dunboyne

Meath · 7,155 people

A⁺Hazard risk

Overall A⁺·#6 of 320

Strongest: health A⁺, hazard risk A⁺·lowest: cost of living C

Ratoath

Meath · 10,077 people

A⁺Hazard risk

Overall A⁺·#11 of 320

Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁺

The top 100 of 321

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

The full ranking →

Find a town

100 towns

#TownHazard riskGrade · national rankWhat drives it

1AshbourneMeath · 15,680 peopleA⁺A⁺#4 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability B⁻

2DunboyneMeath · 7,155 peopleA⁺A⁺#6 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, hazard risk A⁺·lowest: cost of living C

3RatoathMeath · 10,077 peopleA⁺A⁺#11 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁺

4SkibbereenCork · 2,903 peopleA⁺A#35 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health C

5SwordsDublin · 40,776 peopleA⁺A⁻#51 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

6DubberDublin · 7,941 peopleA⁺B⁻#145 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, health B⁺·lowest: safety D

7SantryDublin · 6,710 peopleA⁺C⁺#179 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income B·lowest: safety C⁻

8NewtownmountkennedyWicklow · 3,539 peopleA⁺C⁺#192 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, safety B⁺·lowest: cost of living D

9DonaghmedeDublin · 9,616 peopleA⁺C#221 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

10EdenmoreDublin · 2,831 peopleA⁺D#292 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D

11CarndonaghDonegal · 2,768 peopleAB⁻#156 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D

12CharlevilleCork · 3,970 peopleAB⁻#174 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health C⁻

13LuskDublin · 8,806 peopleAB⁺#84 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

14RushDublin · 10,875 peopleAB#119 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C

15Kinsealy-DrinanDublin · 7,526 peopleAA#27 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

16EnfieldMeath · 3,663 peopleAA⁺#10 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living B⁻

17BailieboroughCavan · 2,974 peopleAB⁺#95 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

18PortlaoiseLaois · 23,494 peopleAC⁻#262 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety D

19RoscreaTipperary · 5,542 peopleAB#135 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health D

20DonabateDublin · 9,669 peopleAA⁻#71 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

21AyrfieldDublin · 5,863 peopleAB⁻#151 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A·lowest: safety C

22TipperaryTipperary · 5,387 peopleAC⁺#206 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health D

23HollystownDublin · 12,884 peopleAB#137 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

24Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington-DonacarneyMeath · 15,642 peopleAC⁺#180 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·lowest: walkability C⁻

25KanturkCork · 2,803 peopleAA⁻#72 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C⁻

26RathanganKildare · 3,263 peopleAA⁺#2 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C

27DarndaleDublin · 14,675 peopleAC⁻#244 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

28KellsMeath · 6,608 peopleAB#130 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D

29GortGalway · 2,870 peopleAA#44 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C

30TullamoreOffaly · 15,598 peopleAC⁺#204 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·lowest: health C

31LongfordLongford · 10,952 peopleAD#276 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

32HarmonstownDublin · 5,769 peopleAC⁺#202 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

33NavanMeath · 33,886 peopleAB#121 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C

34KilcooleWicklow · 4,569 peopleAB⁺#111 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

35KillKildare · 3,818 peopleA⁻B⁺#85 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability D

36RahenyDublin · 8,734 peopleA⁻B⁺#107 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

37KildareKildare · 10,302 peopleA⁻B#138 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C⁺

38BelmayneDublin · 15,047 peopleA⁻B#124 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety C

39KinnegadWestmeath · 3,064 peopleA⁻B#136 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

40KilrushClare · 2,649 peopleA⁻C⁺#197 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D

41PortmarnockDublin · 10,750 peopleA⁻A⁺#8 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

42MalahideDublin · 18,608 peopleA⁻A#30 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, safety A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

43ClongriffinDublin · 7,438 peopleA⁻B⁻#166 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C

44NewcastleDublin · 4,526 peopleA⁻B#113 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability C

45GalvoneLimerick · 5,412 peopleA⁻D⁻#318 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

46BundoranDonegal · 2,599 peopleA⁻C#217 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

47BallyjamesduffCavan · 2,917 peopleA⁻B⁺#91 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health C

48Prospect and Newtown PeryLimerick · 4,122 peopleA⁻D⁻#319 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

49RathcooleDublin · 5,792 peopleA⁻A⁻#79 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: safety C⁺

50SaggartDublin · 4,573 peopleA⁻B#134 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: safety C⁺

51TallaghtDublin · 15,588 peopleA⁻B⁻#161 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D

52JobstownDublin · 23,437 peopleA⁻D⁻#305 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: health D

53FettercairnDublin · 12,970 peopleA⁻D⁻#317 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: health D

54CarrickmacrossMonaghan · 5,745 peopleA⁻B#128 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

55MonaghanMonaghan · 7,894 peopleA⁻A⁻#80 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁺

56ThurlesTipperary · 8,185 peopleA⁻B⁻#147 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety C

57MaynoothKildare · 17,259 peopleA⁻A#29 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

58CavanCavan · 11,741 peopleA⁻C#223 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

59BallymunDublin · 22,321 peopleA⁻C⁻#245 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D

60Old BawnDublin · 18,758 peopleA⁻C⁻#272 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety D

61SkerriesDublin · 10,743 peopleA⁻A⁻#64 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

62KenmareKerry · 2,566 peopleA⁻A⁻#59 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁺

63MountmellickLaois · 4,905 peopleA⁻C⁺#199 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

64MullingarWestmeath · 22,667 peopleA⁻C⁺#201 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

65DroghedaLouth · 44,135 peopleA⁻C⁻#267 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁻·lowest: cost of living C

66MulhuddartDublin · 19,252 peopleA⁻B⁻#168 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

67WexfordWexford · 21,524 peopleA⁻C#237 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: safety D

68EdenderryOffaly · 7,888 peopleB⁺C#239 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income D

69DonegalDonegal · 2,749 peopleB⁺A⁻#66 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability B⁻

70CastletroyLimerick · 15,093 peopleB⁺C⁻#252 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: cost of living D

71NaasKildare · 26,180 peopleB⁺A⁻#54 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁺

72GarryowenLimerick · 5,428 peopleB⁺D#279 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, walkability B·lowest: safety D

73KilmoreDublin · 9,786 peopleB⁺D#290 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

74BohernabreenaDublin · 4,613 peopleB⁺C#215 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety D

75MonasterevinKildare · 5,307 peopleB⁺B⁺#82 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health C

76Finglas NorthDublin · 9,805 peopleB⁺C⁻#248 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

77TrimMeath · 9,563 peopleB⁺A⁻#76 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C

78KilnamanaghDublin · 11,703 peopleB⁺D#275 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

79WhitehallDublin · 13,675 peopleB⁺B⁻#153 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

80RathbaneLimerick · 4,111 peopleB⁺D⁻#320 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, walkability C⁺·lowest: health D⁻

81Rathmines WestDublin · 22,667 peopleB⁺A#43 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C

82AshtownDublin · 14,937 peopleB⁺A#47 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C

83MarinoDublin · 6,272 peopleB⁺B⁺#102 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

84BeaumontDublin · 19,072 peopleB⁺B#115 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D

85BallygallDublin · 11,704 peopleB⁺B⁻#164 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

86Cabra EastDublin · 13,895 peopleB⁺B⁻#171 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

87PortobelloDublin · 5,732 peopleB⁺C⁺#183 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

88ChristchurchDublin · 6,778 peopleB⁺C⁺#194 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

89WalkinstownDublin · 7,442 peopleB⁺C#216 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

90Cabra WestDublin · 9,786 peopleB⁺C#219 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

91DeciesDublin · 2,713 peopleB⁺C⁻#250 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

92KimmageDublin · 15,207 peopleB⁺C⁻#253 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

93CrumlinDublin · 19,287 peopleB⁺C⁻#255 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

94Finglas SouthDublin · 12,475 peopleB⁺C⁻#258 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

95InchicoreDublin · 5,285 peopleB⁺D#274 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

96ListowelKerry · 4,794 peopleB⁺C⁺#208 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: jobs & income D

97DockLimerick · 6,258 peopleB⁺D#299 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

98BirrOffaly · 4,726 peopleB⁺C#214 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

99PerrystownDublin · 7,581 peopleB⁺B⁻#160 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

100CallanKilkenny · 2,678 peopleB⁺A⁺#7 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: walkability C

Method

How this list is made

Hazard risk grade: homes over the radon reference level, homes on landslide-prone ground and our flood measure, weighed equally. 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: Ashbourne, Trounce (CC BY-SA 2.5) · Dunboyne, 瑞丽江的河水 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ratoath, Wanfried-Dublin (CC BY 4.0), 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).