Cork City Centre, #1 on this list · Photo: Robin Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Ireland · 2026

Most historic towns in Ireland

The first ten places are spread over 4 counties. Leading the list is Cork City Centre, Cork, at 1,813. The next two places belong to St Stephen's Green, 1,624, and Sunday's Well, 998. The middle town on the list, Blessington, sits at 48. Last place on the list falls to Dangan, at 0.

Buildings on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage per 10,000 residents How grades work

Cork City Centre

Cork · 3,701 people

1,813 Per 10,000 people

Overall D⁻·#307 of 320

Strongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

St Stephen's Green

Dublin · 5,319 people

1,624 Per 10,000 people

Overall D·#303 of 320

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

Sunday's Well

Cork · 2,807 people

998 Per 10,000 people

Overall C·#220 of 320

Strongest: walkability A, health B·lowest: safety C⁻

The top 100 of 321

Ranked by its measure (Per 10,000 people), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.

The full ranking →

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100 towns

#TownPer 10,000 peopleGrade · national rankWhat drives it

1Cork City CentreCork · 3,701 people1,813D⁻#307 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

2St Stephen's GreenDublin · 5,319 people1,624D#303 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income C⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

3Sunday's WellCork · 2,807 people998C#220 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B·lowest: safety C⁻

4St Luke'sCork · 4,278 people893C⁺#189 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health B⁻·lowest: safety D

5Temple BarDublin · 7,276 people834D#285 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

6Waterford City CentreWaterford · 9,031 people784D#288 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living C⁺·lowest: safety D

7PortobelloDublin · 5,732 people712C⁺#183 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

8O'Connell StreetDublin · 6,749 people689C#228 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health B·lowest: safety D⁻

9BirrOffaly · 4,726 people631C#214 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

10ShandonCork · 3,539 people554C⁻#261 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: safety D

11Limerick City CentreLimerick · 3,434 people553C⁻#265 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B⁻·lowest: safety D

12DockLimerick · 6,258 people487D#299 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

13KnockreaCork · 5,228 people453B⁻#170 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, walkability A·lowest: safety D⁻

14SkibbereenCork · 2,903 people410A#35 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health C

15Grand Canal DockDublin · 8,320 people385C⁺#196 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D⁻

16New RossWexford · 8,610 people360C⁻#243 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, walkability C⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

17Passage West-MonkstownCork · 6,051 people355A#49 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁺, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

18WestportMayo · 6,872 people348A#33 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

19ClonakiltyCork · 5,112 people340A⁻#56 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

20Parnell SquareDublin · 10,117 people326C⁻#269 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, health B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

21MitchelstownCork · 3,744 people296A⁻#61 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C

22WexfordWexford · 21,524 people292C#237 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: safety D

23KinsaleCork · 5,991 people292A#36 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

24CallanKilkenny · 2,678 people291A⁺#7 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: walkability C

25YoughalCork · 8,564 people287C#231 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health C·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

26BandonCork · 8,196 people278A#48 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

27South GateCork · 7,185 people277D#291 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D⁻

28CrosshavenCork · 3,263 people273A#40 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D

29BantryCork · 2,929 people270A⁻#65 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B⁺·lowest: health C

30ChapelizodDublin · 4,862 people269B⁻#172 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

31FermoyCork · 6,720 people266B#133 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health B·lowest: hazard risk C

32CobhCork · 14,148 people259B#116 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D

33PoleberryWaterford · 4,875 people248D⁻#313 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living C⁺·lowest: health D⁻

34Woodquay and Nuns IslandGalway · 4,948 people243C⁻#246 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D

35SummerhillDublin · 11,911 people238C⁻#259 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

36MonaghanMonaghan · 7,894 people237A⁻#80 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁺

37BlackpoolCork · 3,124 people221C#225 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, cost of living A·lowest: safety D

38GillabbeyCork · 5,857 people220D#286 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income C⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

39EnniscorthyWexford · 12,310 people216D#284 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability C⁺·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

40KilkennyKilkenny · 27,184 people216B⁺#112 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C

41TivoliCork · 4,449 people209B#139 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, health B·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

42TipperaryTipperary · 5,387 people208C⁺#206 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health D

43MoateWestmeath · 3,013 people206A⁻#74 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C

44PhibsboroughDublin · 11,657 people200D#289 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D⁻

45MonasterevinKildare · 5,307 people196B⁺#82 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health C

46CahirTipperary · 3,679 people196A#37 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁺

47CastleblayneyMonaghan · 3,926 people191C⁺#188 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, safety C⁺·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

48BoyleRoscommon · 2,915 people189B⁺#106 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, safety B·lowest: jobs & income D

49GortGalway · 2,870 people188A#44 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C

50CashelTipperary · 4,805 people187B#129 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C

51ChristchurchDublin · 6,778 people180C⁺#194 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

52TramoreWaterford · 11,277 people178B⁻#146 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

53StoneybatterDublin · 18,644 people175C⁻#247 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D⁻

54DungarvanWaterford · 10,081 people171C⁺#203 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B, cost of living B⁻·lowest: safety C

55ListowelKerry · 4,794 people167C⁺#208 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: jobs & income D

56BallyboughDublin · 8,188 people164D#294 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

57RathanganKildare · 3,263 people162A⁺#2 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C

58AthyKildare · 11,035 people161C⁻#249 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

59CharlevilleCork · 3,970 people161B⁻#174 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health C⁻

60ClaraOffaly · 3,403 people153B#132 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, safety B⁺·lowest: health D

61BallinrobeMayo · 3,148 people152B⁺#98 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety B·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

62SligoSligo · 20,608 people148C#226 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk D

63CarrickmacrossMonaghan · 5,745 people146B#128 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

64BaltinglassWicklow · 2,611 people146C⁺#198 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

65GlasnevinDublin · 9,299 people145B⁻#157 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: safety D⁻

66AthboyMeath · 2,596 people135Strongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

67ClonmelTipperary · 18,369 people130C⁺#184 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

68BallinasloeGalway · 6,597 people127C#230 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk C⁺·lowest: safety D

69DonegalDonegal · 2,749 people127A⁻#66 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability B⁻

70ShanakielCork · 3,804 people126C⁻#257 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability B⁺, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: hazard risk D

71ThurlesTipperary · 8,185 people126B⁻#147 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety C

72KellsMeath · 6,608 people121B#130 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D

73Carrick-On-ShannonLeitrim · 4,743 people120B⁻#169 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety C⁻

74Eyre SquareGalway · 6,801 people119C#213 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

75Turner's CrossCork · 7,208 people118C#235 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety D

76MacroomCork · 4,096 people117A#24 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁺

77TramoreCork · 4,803 people117B⁻#155 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

78CarndonaghDonegal · 2,768 people116B⁻#156 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D

79HowthDublin · 8,192 people115B#126 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

80KanturkCork · 2,803 people114A⁻#72 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C⁻

81RoscreaTipperary · 5,542 people114B#135 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health D

82BuncranaDonegal · 6,971 people113C⁺#187 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B⁻·lowest: walkability D

83ArdeeLouth · 5,478 people113C#229 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁻, health B⁻·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

84Cabra EastDublin · 13,895 people112B⁻#171 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

85LongfordLongford · 10,952 people111D#276 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

86MountmellickLaois · 4,905 people110C⁺#199 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

87FarranshoneLimerick · 7,874 people109B#122 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, health A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

88GoreyWexford · 11,517 people109D#301 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability C⁺, safety C⁺·lowest: health D

89TraleeKerry · 26,079 people109C⁻#263 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability C⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

90BailieboroughCavan · 2,974 people108B⁺#95 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

91MallowCork · 13,456 people106C⁺#185 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health B·lowest: hazard risk D

92The LibertiesDublin · 18,460 people103C⁻#254 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D⁻

93Dolphins BarnDublin · 18,799 people100C⁻#241 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income B·lowest: safety D⁻

94MidletonCork · 13,906 people100A⁻#78 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

95MullingarWestmeath · 22,667 people99C⁺#201 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

96BallinaMayo · 10,556 people99C⁺#193 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health C⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

97BundoranDonegal · 2,599 people96C#217 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

98BrayWicklow · 33,512 people95B⁻#159 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health B·lowest: cost of living C

99KildareKildare · 10,302 people94B#138 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C⁺

100KenmareKerry · 2,566 people94A⁻#59 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁺

Method

How this list is made

Buildings on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage per 10,000 residents. 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: Cork City Centre, Robin Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0) · St Stephen's Green, dronepicr (CC BY 2.0) · Sunday's Well, Sebastian “sebrem” B… (CC BY-SA 3.0), 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).