Ashford’s story
Ashford: 5 buildings on the National Inventory
Homes built before 1919: 3%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1815Nun's Cross Church (Killiskey)
- 1875The Old School House
- 1900Mountusher House (gate lodge)
AshfordCo. Wicklow
Its population rose 22% from 2016 to 2022. Some 1,892 people live in this town, in Co. Wicklow.
6 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Sarah777 at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Population
1,892
CSO, Census 2022 · Wicklow County Council
Median age
38.6
15% are 65+ · Co. Wicklow 14%
Degree level
42%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
9%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Ashford a good place to live?
Police record less crime here than in most towns: for every 1,000 residents, gardaí record 2.6 violent crimes and 4.9 burglaries or acts of criminal damage a year. Residents are healthier than most: bad health runs at 88 and disability at 110 per 100 expected for its ages. Hazard risk is higher than most (D−): an estimated 28% of homes are above the radon reference level. Half the homes sold for more than €465,000, a price of 6.9 times what the median household earns. Few people walk, cycle or take the bus to work: 9% of commuters walk, cycle or take the bus or train, against 23% in the typical Irish town.
Figures: crime, CSO recorded crime, 2023 to 2025 · health and commuting, CSO Census 2022 · radon, EPA · prices, Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025 · incomes, CSO. Irish towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Ashford has subject grades only.
Rents for this town aren't published on their own, so its Cost Grade uses the county's average rent. Health less sure: few enough residents report bad health that the town's figure could be well above or below its true level.
What makes Ashford stand out
The 3 things Ashford does most differently from other towns.
How Ashford grades
Each subject compares Ashford with Irish towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.
Hazard riskAmong the most exposed to natural hazardsD−Open →WalkabilityIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesC−Open →SafetyLess crime than in most townsB+Open →HealthAhead of most towns comparedB+Open →Jobs & income70% of 15-to-64s in work; 9% unemployedB−Open →
SchoolsNot graded in Ireland: schools’ exam results aren’t published school by school (Education Act 1998, s.53)–
How TownRatings grades Irish towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ashford.
Natural hazardsHazard risk D−
Radon is the hazard to know in Ashford: 100% of homes sit in high-radon areas, more than in both Co. Wicklow’s towns and Irish towns
Ashford’s nearest bathing water is Silver Strand, 9.5 km away, rated sufficient in 2025. On high landslide susceptibility: 3% of homes, higher than both Co. Wicklow’s towns (0.4%) and Irish towns (0%). Only a handful of its homes, if any, sit low beside water.
100%of homes in high-radon areasD−Hazard risk Grade
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
Low-lying beside water0%
In high-radon areas100%
On high landslide susceptibility3%
Low-lying near a river0%
Low-lying near the coast0%
| Share of homes | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 3% | 0.4% | 0% |
28%
of homes over the radon level
9.5 km
to Silver Strand bathing water (sufficient)
661
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
HousingCost of living C−
Private renting is less common in Ashford than in Co. Wicklow’s towns or across Irish towns: 7%
Home ownership stands at 80% of households. Social housing holds 13% of households, about level with both Co. Wicklow’s towns (14%) and Irish towns (13%).
€465Kmedian sale priceC−Cost of living Grade
Median sale price · Property Price Register, 2023–2025
Ashford€465K
Co. Wicklow€440K
Irish towns€350K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| New homes | €460,000 | 74 |
| Second-hand homes | €510,000 | 77 |
| The last 12 months | €600,000 | 38 |
| Housing | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households renting privately | 7% | 16% | 22% |
| Households owning their home | 80% | 71% | 61% |
| Median sale price | €465K | €440K | €350K |
80%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
7%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,730
a month on new tenancies, County Wicklow
7.3
times median household income, County Wicklow
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure
SafetySafety B+
More crime is recorded per resident in Ashford than in Co. Wicklow’s towns or across Irish towns, at 135.7 per 1,000 a year
The commonest graded crime in Ashford was damage to property (2023–2025). For its size, Ashford records more crime per resident than 51% of the 156 Irish towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people.
2.6violent incidents per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with towns its sizeFewer incidents against residents per 1,000 than 49% of the 156 Irish towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Recorded by type · per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025
Dangerous acts94
Road traffic17.2
Theft11.2
Damage2.6
Public order2.3
Burglary2.3
Assault2
Drugs2
Against justice1.2
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 | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All recorded crime | 135.7 | 33.6 | 54.3 |
| Violent crime | 2.6 | 3.9 | 5.7 |
| Burglary & damage | 4.9 | 4.6 | 6.4 |
2.6
violent incidents per 1,000 a year
4.9
burglary and damage per 1,000 a year
678
incidents a year, Ashford Garda area
7.5
against residents per 1,000, as graded
CSO recorded crime by Garda station, 2023–2025, shared to towns by where residents live · Census 2022 populations
HealthHealth B+
For its ages, Ashford has about as much bad health as expected
At the census, 1.6% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, below both Co. Wicklow’s towns (1.8%) and Irish towns (2%). Weighed against its ages, disability in Ashford runs at 110 per 100 expected. Asked at the census, 90% of residents of Ashford said they were in good or very good health.
90%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health88
Disability110
Co. Wicklow111
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 90%Fair 9%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2022 | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad or very bad health | 1.6% | 1.8% | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 90% | 90% | 88% |
88
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Wicklow 111
110
disability per 100 expected · Co. Wicklow 111
84 · 80.3
life expectancy, women · men, the Mid-East region, 2016
27%
hold a medical card, HSE Dublin and South East
CSO, Census 2022 general health, disability and carers · CSO life expectancy by region, 2016 · HSE medical cards, 2024 · TownRatings age-standardised ratios
Schools
Irish-medium schooling is strong around Ashford: 25% of schools, above Co. Wicklow’s towns and Irish towns
Since 2019/20, pupils changed +5%, lower than Co. Wicklow’s towns (+12%) yet higher than Irish towns (+4%). Within 3 km of Ashford there are 4 schools (4 primary schools).
4schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Coen's National School DEISLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 328 | Catholic |
| Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin GaelscoilTeaches through IrishPrimary | Primary | 285 | Inter-denominational |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic2
Church of Ireland1
Inter-denominational1
| Schools within 3 km | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach through Irish | 25% | 9% | 8% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +5% | +12% | +4% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 25% | 20% | 35% |
1,116
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+5%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
1 km
to the nearest primary school
4.5 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · No letters, no results: Irish schools aren’t ranked one by one.
Climate
Ashford is wetter than Co. Wicklow’s towns or Irish towns: 1,086 mm of rain a year
Expect January lows of around 2.9°C in Ashford. Here July highs average 19.6°C, close to Co. Wicklow’s towns (19.7°C) and below Irish towns (19.9°C). Taken over the whole year, the average temperature locally is 10.2°C.
19.6°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.9°C
Spring12.7°C
Summer19.0°C
Autumn14.2°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain a year | 1,086 mm | 988 mm | 937 mm |
| July high | 19.6°C | 19.7°C | 19.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 10.2°C | 10.5°C | 10.3°C |
| January low | 2.9°C | 3.3°C | 2.9°C |
19.6°C
July high
2.9°C
January low
1,086 mm
Rain a year
134 mm
Wettest month
36
Air frosts
1,397 hrs
Sunshine
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Outdoors
More woodland lies at the edge of Ashford than Co. Wicklow’s towns or Irish towns: 11% of the land within 1 km
68% of homes are within 400 m of green space, below Co. Wicklow’s towns (75%) and Irish towns (92%) alike. Ashford counts 2 parks, adding up to 12 ha of green space. There are 6.4 ha of green space for every 1,000 people locally.
68%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Ashford6.4 ha
Co. Wicklow1.5 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland within 1 km | 11% | 5.7% | 2.7% |
| Sea within 5 km | 6.1% | 34% | 0% |
| Near a park | 68% | 75% | 92% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.8 km per km² | 1.2 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
68%
Near a park
6.4 ha
Green space
10 km
Footpaths
3.4%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Ashford’s outlook today: light showers, peaking at 11 degrees
Ashford’s forecast, set beside its normal weather: in November a typical day reaches 11°C, and nights drop to 5°C. Around 1 mm of rain is due today, on a breeze of up to 31 km/h, with a low of 9°C. Plan indoor things for Tuesday, when about 16 mm of rain is forecast.
11°C / 9°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 | 306 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 226 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 11°C | 215 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 8°C | 340 mm |
11°C / 9°C
Today
0.8 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
27 km/h
Wind
90%
Humidity
9 h 20 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Ashford grew 22% from 2016 to 2022, faster than most Irish towns
Degrees are held by 42% of adults, above both Co. Wicklow’s towns (32%) and Irish towns (36%). Aged 15 to 24: 11% of residents. Also worth knowing: 16% of residents were born outside the country.
38.6median age
AshfordCo. WicklowIreland
Ages · share of residents
15%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none9%
Lower secondary12%
Leaving Cert31%
Diploma or cert6%
Degree or higher42%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 51.2% of Ashford
968 women and 924 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 20% | 24% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 29% | 26% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 26% | 24% |
| 65+ | 15% | 14% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 9% | 10% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 12% | 15% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 31% | 36% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 6.4% | 6.5% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 42% | 32% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Wicklow and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Turnout in Wicklow was among the highest at the 2024 general election
Ashford answers to one council, Wicklow County Council; Ireland has no town tier. At the general election 68% voted, near Co. Wicklow’s towns (68%) and higher than Irish towns (59%). 53% of voters turned out at the last local elections. With 10 of 32 seats, Independent are the largest group on Wicklow County Council, short of the 17 a majority needs.
10/32seats held by Independent
Seats on Wicklow County · June 2024
Independent10
Fine Gael9
Fianna Fáil4
Social Democrats3
Sinn Féin2
Green Party2
Labour Party1
Independent Ireland1
| Turnout | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| General election, November 2024 | 68% | 68% | 59% |
| Local elections, June 2024 | 53% | 54% | 46% |
6
Councillors
10/32
Independent seats on Wicklow County, the largest party
53%
turnout, June 2024
4
TDs elected for Wicklow
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
Ashford’s heritage: 5 buildings on the national inventory
Per 10,000 residents, Ashford counts 26 inventory buildings, lower than both Co. Wicklow’s towns (54) and Irish towns (48). 2.7% of homes were built before 1919.
5inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional4
Among them
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1815
earliest dated inventory building
3%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 26 | 54 | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | 14 | 11 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 2.7% | 5.5% | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Work & commuteJobs & income B−
18% of workers in Ashford worked mainly from home, more than in both Co. Wicklow’s towns and Irish towns
Short trips: 26% under 15 minutes, below Co. Wicklow’s towns (36%) and Irish towns (31%) alike. A trip to work takes 34.8 min on average. Employment among 15- to 64-year-olds stood at 70% at the census.
9%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van73%
Bus4%
Walk3%
Train, DART or Luas1%
Bicycle1%
| Census 2022 | Ashford | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 34.8 min | 31.6 min | 27.6 min |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 26% | 36% | 31% |
| Median household income | €67,738 | €64,387 | €57,760 |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 70% | 69% | 68% |
€67,738
median household income, 2022 · Co. Wicklow €64,077
18%
worked mainly from home, 2022
16%
trips of an hour or more
4,688
on the Live Register, County Wicklow, September 2026
D
Walkability: better than 6% of Irish towns
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.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Mount Usher Gardens and 3 more in and around Ashford
Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Ashford. Best known first.
GardenGardenMount Usher Gardensin townGardenGardenThe Dower House Gardens1.1 km outside town, to the eastGardenGardenWren’s Wood Garden4.3 km outside town, to the northVisitor farmVisitor farmK2alpacas4.4 km outside town, to the north
Places: Fáilte Ireland open data (CC BY 4.0) · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ashford
15pages on Ashford
The big questions
Out and about
Landmarks
Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 5 buildings in Ashford, each of regional importance.
Famous people from around Ashford
2 notable people were born in Ashford; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
K
Katie McGrathIrish actress · born 1983F
Ferdia Walsh-PeeloIrish actor and musician · born 1999
L
Lara GillespieIrish sport cyclist · born in Wicklow · born 2001
Photo credits
Paul McShane: Michael Kranewitter, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Áine O'Gorman: RTÉ Sport, CC BY 3.0 · Isobel Joyce: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ashford’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
RathnewWicklowNewcastleNewtownmountkennedyKilcooleKilpedderAshford
Questions about Ashford
Is Ashford growing?
Ashford had 1,892 people at the 2022 census, up from 1,547 in 2016: 22.3% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
How do people in Ashford get to work?
73% of working residents drive to work and 9% walk, cycle or take the bus or train (the median of Irish towns: 23%).
How old are the people of Ashford?
The median age in Ashford is 38.6, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns. 20% of residents are under 15 and 15% are 65 or over.
About Ashford
Urban area in Co. Wicklow
1,892 people live in Ashford, in the area of Wicklow 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
- 1,892 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Wicklow
- Council
- Wicklow County Council
- Local electoral area
- Wicklow
- Dáil constituency
- Wicklow
- Name in Irish
- Áth na Fuinseoige
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:15375
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).