Place profile · Ashbourne, Co. Meath

Is Ashbourne a good place to live?

Ashbourne, Co. Meath scores 59/100 for quality of life, #66 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €427,312 (most €310,000–€462,555), it scores 47/100 for safety (76 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 13,321 people live here, up 7.1% since 2016. It's strongest on family & community and affordability, weakest on local economy.

Updated July 2026 · Property Price Register + 20+ official sources, refreshed daily

Ashbourne is on the up.

Below average today — but the fundamentals are turning, faster than the national trend.

Unemployment fell 16% → 9% — faster than nationally Third-level education up 11 points — faster than nationally Prices up 17.1%

Where Ashbourne sits.

Co. Meath · 13 bus stops · no rail.

27 min
drive to Dublin

#66 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

59/100
#66 liveability#66 value
Family & community90
Affordability79
Transport & services59
Schools & education57
Environment56
Safety47
Local economy43

Ranked on quality of life alone — cost of living excluded, so the genuinely best areas rank top even though they cost more. Factor in price and Ashbourne is #66 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €427,312.

€310,000€462,555
↑ +17.1%11% new-build535 sales / 2yr

Good for families.

90/100
Family & community score

Affordable for its access.

79/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

59/100
Transport & services score

Middling on safety.

47/100
76/1,000 · Meath

A community that's growing.

13,321 people, up 7.1% since 2016.

Who lives here.

28%
third-level
36%
professional
12.5%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

90% own6.7% rent1.8% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 43/100

Ashbourne: common questions

Is Ashbourne a good place to live?

Ashbourne, Co. Meath, scores 59/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #66 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on family & community and affordability.

Is Ashbourne safe?

Ashbourne scores 47/100 on safety, ~76.0 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Ashbourne?

The median sale price in Ashbourne over the last 24 months was €427,312, most between €310,000 and €462,555 (Property Price Register).

Is Ashbourne on the up?

Ashbourne is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 16% → 9% — faster than nationally, third-level education up 11 points — faster than nationally, prices up 17.1%.

Are there new builds in Ashbourne?

About 11% of homes sold in Ashbourne in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Ashbourne?

28 planning applications were lodged within Ashbourne in the last 12 months, covering 52 residential units (276 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Ashbourne good for families?

Ashbourne scores 90/100 for families and community, and its population is growing (up 7.1% since 2016).

What are the schools like in Ashbourne?

Ashbourne scores 57/100 for schools and education, with 4 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Ashbourne?

Ashbourne is about 27 minutes by road from Dublin.

Sale prices from the Property Price Register (rolling 24 months). Quality of Life averages seven equal-weighted dimensions from 40+ metrics across 13 public datasets (CSO census + SAPS, Garda crime, SEAI, EPA, DES schools, GTFS). Population is CSO Census 2022; the “on the up” trajectory compares 2016→2022. Figures refresh daily · an area assessment, not advice on a specific property. Updated July 2026.