Place profile · Ballintra, Co. Donegal

Is Ballintra a good place to live?

Ballintra, Co. Donegal scores 50/100 for quality of life, #103 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “stagnating”. The median home sells for €174,500 (most €132,500–€277,000), it scores 71/100 for safety (44.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 242 people live here, down 69.8% since 2016. It's strongest on affordability and family & community, weakest on schools & education.

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

Ballintra is stagnating.

Below average today — improving in absolute terms, but falling behind the national trend.

Unemployment fell 16% → 10%, in line with nationally Population fell 69.8% since 2016

Where Ballintra sits.

Co. Donegal · 2 bus stops · no rail.

166 min
drive to Galway

#103 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

50/100
#103 liveability#93 value
Affordability100
Family & community83
Environment74
Safety71
Local economy28
Transport & services22
Schools & education20

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 Ballintra is #93 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €174,500.

€132,500€277,000
-20.9%0% new-build18 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

83/100
Family & community score

Clean, green surrounds.

74/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

71/100
44.8/1,000 · Donegal

The community here.

242 people, down 69.8% since 2016.

Who lives here.

34%
third-level
34%
professional
13%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Mostly owner-occupied.

81% own9.3% rent5.4% social

The honest trade-offs.

Transport & services 22/100 Schools & education 20/100

Ballintra: common questions

Is Ballintra a good place to live?

Ballintra, Co. Donegal, scores 50/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #103 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Ballintra safe?

Ballintra scores 71/100 on safety, ~44.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Ballintra over the last 24 months was €174,500, most between €132,500 and €277,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Ballintra on the up?

Ballintra is rated "Stagnating" — unemployment fell 16% → 10%, in line with nationally, population fell 69.8% since 2016.

Are there new builds in Ballintra?

New builds are rare in Ballintra — under 1% of recent sales (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Ballintra?

7 planning applications were lodged within Ballintra in the last 12 months, covering 16 residential units (27 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Ballintra good for families?

Ballintra scores 83/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Ballintra?

Ballintra scores 20/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Ballintra?

Ballintra is about 166 minutes by road from Galway.

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 August 2026.