Place profile · Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Co. Donegal

Is Ballybofey-Stranorlar a good place to live?

Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Co. Donegal scores 46/100 for quality of life, #106 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €215,000 (most €158,000–€265,000), it scores 71/100 for safety (44.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 5,019 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and family & community, weakest on schools & education.

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

Ballybofey-Stranorlar is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 19% → 12% — faster than nationally Prices up 45.2%

Where Ballybofey-Stranorlar sits.

Co. Donegal · 8 bus stops · no rail.

185 min
drive to Dublin

#106 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

46/100
#106 liveability#101 value
Affordability100
Family & community80
Safety71
Environment69
Transport & services22
Local economy19
Schools & education17

These seven scores and the 46/100 are measured across the F93 Eircode area, not Ballybofey-Stranorlar alone — an area that takes in much of DONEGAL. A strong or weak pocket inside it can read very differently from the area average.

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 Ballybofey-Stranorlar is #101 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €215,000.

€158,000€265,000
↑ +45.2%21.2% new-build85 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

80/100
Family & community score

Clean, green surrounds.

69/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

71/100
44.8/1,000 · Donegal

The score is for the F93 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Donegal). Neither is measured for Ballybofey-Stranorlar on its own.

The community here.

5,019 people.

Population is for Ballybofey-Stranorlar itself (Census 2022, Small-Area boundary).

Going out, and getting things done.

73rd most vibrant small town in Ireland, of 131 ranked.

15
social venues
#73 of 131 · #88 per head
16
everyday shops & services
#81 of 130 · #95 per head

Ranked against small towns only; tourist towns read high.

Who lives here.

29%
third-level
31%
professional
15.4%
unemployment
Affluence: disadvantaged

Census profile and the affluence rating are Electoral Division figures — the CSO/Pobal area around Ballybofey-Stranorlar, which is why this unemployment rate can differ from the one behind the quality-of-life scores above (those are Eircode-area wide).

Mostly owner-occupied.

68.5% own14.8% rent12.4% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 19/100 Schools & education 17/100

Ballybofey-Stranorlar: common questions

Is Ballybofey-Stranorlar a good place to live?

Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, scores 46/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #106 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Ballybofey-Stranorlar safe?

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

How much does it cost to buy a house in Ballybofey-Stranorlar?

The median sale price in Ballybofey-Stranorlar over the last 24 months was €215,000, most between €158,000 and €265,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Ballybofey-Stranorlar on the up?

Ballybofey-Stranorlar is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 19% → 12% — faster than nationally, prices up 45.2%.

Are there new builds in Ballybofey-Stranorlar?

About 21% of homes sold in Ballybofey-Stranorlar in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Ballybofey-Stranorlar?

21 planning applications were lodged within Ballybofey-Stranorlar in the last 12 months, covering 23 residential units (182 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Ballybofey-Stranorlar good for families?

Ballybofey-Stranorlar scores 80/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Ballybofey-Stranorlar?

Ballybofey-Stranorlar scores 17/100 for schools and education, with 6 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Ballybofey-Stranorlar?

Ballybofey-Stranorlar is about 185 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 August 2026.