Place profile · Ballymote, Co. Sligo

Is Ballymote a good place to live?

Ballymote, Co. Sligo scores 71/100 for quality of life, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €180,000 (most €120,000–€237,000), it scores 75/100 for safety (37.3 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 2,004 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services, weakest on schools & education.

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

Ballymote is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 20% → 9% — faster than nationally

Where Ballymote sits.

Co. Sligo · 4 bus stops · 1 rail.

109 min
drive to Galway

Quality of life.

71/100
Affordability100
Transport & services88
Family & community86
Environment82
Safety75
Local economy43
Schools & education22

These seven scores and the 71/100 are measured across the F56 Eircode area, not Ballymote alone — an area that takes in much of SLIGO. A strong or weak pocket inside it can read very differently from the area average.

Homes sell for €180,000.

€120,000€237,000
1.8% new-build109 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

88/100
Transport & services score

Good for families.

86/100
Family & community score

Quiet and safe.

75/100
37.3/1,000 · Sligo/Leitrim

The score is for the F56 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Sligo/Leitrim). Neither is measured for Ballymote on its own.

The community here.

2,004 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

81st most vibrant small town in Ireland, of 131 ranked.

12
social venues
#81 of 131 · #33 per head
18
everyday shops & services
#74 of 130 · #22 per head

Ranked against small towns only; tourist towns read high.

Who lives here.

31%
third-level
31%
professional
14.5%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Census profile and the affluence rating are Electoral Division figures — the CSO/Pobal area around Ballymote, 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.

64.4% own19.4% rent11.6% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 43/100 Schools & education 22/100

Ballymote: common questions

Is Ballymote a good place to live?

Ballymote, Co. Sligo, scores 71/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded). It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.

Is Ballymote safe?

Ballymote scores 75/100 on safety, ~37.3 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Ballymote over the last 24 months was €180,000, most between €120,000 and €237,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Ballymote on the up?

Ballymote is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 20% → 9% — faster than nationally.

Are there new builds in Ballymote?

About 2% of homes sold in Ballymote in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Ballymote?

6 planning applications were lodged within Ballymote in the last 12 months, covering 75 residential units (70 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Ballymote good for families?

Ballymote scores 86/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Ballymote?

Ballymote scores 22/100 for schools and education, with 4 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Ballymote?

Ballymote is about 109 minutes by road from Galway, with 1 rail stop nearby.

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.