Place profile · Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal

Is Ballyshannon a good place to live?

Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal scores 50/100 for quality of life, #103 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “steady — moves with the market”. The median home sells for €150,000 (most €100,000–€235,000), it scores 71/100 for safety (44.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,147 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

Ballyshannon is moving with the market.

Below average today — tracking the national trend — no strong local tailwind or headwind.

Unemployment fell 20% → 14% — faster than nationally Third-level education up only 3 points — behind the national rise

Where Ballyshannon sits.

Co. Donegal · 3 bus stops · no rail.

160 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

These seven scores and the 50/100 are measured across the F94 Eircode area, not Ballyshannon 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 Ballyshannon is #93 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

House prices in Ballyshannon: €150,000 median.

€100,000€235,000
0% new-build85 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 score is for the F94 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Donegal). Neither is measured for Ballyshannon on its own.

The community here.

1,147 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

21
social venues
1 per 55 residents · not ranked
15
everyday shops & services
1 per 76 residents · not ranked

Not ranked: under 2,000 residents, one pub swings the per-head figure too far.

Who lives here.

28%
third-level
28%
professional
17.3%
unemployment
Affluence: disadvantaged

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

65.1% own18.4% rent10.2% social

The honest trade-offs.

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

Ballyshannon: common questions

Is Ballyshannon a good place to live?

Ballyshannon, 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 Ballyshannon safe?

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

What are house prices in Ballyshannon?

The median sale price in Ballyshannon over the last 24 months was €150,000, with most sales between €100,000 and €235,000 (Property Price Register, rolling 24 months).

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

The median sale price in Ballyshannon over the last 24 months was €150,000, most between €100,000 and €235,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Ballyshannon on the up?

Ballyshannon is rated "Steady — moves with the market" — unemployment fell 20% → 14% — faster than nationally, third-level education up only 3 points — behind the national rise.

Are there new builds in Ballyshannon?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in Ballyshannon?

13 planning applications were lodged within Ballyshannon in the last 12 months, covering 7 residential units (79 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Ballyshannon good for families?

Ballyshannon scores 83/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Ballyshannon?

Ballyshannon scores 20/100 for schools and education, with 6 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Ballyshannon?

Ballyshannon is about 160 minutes by road from Galway.

Compare Ballyshannon with a nearby town

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.