Place profile · Castlefin, Co. Donegal

Is Castlefin a good place to live?

Castlefin, Co. Donegal scores 42/100 for quality of life, #105 of the 107 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €108,750 (most €90,000–€166,875), it scores 70/100 for safety (39 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 730 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and family & community, weakest on local economy.

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

Castlefin is on the up.

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

↓ Unemployment fell 24% → 15% — faster than nationally

Where Castlefin sits.

Co. Donegal · 3 bus stops · no rail.

172 min
drive to Dublin

#105 of 107 for quality of life in Ireland.

42/100
#105 liveability#102 value
Affordability100
Family & community77
Safety70
Environment62
Transport & services22
Schools & education14
Local economy10

These seven scores and the 42/100 are measured across the F93 Eircode area, not Castlefin 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 Castlefin is #102 of 107 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

House prices in Castlefin: €108,750 median.

€90,000€166,875
18 sales / 2yr
€€

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

77/100
Family & community score

Clean, green surrounds.

62/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

70/100
39/1,000 · Donegal

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

The community here.

730 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

1
social venues
1 per 730 residents · not ranked
9
everyday shops & services
1 per 81 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

20%
third-level
24%
professional
19.7%
unemployment
Affluence: very disadvantaged

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

67.1% own12.9% rent13.9% social

The honest trade-offs.

↓ Schools & education 14/100↓ Local economy 10/100

Castlefin: common questions

Is Castlefin a good place to live?

Castlefin, Co. Donegal, scores 42/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #105 of the 107 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Castlefin safe?

Castlefin scores 70/100 on safety, ~39.0 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

What are house prices in Castlefin?

The median sale price in Castlefin over the last 24 months was €108,750, with most sales between €90,000 and €166,875 (Property Price Register, rolling 24 months).

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

The median sale price in Castlefin over the last 24 months was €108,750, most between €90,000 and €166,875 (Property Price Register).

Is Castlefin on the up?

Castlefin is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 24% → 15% — faster than nationally.

Is there much new development or planning activity in Castlefin?

4 planning applications were lodged within Castlefin in the last 12 months, covering 1 residential unit (18 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Castlefin good for families?

Castlefin scores 77/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Castlefin?

Castlefin scores 14/100 for schools and education, with 1 school in the area.

What is the commute like from Castlefin?

Castlefin is about 172 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 October 2026.