Place profile · Drogheda, Co. Louth

Is Drogheda a good place to live?

Drogheda, Co. Louth scores 63/100 for quality of life, #43 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €334,802 (most €280,000–€370,044), it scores 54/100 for safety (68 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 41,452 people live here. It's strongest on transport & services and affordability, weakest on local economy.

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

Drogheda is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 18% → 12% — faster than nationally Third-level education up 8 points — faster than nationally Prices up 72.6%

Where Drogheda sits.

Co. Louth · 100 bus stops · 1 rail.

42 min
drive to Dublin

#43 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

63/100
#43 liveability#31 value
Transport & services93
Affordability88
Environment74
Family & community73
Safety54
Schools & education48
Local economy36

These seven scores and the 63/100 are measured across the A92 Eircode area, not Drogheda alone — an area that takes in much of LOUTH. 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 Drogheda is #31 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €334,802.

€280,000€370,044
↑ +72.6%51.6% new-build1594 sales / 2yr

Well connected.

93/100
Transport & services score

Affordable for its access.

88/100
Affordability score

Clean, green surrounds.

74/100
Environment score

Middling on safety.

54/100
68/1,000 · Louth

The score is for the A92 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Louth). Neither is measured for Drogheda on its own.

The community here.

41,452 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

21st most vibrant large town in Ireland, of 65 ranked.

81
social venues
#21 of 65 · #44 per head
76
everyday shops & services
#23 of 65 · #49 per head

Ranked against large towns only; tourist towns read high.

Who lives here.

30%
third-level
30%
professional
14.3%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Census profile and the affluence rating are Electoral Division figures — the CSO/Pobal area around Drogheda, 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% own19.6% rent9.9% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 36/100

Drogheda: common questions

Is Drogheda a good place to live?

Drogheda, Co. Louth, scores 63/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #43 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on transport & services and affordability.

Is Drogheda safe?

Drogheda scores 54/100 on safety, ~68.0 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Drogheda over the last 24 months was €334,802, most between €280,000 and €370,044 (Property Price Register).

Is Drogheda on the up?

Drogheda is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 18% → 12% — faster than nationally, third-level education up 8 points — faster than nationally, prices up 72.6%.

Are there new builds in Drogheda?

About 52% of homes sold in Drogheda in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Drogheda?

144 planning applications were lodged within Drogheda in the last 12 months, covering 941 residential units (1,108 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Drogheda good for families?

Drogheda scores 73/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Drogheda?

Drogheda scores 48/100 for schools and education, with 21 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Drogheda?

Drogheda is about 42 minutes by road from Dublin, 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.