Place profile · Ferbane, Co. Offaly

Is Ferbane a good place to live?

Ferbane, Co. Offaly scores 57/100 for quality of life, #70 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “stagnating”. The median home sells for €274,000 (most €215,000–€308,370), it scores 40/100 for safety (90.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,324 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services, weakest on local economy.

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

Ferbane is stagnating.

Below average today — improving in absolute terms, but falling behind the national trend.

Unemployment fell 13% → 10%, in line with nationally Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

Where Ferbane sits.

Co. Offaly · 4 bus stops · no rail.

80 min
drive to Galway

#70 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

57/100
#70 liveability#62 value
Affordability100
Transport & services88
Family & community79
Environment74
Safety40
Schools & education36
Local economy27

These seven scores and the 57/100 are measured across the R42 Eircode area, not Ferbane alone — an area that takes in much of OFFALY. 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 Ferbane is #62 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

House prices in Ferbane: €274,000 median.

€215,000€308,370
20.9% new-build43 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

88/100
Transport & services score

Good for families.

79/100
Family & community score

Safety is a watch-point.

40/100
90.8/1,000 · Laois/Offaly
Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

The score is for the R42 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Laois/Offaly). Neither is measured for Ferbane on its own.

The community here.

1,324 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

9
social venues
1 per 147 residents · not ranked
10
everyday shops & services
1 per 132 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

26%
third-level
29%
professional
11.7%
unemployment
Affluence: disadvantaged

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

83.3% own9.5% rent4.1% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 36/100 Local economy 27/100

Ferbane: common questions

Is Ferbane a good place to live?

Ferbane, Co. Offaly, scores 57/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #70 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.

Is Ferbane safe?

Ferbane scores 40/100 on safety, ~90.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

What are house prices in Ferbane?

The median sale price in Ferbane over the last 24 months was €274,000, with most sales between €215,000 and €308,370 (Property Price Register, rolling 24 months).

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

The median sale price in Ferbane over the last 24 months was €274,000, most between €215,000 and €308,370 (Property Price Register).

Is Ferbane on the up?

Ferbane is rated "Stagnating" — unemployment fell 13% → 10%, in line with nationally, recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing.

Are there new builds in Ferbane?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in Ferbane?

11 planning applications were lodged within Ferbane in the last 12 months, covering 48 residential units (97 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Ferbane good for families?

Ferbane scores 79/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Ferbane?

Ferbane scores 36/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Ferbane?

Ferbane is about 80 minutes by road from Galway.

Compare Ferbane 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.