Place profile · Lifford, Co. Donegal

Is Lifford a good place to live?

Lifford, Co. Donegal scores 42/100 for quality of life, #105 of the 107 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “steady — moves with the market”. The median home sells for €162,000 (most €120,000–€239,250), it scores 70/100 for safety (39 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,613 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

Lifford is moving with the market.

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

↓ Unemployment fell 31% → 20% — faster than nationally↑ Third-level education up only 4 points — behind the national rise

Where Lifford sits.

Co. Donegal · 4 bus stops · no rail.

174 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 Lifford 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 Lifford is #102 of 107 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

House prices in Lifford: €162,000 median.

€120,000€239,250
0% new-build138 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 Lifford on its own.

The community here.

1,613 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

3
social venues
1 per 538 residents · not ranked
10
everyday shops & services
1 per 161 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

20%
third-level
22%
professional
25.4%
unemployment
Affluence: very disadvantaged

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

63.7% own17.7% rent14.3% social

The honest trade-offs.

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

Lifford: common questions

Is Lifford a good place to live?

Lifford, 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 Lifford safe?

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

What are house prices in Lifford?

The median sale price in Lifford over the last 24 months was €162,000, with most sales between €120,000 and €239,250 (Property Price Register, rolling 24 months).

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

The median sale price in Lifford over the last 24 months was €162,000, most between €120,000 and €239,250 (Property Price Register).

Is Lifford on the up?

Lifford is rated "Steady — moves with the market" — unemployment fell 31% → 20% — faster than nationally, third-level education up only 4 points — behind the national rise.

Are there new builds in Lifford?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in Lifford?

11 planning applications were lodged within Lifford in the last 12 months (62 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Lifford good for families?

Lifford scores 77/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Lifford?

Lifford scores 14/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Lifford?

Lifford is about 174 minutes by road from Dublin.

Compare Lifford 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 October 2026.