Place profile · New Ross, Co. Wexford

Is New Ross a good place to live?

New Ross, Co. Wexford scores 56/100 for quality of life, #76 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €200,000 (most €139,000–€280,000), it scores 64/100 for safety (52.9 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 7,949 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

New Ross is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 25% → 16% — faster than nationally Prices up 22.8%

Where New Ross sits.

Co. Wexford · 38 bus stops · no rail.

26 min
drive to Waterford

#76 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

56/100
#76 liveability#66 value
Affordability100
Transport & services88
Environment82
Family & community66
Safety64
Schools & education22
Local economy15

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 New Ross is #66 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €200,000.

€139,000€280,000
↑ +22.8%0.3% new-build340 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

88/100
Transport & services score

Clean, green surrounds.

82/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

64/100
52.9/1,000 · Wexford

The community here.

7,949 people.

One of the liveliest places of its size.

5th most vibrant small town in Ireland, of 131 ranked.

56
social venues
#5 of 131 small towns · #26 per head
63
everyday shops & services
#2 of 130 small towns · #32 per head

Vibrancy is the plain count of places to eat, drink and go out — restaurants, cafés, pubs, takeaways, nightclubs and cinemas in and around the town. Per head is the different question of whether a town is well served for its size.

Ranked against small towns only. Tourist towns read high — the venues are real, but not all of them are there for the people who live here.

Who lives here.

24%
third-level
21%
professional
20.9%
unemployment
Affluence: disadvantaged

A mix of owners and renters.

48.2% own27.4% rent20.2% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 22/100 Local economy 15/100

New Ross: common questions

Is New Ross a good place to live?

New Ross, Co. Wexford, scores 56/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #76 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.

Is New Ross safe?

New Ross scores 64/100 on safety, ~52.9 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

How much does it cost to buy a house in New Ross?

The median sale price in New Ross over the last 24 months was €200,000, most between €139,000 and €280,000 (Property Price Register).

Is New Ross on the up?

New Ross is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 25% → 16% — faster than nationally, prices up 22.8%.

Are there new builds in New Ross?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in New Ross?

35 planning applications were lodged within New Ross in the last 12 months, covering 93 residential units (280 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is New Ross good for families?

New Ross scores 66/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in New Ross?

New Ross scores 22/100 for schools and education, with 9 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from New Ross?

New Ross is about 26 minutes by road from Waterford.

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.