Place profile · Newcastle, Co. South Dublin

Is Newcastle a good place to live?

Newcastle, Co. South Dublin scores 50/100 for quality of life, #104 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “declining”. The median home sells for €440,529 (most €418,502–€485,541), it scores 48/100 for safety (79.6 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 2,914 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

Newcastle is on the slide.

Below average today — the fundamentals are slipping behind the rest of the country.

Unemployment rose 8% → 14% — lagging the national fall Third-level education up only 0 points — behind the national rise

Where Newcastle sits.

Co. South Dublin · 29 bus stops · no rail.

26 min
drive to Dublin

#104 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

50/100
#104 liveability#101 value
Transport & services100
Affordability79
Environment62
Family & community54
Safety48
Schools & education22
Local economy11

These seven scores and the 50/100 are measured across the D22 Eircode area, not Newcastle alone — an area that takes in much of SOUTH DUBLIN. 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 Newcastle is #101 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €440,529.

€418,502€485,541
54.4% new-build215 sales / 2yr

Well connected.

100/100
Transport & services score

Affordable for its access.

79/100
Affordability score

Clean, green surrounds.

62/100
Environment score

Middling on safety.

48/100
79.6/1,000 · DMR West

The score is for the D22 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (DMR West). Neither is measured for Newcastle on its own.

The community here.

2,914 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

98th most vibrant small town in Ireland, of 131 ranked.

9
social venues
#98 of 131 · #87 per head
31
everyday shops & services
#39 of 130 · #7 per head

Ranked against small towns only; tourist towns read high.

Who lives here.

36%
third-level
32%
professional
10.9%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

Census profile and the affluence rating are Electoral Division figures — the CSO/Pobal area around Newcastle, which is why this unemployment rate can differ from the one behind the quality-of-life scores above (those are Eircode-area wide).

A mix of owners and renters.

51.6% own21.3% rent11.2% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 22/100 Local economy 11/100

Newcastle: common questions

Is Newcastle a good place to live?

Newcastle, Co. South Dublin, scores 50/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #104 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on transport & services and affordability.

Is Newcastle safe?

Newcastle scores 48/100 on safety, ~79.6 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Newcastle over the last 24 months was €440,529, most between €418,502 and €485,541 (Property Price Register).

Is Newcastle on the up?

Newcastle is rated "Declining" — unemployment rose 8% → 14% — lagging the national fall, third-level education up only 0 points — behind the national rise.

Are there new builds in Newcastle?

About 54% of homes sold in Newcastle in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Newcastle?

3 planning applications were lodged within Newcastle in the last 12 months, covering 1 residential unit (51 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Newcastle good for families?

Newcastle scores 54/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Newcastle?

Newcastle scores 22/100 for schools and education, with 1 school in the area.

What is the commute like from Newcastle?

Newcastle is about 26 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 August 2026.