Place profile · Newtownforbes, Co. Longford

Is Newtownforbes a good place to live?

Newtownforbes, Co. Longford scores 51/100 for quality of life, #100 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €170,000 (most €137,750–€248,750), it scores 77/100 for safety (35 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 851 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and safety, weakest on schools & education.

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

Newtownforbes is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 18% → 9% — faster than nationally

Where Newtownforbes sits.

Co. Longford · 2 bus stops · no rail.

97 min
drive to Dublin

#100 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

51/100
#100 liveability#89 value
Affordability100
Safety77
Environment76
Family & community73
Transport & services37
Local economy22
Schools & education20

These seven scores and the 51/100 are measured across the N39 Eircode area, not Newtownforbes alone — an area that takes in much of LONGFORD. 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 Newtownforbes is #89 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €170,000.

€137,750€248,750
26 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Clean, green surrounds.

76/100
Environment score

Good for families.

73/100
Family & community score

Quiet and safe.

77/100
35/1,000 · Roscommon/Longford

The score is for the N39 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Roscommon/Longford). Neither is measured for Newtownforbes on its own.

The community here.

851 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

6
social venues
1 per 142 residents · not ranked
4
everyday shops & services
1 per 213 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

32%
third-level
32%
professional
13.8%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

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

67.8% own17.3% rent11.4% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 22/100 Schools & education 20/100

Newtownforbes: common questions

Is Newtownforbes a good place to live?

Newtownforbes, Co. Longford, scores 51/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #100 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and safety.

Is Newtownforbes safe?

Newtownforbes scores 77/100 on safety, ~35.0 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Newtownforbes over the last 24 months was €170,000, most between €137,750 and €248,750 (Property Price Register).

Is Newtownforbes on the up?

Newtownforbes is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 18% → 9% — faster than nationally.

Is there much new development or planning activity in Newtownforbes?

8 planning applications were lodged within Newtownforbes in the last 12 months, covering 19 residential units (30 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Newtownforbes good for families?

Newtownforbes scores 73/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Newtownforbes?

Newtownforbes scores 20/100 for schools and education, with 1 school in the area.

What is the commute like from Newtownforbes?

Newtownforbes is about 97 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.