Place profile · Portlaw, Co. Waterford

Is Portlaw a good place to live?

Portlaw, Co. Waterford scores 59/100 for quality of life, #59 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “steady — moves with the market”. The median home sells for €210,000 (most €177,500–€333,750), it scores 51/100 for safety (75.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,460 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

Portlaw is moving with the market.

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

Unemployment fell 16% → 8% — faster than nationally Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

Where Portlaw sits.

Co. Waterford · 6 bus stops · no rail.

23 min
drive to Waterford

#59 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

59/100
#59 liveability#50 value
Affordability100
Transport & services94
Environment82
Family & community66
Safety51
Schools & education32
Local economy31

These seven scores and the 59/100 are measured across the X91 Eircode area, not Portlaw alone — an area that takes in much of WATERFORD. 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 Portlaw is #50 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

House prices in Portlaw: €210,000 median.

€177,500€333,750
0% new-build36 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

94/100
Transport & services score

Clean, green surrounds.

82/100
Environment score

Middling on safety.

51/100
75.8/1,000 · Waterford
Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

The score is for the X91 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Waterford). Neither is measured for Portlaw on its own.

The community here.

1,460 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

9
social venues
1 per 162 residents · not ranked
10
everyday shops & services
1 per 146 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

27%
third-level
27%
professional
12%
unemployment
Affluence: below average

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

72.4% own14.8% rent10.4% social

The honest trade-offs.

Schools & education 32/100 Local economy 31/100

Portlaw: common questions

Is Portlaw a good place to live?

Portlaw, Co. Waterford, scores 59/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #59 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.

Is Portlaw safe?

Portlaw scores 51/100 on safety, ~75.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

What are house prices in Portlaw?

The median sale price in Portlaw over the last 24 months was €210,000, with most sales between €177,500 and €333,750 (Property Price Register, rolling 24 months).

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

The median sale price in Portlaw over the last 24 months was €210,000, most between €177,500 and €333,750 (Property Price Register).

Is Portlaw on the up?

Portlaw is rated "Steady — moves with the market" — unemployment fell 16% → 8% — faster than nationally, recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing.

Are there new builds in Portlaw?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in Portlaw?

8 planning applications were lodged within Portlaw in the last 12 months (46 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Portlaw good for families?

Portlaw scores 66/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Portlaw?

Portlaw scores 32/100 for schools and education, with 1 school in the area.

What is the commute like from Portlaw?

Portlaw is about 23 minutes by road from Waterford.

Compare Portlaw 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.