Place profile · Raphoe, Co. Donegal

Is Raphoe a good place to live?

Raphoe, Co. Donegal scores 46/100 for quality of life, #106 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “on the up — emerging”. The median home sells for €146,500 (most €100,000–€160,000), it scores 71/100 for safety (44.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,161 people live here. It's strongest on affordability and family & community, weakest on schools & education.

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

Raphoe is on the up.

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

Unemployment fell 29% → 17% — faster than nationally

Where Raphoe sits.

Co. Donegal · 2 bus stops · no rail.

184 min
drive to Dublin

#106 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

46/100
#106 liveability#101 value
Affordability100
Family & community80
Safety71
Environment69
Transport & services22
Local economy19
Schools & education17

These seven scores and the 46/100 are measured across the F93 Eircode area, not Raphoe 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 Raphoe is #101 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €146,500.

€100,000€160,000
17 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

80/100
Family & community score

Clean, green surrounds.

69/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

71/100
44.8/1,000 · Donegal

The score is for the F93 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Donegal). Neither is measured for Raphoe on its own.

The community here.

1,161 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

2
social venues
1 per 581 residents · not ranked
4
everyday shops & services
1 per 290 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

19%
third-level
23%
professional
23.3%
unemployment
Affluence: very disadvantaged

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

58.6% own16.4% rent16.6% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 19/100 Schools & education 17/100

Raphoe: common questions

Is Raphoe a good place to live?

Raphoe, Co. Donegal, scores 46/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #106 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Raphoe safe?

Raphoe scores 71/100 on safety, ~44.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Raphoe over the last 24 months was €146,500, most between €100,000 and €160,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Raphoe on the up?

Raphoe is rated "On the up — emerging" — unemployment fell 29% → 17% — faster than nationally.

Is there much new development or planning activity in Raphoe?

11 planning applications were lodged within Raphoe in the last 12 months, covering 3 residential units (42 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Raphoe good for families?

Raphoe scores 80/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Raphoe?

Raphoe scores 17/100 for schools and education, with 4 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Raphoe?

Raphoe is about 184 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.