Place profile · Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin City

Is Rathfarnham a good place to live?

Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin City scores 81/100 for quality of life, #3 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “established, plateauing”. The median home sells for €705,000 (most €563,750–€898,000), it scores 60/100 for safety (60.2 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 2,265 people live here, up 16.7% since 2016. It's strongest on transport & services and local economy, weakest on affordability.

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

Rathfarnham is established and steady.

Above average today — affluent and stable, but growth has plateaued — don't overpay.

Unemployment fell just 1 points — lagging the national fall Third-level education up only 3 points — behind the national rise Population grew 16.7% — well above the national 8% Prices up 10.0%

Where Rathfarnham sits.

Co. Dublin City · 5 bus stops · no rail.

17 min
drive to Dublin

#3 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

81/100
#3 liveability#10 value
Transport & services100
Local economy90
Schools & education86
Family & community75
Environment74
Safety60
Affordability10

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 Rathfarnham is #10 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €705,000.

€563,750€898,000
↑ +10%2.7% new-build732 sales / 2yr

Well connected.

100/100
Transport & services score

A working local economy.

90/100
Local economy score

Schools on the up.

86/100
Schools & education score

Quiet and safe.

60/100
60.2/1,000 · DMR South

A community that's growing.

2,265 people, up 16.7% since 2016.

Who lives here.

61%
third-level
62%
professional
5.2%
unemployment
Affluence: affluent

Mostly owner-occupied.

84.6% own12.3% rent1.2% social

The honest trade-offs.

Affordability 10/100

Rathfarnham: common questions

Is Rathfarnham a good place to live?

Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin City, scores 81/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #3 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on transport & services and local economy.

Is Rathfarnham safe?

Rathfarnham scores 60/100 on safety, ~60.2 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Rathfarnham over the last 24 months was €705,000, most between €563,750 and €898,000 (Property Price Register).

Is Rathfarnham on the up?

Rathfarnham is rated "Established, plateauing" — unemployment fell just 1 points — lagging the national fall, third-level education up only 3 points — behind the national rise, population grew 16.7% — well above the national 8%, prices up 10.0%.

Are there new builds in Rathfarnham?

About 3% of homes sold in Rathfarnham in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Rathfarnham?

24 planning applications were lodged within Rathfarnham in the last 12 months, covering 1 residential unit (146 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Rathfarnham good for families?

Rathfarnham scores 75/100 for families and community, and its population is growing (up 16.7% since 2016).

What are the schools like in Rathfarnham?

Rathfarnham scores 86/100 for schools and education, with 1 school in the area.

What is the commute like from Rathfarnham?

Rathfarnham is about 17 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 July 2026.