Place profile · Rathkeale, Co. Limerick

Is Rathkeale a good place to live?

Rathkeale, Co. Limerick scores 58/100 for quality of life, #69 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “steady — moves with the market”. The median home sells for €242,500 (most €173,750–€371,250), it scores 42/100 for safety (88.4 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,408 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

Rathkeale is moving with the market.

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

Unemployment fell 34% → 18% — faster than nationally Third-level education up only 3 points — behind the national rise

Where Rathkeale sits.

Co. Limerick · 2 bus stops · no rail.

31 min
drive to Limerick

#69 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

58/100
#69 liveability#66 value
Affordability89
Transport & services83
Family & community72
Environment62
Schools & education46
Safety42
Local economy40

These seven scores and the 58/100 are measured across the V94 Eircode area, not Rathkeale alone — an area that takes in much of LIMERICK. 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 Rathkeale is #66 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €242,500.

€173,750€371,250
4.5% new-build44 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

89/100
Affordability score

Well connected.

83/100
Transport & services score

Good for families.

72/100
Family & community score

Safety is a watch-point.

42/100
88.4/1,000 · Limerick

The score is for the V94 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Limerick). Neither is measured for Rathkeale on its own.

The community here.

1,408 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

10
social venues
1 per 141 residents · not ranked
8
everyday shops & services
1 per 176 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

14%
third-level
16%
professional
26%
unemployment
Affluence: very disadvantaged

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

57.6% own14.9% rent25.6% social

The honest trade-offs.

Local economy 40/100

Rathkeale: common questions

Is Rathkeale a good place to live?

Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, scores 58/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #69 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and transport & services.

Is Rathkeale safe?

Rathkeale scores 42/100 on safety, ~88.4 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Rathkeale over the last 24 months was €242,500, most between €173,750 and €371,250 (Property Price Register).

Is Rathkeale on the up?

Rathkeale is rated "Steady — moves with the market" — unemployment fell 34% → 18% — faster than nationally, third-level education up only 3 points — behind the national rise.

Are there new builds in Rathkeale?

About 5% of homes sold in Rathkeale in the last 24 months were new builds (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Rathkeale?

18 planning applications were lodged within Rathkeale in the last 12 months, covering 17 residential units (197 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Rathkeale good for families?

Rathkeale scores 72/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Rathkeale?

Rathkeale scores 46/100 for schools and education, with 4 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Rathkeale?

Rathkeale is about 31 minutes by road from Limerick.

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.