Place profile · Swinford, Co. Mayo

Is Swinford a good place to live?

Swinford, Co. Mayo scores 60/100 for quality of life, #57 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “steady — moves with the market”. The median home sells for €168,500 (most €115,996–€234,750), it scores 82/100 for safety (26.9 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 1,220 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

Swinford is moving with the market.

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

Unemployment fell 18% → 12% — faster than nationally Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

Where Swinford sits.

Co. Mayo · 2 bus stops · no rail.

81 min
drive to Galway

#57 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

60/100
#57 liveability#35 value
Affordability100
Family & community86
Safety82
Environment80
Local economy42
Transport & services39
Schools & education30

These seven scores and the 60/100 are measured across the F12 Eircode area, not Swinford alone — an area that takes in much of MAYO. 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 Swinford is #35 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €168,500.

€115,996€234,750
0% new-build108 sales / 2yr

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

86/100
Family & community score

Clean, green surrounds.

80/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

82/100
26.9/1,000 · Mayo
Recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing

The score is for the F12 Eircode area; the crime rate is recorded per Garda division (Mayo). Neither is measured for Swinford on its own.

The community here.

1,220 people.

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

Going out, and getting things done.

8
social venues
1 per 152 residents · not ranked
14
everyday shops & services
1 per 87 residents · not ranked

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

Who lives here.

29%
third-level
34%
professional
15.3%
unemployment
Affluence: disadvantaged

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

75.8% own11.8% rent7.8% social

The honest trade-offs.

Transport & services 39/100 Schools & education 30/100

Swinford: common questions

Is Swinford a good place to live?

Swinford, Co. Mayo, scores 60/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #57 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Swinford safe?

Swinford scores 82/100 on safety, ~26.9 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

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

The median sale price in Swinford over the last 24 months was €168,500, most between €115,996 and €234,750 (Property Price Register).

Is Swinford on the up?

Swinford is rated "Steady — moves with the market" — unemployment fell 18% → 12% — faster than nationally, recorded crime rising faster than the town is growing.

Are there new builds in Swinford?

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

Is there much new development or planning activity in Swinford?

9 planning applications were lodged within Swinford in the last 12 months, covering 112 residential units (51 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Swinford good for families?

Swinford scores 86/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Swinford?

Swinford scores 30/100 for schools and education, with 2 schools in the area.

What is the commute like from Swinford?

Swinford is about 81 minutes by road from Galway.

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.