Share
4th April 2026
04:45pm BST
The worst place in Ireland to raise a family has been revealed.
A new report by Quote Devil considered distance to work, property affordability, and security, as well as schooling, outdoor spaces, and availability of community facilities when creating the list.
With Ireland having the highest rate of three or more children in the European Union, it's vital that communities be family‐oriented throughout the nation.
We know you're eagerly waiting for the list, and good news should always come first, so here are the BEST counties in Ireland for raising a family.
According to this report, Mayo provides security, education, and high living standards.
Additionally, the relatively low offence rate of 297 incidents per 10,000 inhabitants makes it a relatively comforting option for parents.
In silver position is Donegal, dubbed the most budget-friendly with a median property value of €165,000.
The county is also home to 171 primary schools, the highest number among the top counties.
The Kingdom rounds out the top three best counties in Ireland to bring up a family.
Its beautiful green areas contributed significantly with 7.1 parks per 10,000 inhabitants, affording families considerable scope for leisure and outdoor pursuits.
Daily conveniences, including 2 supermarkets per 10,000 inhabitants, also boosted its ranking.
Now that the best have been listed, here are the WORST counties in the country for families.
Wicklow's median house price of €445,000 is one reason for its low ranking.
On top of this, supermarket density is also quite sparse at 0.26 per 10,000 inhabitants, meaning regular shopping demands require greater travel and planning.
Elevated crime figures and fewer educational facilities are two of the reasons Louth is at the lower end of this list.
In terms of education, Louth contains 69 primary schools and 18 post-primary schools, considerably fewer than many other counties on this list.
And now, named the WORST place in Ireland to raise a family, Kildare has taken the crown.
The cited reasons for its spot on the list include housing pressures and restricted access to green areas.
Additionally, the county's recorded crime rate of 510.5 per 10,000 is higher than many other counties, also factoring into Kildare's position.
Well, there ya go!
Explore more on these topics:
