Living in Ardee, Co. Louth: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Ardee
- Getting around and commuting
- Getting around Ardee
- Schools in Ardee
- Things to do in and around Ardee
- Where Ardee is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Ardee
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Ardee
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Ardee
- Nearby Louth towns
- Population and demographics
Is Ardee a nice place to live?
Ardee is home to about 2,034 households, 57% owner-occupied and 38% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €375,000, versus €380,000 across the Mid-East region, and the median rent is €1,325 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 6 schools keyed to the town (5 primary, 1 post-primary). The nearest rail station is Dundalk, 18.1 km away, and 14 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Ardee is a town in Co. Louth, about 59 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 6 schools, 56.6% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €375,000 to buy or €1,325 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025) (a 4.2% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 130 sales · PPR sales to Aug 2026 · CSO benchmark to May 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Ardee: 56.6% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Ardee
5,478 people live in Ardee on Census 2022 night. 57% of households own their home and 38% rent, so Ardee leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (61%). It skews young: 21% are under 15 against 14% aged 65 and over. 29% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 5,478 |
| Owner-occupied households | 57% |
| Rented households | 38% |
| Aged under 15 | 21% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 29% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14% |
| Third level or higher | 29% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 52% |
| Unemployment rate | 9% |
| Commute by car | 61% |
| Commute by public transport | 6% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 27% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Ardee built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Getting around and commuting
Nearest train station: Dundalk (18.1 km away), on several Dublin intercity lines
Public transport serving Ardee: 7 operators
Getting around Ardee
Ardee is served by 7 public-transport operators running 14 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Éireann, Collins Coaches, John McGinley Coach Travel, McConnon Travel, McGill Coach Travel, Royal Breffni Tours and TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| Collins Coaches | Bus / coach |
| John McGinley Coach Travel | Bus / coach |
| McConnon Travel | Bus / coach |
| McGill Coach Travel | Bus / coach |
| Royal Breffni Tours | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 32 - Dublin Airport - Monaghan - Letterkenny
- 167 - Dundalk - Louth - Ardee
- 177 - Kells - Ardee
- 180 - Clones - Monaghan - Dublin
- 182 - Drogheda - Collon - Ardee - Monaghan
- 932 - Anagaire - Letterkenny - Dublin
- 980 - Carrickmacross - Dublin
- 932A - Anagaire - Letterkenny - Dublin
- 980A - Carrickmacross - Dublin
- 980B - Carrickmacross - Dublin
- DK02 - Moynalty - Navan - Dundalk
- DK04 - Bailieborough - Ardee - Dundalk
- DK08 - Ardee - Dundalk
- GD01 - UCD - Monaghan
Source: Transport for Ireland GTFS_All feed (NTA), CC-BY 4.0. Stops matched to the town within a 6 km radius; route list capped.
Schools in Ardee
There are 5 primary and 1 post-primary schools in and around Ardee, 3 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardee Community School | Post-primary | 1353 | DEIS |
| S N Mhuire Na Trocaire | Primary | 339 | |
| Ardee Monastery | Primary | 244 | DEIS |
| Ballapousta Ns | Primary | 186 | |
| Ardee Educate Together Ns | Primary | 177 | DEIS |
| S N Chaoimhin Naofa | Primary | 148 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Ardee
- Heritage nearby: Mellifont Abbey (13 km) · Knowth Passage Tomb Cemetery (17 km) · Newgrange Passage Tomb (18 km) · Proleek Megalithic Tombs (24 km)
- Walking trails in County Louth: Tain Way · Annaloughan Loop · Barnavave Loop · Boyne Valley Camino
Where Ardee is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Ardee
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €375,000 (+21.9% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2025) | €1,325 |
| Gross rental yield | 4.2% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.3% |
| Louth county median | €380k |
| New build / second-hand | €395,000 / €333,500 |
What this means: New builds in Ardee sell at about a 18% premium to second-hand homes (€395,000 vs €333,500).
Recent sales in Ardee
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 26 | BINGHAM COTTATE, DUNDALK ROAD, ARDEE | Second-hand | €80,000 |
| 31 Jul 26 | BRANNIGANS, DUNDALK ROAD, ARDEE | Second-hand | €80,000 |
| 31 Jul 26 | CARDISTOWN, ARDEE, LOUTH | Second-hand | €525,000 |
| 31 Jul 26 | MINNIES, DUNDALK ROAD, ARDEE | Second-hand | €80,000 |
| 31 Jul 26 | THE PILLARS, DUNDALK RD, ARDEE | Second-hand | €600,000 |
| 31 Jul 26 | VILLA NOVA, DUNDALK RD, ARDEE | Second-hand | €250,000 |
| 30 Jul 26 | 20 Bridgegate Park, Ardee | New | €365,639 |
| 29 Jul 26 | 12 CLOGHANVARY, JOHN STREET, ARDEE | Second-hand | €320,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Ardee median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €282,500 | 102 sales | |
| 2024 | €299,000 | 83 sales | |
| 2025 | €342,500 | 88 sales | |
| 2026 | €394,980 | 87 sales |
Maximum legal rent increase in Ardee
Since 1 March 2026 a rent review is capped at the lower of 2% a year (pro rata) or CPI inflation.
The full March 2026 rent review rules
Ardee compared with County Louth
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Louth median | 380000 | |
| Ardee | 375000 |
Rent or buy in Ardee?
At a glance: €375,000 to buy versus €1,325 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 4.2% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Ardee
The median home (€375,000) falls in LPT Band 3, a base charge of €333 a year before Louth County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Ardee: the March 2026 rent rules
Every rent increase is now capped at the lesser of 2% a year (pro rata) or CPI inflation, nationwide since 1 March 2026. A review needs 90 days' notice on the RTB form, no more than one in any 12 months, and the notice must cite three comparable homes from the RTB Rent Register. Check any rent increase against the legal cap, or see average rents for every Leinster town.
Before you move: planning and flood
Recent development in Ardee
In the 12 months to August 2026, 71 planning grants were recorded in and around Ardee, including 109 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-10 | LRD Application: Permission for Large-scale Residential Development - details can be viewed on https://firrois.ie/. The proposed development will... | 40 |
| 2026-05-22 | Permission for the completion of the residential development which was initially granted planning permission under planning reference 04/1477. The... | 17 |
| 2026-07-10 | The development will comprise of: (a) The demolition of the existing single-storey dwelling and associated garage. (b) The provision of 6 no... | 6 |
| 2025-08-14 | Planning permission for development consisting of alterations to existing two storey dwelling incorporating internal modifications and changes to the... | 3 |
| 2026-03-06 | Permission for a two-storey/single-storey type house, domestic garage, proprietary effluent treatment system/percolation area and new vehicular... | 2 |
Source: Irish Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (ArcGIS, CC-BY 4.0). Granted applications keyed to the nearest town within 7 km. Homes column shows residential units in the application where recorded.
What this means: The 109 homes approved here in the last year are about 5% of Ardee's roughly 2,034 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Ardee, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Ardee, Louth.
View the official OPW flood maps for Ardee →
Source: Office of Public Works, floodinfo.ie. No OPW flood-extent values are reproduced here.
County context
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022 Census) | 139,703 |
| Population change 2016 to 2022 | +8.4% |
| Disposable income per person (index, State = 100) | 92.2 |
| New dwelling permissions (Mid-East region, 2017) | 657 thousand m² |
Planning permissions are reported at NUTS3 region level; counties in this region share a figure.
Sources: CSO F1001, CIA02, BHQ09. CC-BY 4.0.
Nearby Louth towns
All Louth house prices · All Leinster house prices
Sources: CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, Property Price Register (PSRA), CSO RPPI, RTB via CSO. CC-BY. Figures verifiable at the official source.
Common questions about living in Ardee
What's it like to live in Ardee?
Ardee is a town in Co. Louth, about 59 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 6 schools, 56.6% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Ardee?
A home in Ardee costs a median €375,000 to buy or €1,325 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 4.2% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Ardee to Dublin?
About 59 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Ardee?
Schools in Ardee include Ardee Community School, S N Mhuire Na Trocaire, Ardee Monastery, Ballapousta Ns, among 5 primary and 1 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Ardee?
Ardee had a population of 5,478 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Ardee had a population of 5,478 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 5,478 |
|---|---|
| Households | 2,034 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57% |
| Rented homes | 38% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0). Household tenure from the same release.
Shortlist is full (max 3 towns). View your shortlist to remove a town first.
Median of open-market sales each year (Property Price Register). Latest year is partial.
Could a home in Ardee pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Ardee's median price and average rent (RTB Q4 2025). Change any figure and it recalculates instantly.
Illustrative. Assumes ~18% of rent for management, insurance and voids; 25-year mortgage on the borrowed share; ~4% acquisition costs. Not financial advice.
What can you afford to buy in Ardee?
Pre-filled with Ardee's median price. Adjust the income and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Central Bank of Ireland mortgage measures (since Jan 2023): first-time buyers can borrow up to 4x gross income, movers and second or subsequent buyers up to 3.5x, both with a minimum 10% deposit. Figures are illustrative, not financial advice.
Stamp duty on a Ardee property
Pre-filled with Ardee's median price. Change the purchase price and see your stamp duty and total cost instantly.
Irish residential stamp duty (rates in force since 2 October 2024): 1% on the first €1,000,000; 2% from €1,000,000 to €1,500,000; 6% on any amount above €1,500,000. Figures are illustrative, not legal or financial advice.
Local Property Tax for a Ardee home
Pre-filled with Ardee's median price. Uses the 2026 Revenue valuation bands (valuation date: 1 November 2025).
Revenue LPT 2026-2030 band table (source: revenue.ie). Your local authority can vary the base charge by up to 15%. Figures are illustrative; verify at Revenue's LPT reckoner for your exact property.
Rent cap calculator for Ardee
Pre-filled with Ardee's median rent. From 1 March 2026 all private tenancies in Ireland are covered by national rent control: the annual increase is capped at 2% or CPI inflation, whichever is lower.
Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025; national rent control from 1 March 2026 (source: rtb.ie). Figures are illustrative, not legal advice.
What a month in Ardee costs
Real figures for Ardee: RTB average rent and an ownership estimate built on the median sale price. Adjust the mortgage rate and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02), Q4 2025. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Ardee's median Property Price Register sale price over 30 years, plus Revenue's 2026 LPT band charge divided by 12. Excludes utilities, insurance, management fees and council LPT adjustments. Illustrative, not financial advice.
See the full Ardee house prices page: median, year trend, rents by bedroom, yields and recent sales.
Visiting first? Things to do in Ardee covers attractions, heritage sites and walks nearby.