Living in Bettystown, Co. Meath: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Bettystown
- Getting around and commuting
- Getting around Bettystown
- Schools in Bettystown
- Things to do in and around Bettystown
- Where Bettystown is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Bettystown
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Bettystown
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Bettystown
- Nearby Meath towns
- Population and demographics
Is Bettystown a nice place to live?
Bettystown is home to about 5,335 households, 79% owner-occupied and 18% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €411,548, versus €450,000 across the Mid-East region, and the median rent is €1,658 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 7 schools keyed to the town (5 primary, 2 post-primary), and there are 24 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Laytown, 2.1 km away, and 5 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Bettystown is a town in Co. Meath, about 41 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 7 schools, 78.9% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €411,548 to buy or €1,658 a month to rent (a 4.8% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 120 sales · updated July 2026
Who lives in Bettystown: 78.9% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Bettystown
16,403 people live in Bettystown on Census 2022 night. 79% of households own their home and 18% rent, so Bettystown leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (66%). It skews young: 25% are under 15 against 9% aged 65 and over. 48% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 16,403 |
| Owner-occupied households | 79% |
| Rented households | 18% |
| Aged under 15 | 25% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 31% |
| Aged 65 and over | 9% |
| Third level or higher | 48% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 63% |
| Unemployment rate | 4% |
| Commute by car | 66% |
| Commute by public transport | 20% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 10% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics, CC-BY 4.0. Figures are for the St. Mary'S electoral division around Bettystown.
Getting around and commuting
Nearest train station: Laytown (2.1 km away), on the Drogheda/Dundalk and Rosslare lines
Public transport serving Bettystown: 2 operators
Getting around Bettystown
Bettystown is served by 2 public-transport operators running 5 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Éireann and Matthews Coach Hire.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| Matthews Coach Hire | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- D1 - Drogheda - Laytown
- D2 - Drogheda - Coast Road - Laytown
- 168 - Dundalk - Annagassan
- 910 - Bettystown - Laytown - Dublin
- 912 - Bettystown - Laytown - Dublin
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 Bettystown
There are 5 primary and 2 post-primary schools in and around Bettystown.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colaiste Na Hinse | Post-primary | 1030 | |
| Laytown & Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School | Post-primary | 496 | |
| Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh | Primary | 438 | |
| Scoil Oilibheir Naofa | Primary | 397 | |
| Gaelscoil An Bhradáin Feasa | Primary | 383 | |
| S N Realt Na Mara (B) | Primary | 373 | |
| S N Realt Na Mara (C) | Primary | 373 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Bettystown
- Heritage nearby: Newgrange Passage Tomb (15 km) · Mellifont Abbey (15 km) · Knowth Passage Tomb Cemetery (16 km) · Lusk (20 km)
- Walking trails in County Meath: Royal Canal Way · Royal Canal Greenway Walking Trail · Drewstown Woods - Girley Bog walk · Littlewood - Forest Walk
Where Bettystown is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Bettystown
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €411,548 (+1.6% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent | €1,658 |
| Gross rental yield | 4.8% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.8% |
| Meath county median | €450k |
| New build / second-hand | €425,000 / €362,500 |
What this means: New builds in Bettystown sell at about a 17% premium to second-hand homes (€425,000 vs €362,500).
Recent sales in Bettystown
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Jul 26 | 16 CASTLEMARTIN GREEN, BETTYSTOWN, MEATH | Second-hand | €572,000 |
| 02 Jul 26 | 20 BRABAZON BAY, GOLF LINKS RD, BETTYSTOWN | Second-hand | €460,000 |
| 01 Jul 26 | 202 AN BUIOG, BETTYSTOWN TOWN CENTRE, BETTYSTOWN | Second-hand | €200,000 |
| 26 Jun 26 | 414 AN BUIOG, BETTYSTOWN TOWN CENTRE, BETTYSTOWN | Second-hand | €230,000 |
| 25 Jun 26 | 302 AN BUIOG, BETTYSTOWN TOWN CENTRE, BETTYSTOWN | Second-hand | €200,000 |
| 19 Jun 26 | 20 THE GREEN, WOODSIDE, BETTYSTOWN | Second-hand | €300,000 |
| 19 Jun 26 | 59 EASTHAM COURT, BETTYSTOWN, MEATH | Second-hand | €313,500 |
| 19 Jun 26 | Apartment 403 An Buiog, Bettystown Town Centre, Bettystown | New | €280,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Bettystown median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €374,999 | 98 sales | |
| 2024 | €385,129 | 105 sales | |
| 2025 | €420,000 | 118 sales | |
| 2026 | €312,125 | 51 sales |
Average rent by size
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | €1,474 | €1,767 | — |
Maximum legal rent increase in Bettystown
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
Bettystown compared with County Meath
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Meath median | 450000 | |
| Bettystown | 411548 |
Rent or buy in Bettystown?
At a glance: €411,548 to buy versus €1,658 a month to rent, a 4.8% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Bettystown
The median home (€411,548) falls in LPT Band 3, a base charge of €333 a year before Meath County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Bettystown: 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 Bettystown
In the 12 months to July 2026, 41 planning grants were recorded in and around Bettystown, including 64 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-20 | Permission for 41 no. two storey dwellings and comprise 14 no. detached, 18 no. semi-detached, 9 no. terrace units, new vehicular entrance onto the... | 41 |
| 2026-05-14 | for lands at Sevitsland, Bettystown, Co. Meath: Amendments to development granted under Reg. Ref.: LB181385, as amended by Reg. Ref.: LB200998 and... | 2 |
| 2025-12-12 | 1) demolition of the existing domestic garage on site and to open a new entrance to serve the existing dwelling. 2) the construction of a new... | 2 |
| 2025-12-11 | REF LB191503 - Extension and alterations to existing cottage, including demolition of existing front & rear single storey flat roof extensions... | 2 |
| 2025-11-07 | The development will consist of the following: 1. Retention of existing single storey garden room 2. Proposed alterations to existing elevations... | 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 64 homes approved here in the last year are about 1% of Bettystown's roughly 5,335 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Bettystown, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Bettystown, Meath.
View the official OPW flood maps for Bettystown →
Source: Office of Public Works, floodinfo.ie. No OPW flood-extent values are reproduced here.
County context
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022 Census) | 220,826 |
| Population change 2016 to 2022 | +13.2% |
| Disposable income per person (index, State = 100) | 98.4 |
| 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 Meath towns
Dunboyne · Ashbourne · Dunshaughlin · Ratoath · Clonee · Trim
All Meath 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 Bettystown
What's it like to live in Bettystown?
Bettystown is a town in Co. Meath, about 41 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 7 schools, 78.9% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Bettystown?
A home in Bettystown costs a median €411,548 to buy or €1,658 a month to rent, a 4.8% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Bettystown to Dublin?
About 41 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Bettystown?
Schools in Bettystown include Colaiste Na Hinse, Laytown & Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School, Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Scoil Oilibheir Naofa, among 5 primary and 2 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Bettystown?
Bettystown had a population of 16,403 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Bettystown had a population of 16,403 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 16,403 |
|---|---|
| Households | 5,335 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 79% |
| Rented homes | 18% |
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 Bettystown pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Bettystown's median price and average rent. 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 Bettystown?
Pre-filled with Bettystown's median price. Adjust the income and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Central Bank rules: 3.5x gross income for most buyers; first-time buyers can borrow up to 90% LTV. Figures are illustrative, not financial advice.
Stamp duty on a Bettystown property
Pre-filled with Bettystown's median price. Change the purchase price and see your stamp duty and total cost instantly.
Irish residential stamp duty: 1% on the first €1,000,000; 2% on any amount above. Figures are illustrative, not legal or financial advice.
Local Property Tax for a Bettystown home
Pre-filled with Bettystown'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 Bettystown
Pre-filled with Bettystown'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). RPZ_CAP_PCT = 2.0% per annum -- flagged for Bryan to verify the exact statutory rate before publishing. Figures are illustrative, not legal advice.
What a month in Bettystown costs
Real figures for Bettystown: RTB average rent and an ownership estimate built on the median sale price. Adjust the mortgage rate and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Average rent by size: 2 bed €1,474 · 3 bed €1,767
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02). Ownership: repayment mortgage on Bettystown'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 Bettystown house prices page: median, year trend, rents by bedroom, yields and recent sales.
Visiting first? Things to do in Bettystown covers attractions, heritage sites and walks nearby.