Living in Donabate, Co. Dublin: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Donabate
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Donabate
- Schools in Donabate
- Things to do in and around Donabate
- Where Donabate is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Donabate
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Donabate
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Donabate
- Nearby Dublin towns
- Population and demographics
Is Donabate a nice place to live?
Donabate is home to about 3,157 households, 76% owner-occupied and 20% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €490,000, versus €492,000 across the Dublin region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €1,956 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 5 schools keyed to the town (4 primary, 1 post-primary), and there are 58 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Donabate, 0 km away, and 11 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Donabate is a town in Co. Dublin, about 22 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 5 schools, 76.4% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €490,000 to buy or €1,956 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025) (a 4.8% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 267 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Donabate: 76.4% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Donabate
9,669 people live in Donabate on Census 2022 night. 76% of households own their home and 20% rent, so Donabate leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (47%). It skews young: 24% are under 15 against 6% aged 65 and over. 59% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 9,669 |
| Owner-occupied households | 76% |
| Rented households | 20% |
| Aged under 15 | 24% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 29% |
| Aged 65 and over | 6% |
| Third level or higher | 59% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 66% |
| Unemployment rate | 4% |
| Commute by car | 47% |
| Commute by public transport | 27% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 24% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Donabate built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Donabate (in the town), on the Drogheda/Dundalk and Rosslare lines
Public transport serving Donabate: Rail + bus
Getting around Donabate
Donabate is served by 5 public-transport operators running 11 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail and Nitelink, Dublin Bus.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
| Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail | Rail |
| Nitelink, Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 33 - Balbriggan - Lower Abbey St
- 101 - Dublin - Airport - Drogheda
- 33A - Dublin Airport - Balbriggan
- 33B - Swords - Portrane
- 33D - Portrane - St Stephens Green
- 33E - Lwr Abbey St - Portrane - Skerries
- 33T - Skerries - Donabate
- 33X - Skerries - Custom House Quay / St Stephen Green
- 33n - Westmoreland Street - Balbriggan
- rail - Dublin - Drogheda/Dundalk
- rail - Dublin - Europort
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 Donabate
There are 4 primary and 1 post-primary schools in and around Donabate.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donabate Community College | Post-primary | 813 | |
| Donabate/Portrane Educate Together Ns | Primary | 414 | |
| S N C Naomh Padraig | Primary | 376 | |
| St Patricks Boys National School | Primary | 370 | |
| Gaelscoil Na Mara | Primary | 123 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Donabate
- Heritage nearby: Lusk (5 km) · Casino Marino, Dublin City (14 km) · St. Mary's Abbey Abbey, Dublin City (17 km) · St. Audoens Church, Dublin City (18 km)
- Walking trails in County Dublin: Wicklow Way · Barnaslingan - Pine loop trail (Blue) · Barnaslingan - Scalp Lookout Trail (Red) · Carrickgollogan - Lead Mines Way - (Orange)
- Nature reserves: Wicklow Mountains National Park · North Bull Island Nature Reserve · Rogerstown Estuary Nature Reserve
Where Donabate is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Donabate
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €490,000 (+3.2% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2025) | €1,956 |
| Gross rental yield | 4.8% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.7% |
| Dublin county median | €500k |
| New build / second-hand | €485,000 / €523,750 |
What this means: New builds in Donabate sell at about a 7% discount to second-hand homes (€485,000 vs €523,750).
Recent sales in Donabate
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Sep 26 | 11The Heath, Hampden Ridge, Donabate | New | €484,581 |
| 21 Sep 26 | 61 The Boulevard, Hampden Hill, Donabate | New | €490,000 |
| 15 Sep 26 | 20 The Court, Hampden Hill, Donabate | New | €427,312 |
| 08 Sep 26 | 24 THE COURT, HAMPDEN HILL, DONABATE | New | €427,312 |
| 08 Sep 26 | CARRIC BEAG, BALCARRICK, DONABATE | Second-hand | €243,500 |
| 08 Sep 26 | ST ANTHONYS, BALLISK, DONABATE | Second-hand | €890,000 |
| 04 Sep 26 | 50 The Meadows Red Rock Field, Balmoston, Donabate | New | €493,392 |
| 03 Sep 26 | 22 The Court, Hampden Hill, Donabate | New | €444,954 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Donabate median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €490,000 | 210 sales | |
| 2024 | €475,000 | 109 sales | |
| 2025 | €490,000 | 243 sales | |
| 2026 | €494,974 | 133 sales |
Average rent by size (Q4 2025)
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a | €1,805 | n/a | n/a |
Maximum legal rent increase in Donabate
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
Donabate compared with County Dublin
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Dublin median | 500000 | |
| Donabate | 490000 |
Rent or buy in Donabate?
At a glance: €490,000 to buy versus €1,956 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 4.8% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Donabate
The median home (€490,000) falls in LPT Band 4, a base charge of €428 a year before Dublin County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Donabate: 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 Donabate
In the 12 months to September 2026, 34 planning grants were recorded in and around Donabate. Data gap: the DHLGH planning layer holds no Dublin City Council application received after 30 Jul 2026, although the council's own register is still publishing, so this figure understates the last 12 months until the department resumes ingestion.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-03 | The development consist of: RETENTION permission for: (a) ‘commercial | |
| 2026-09-01 | Retention permission for a single storey lean-to storage shed to the s | |
| 2026-08-04 | We, Keelco Limited, intend to apply for permission for development on | |
| 2026-08-04 | We, Glenveagh Living Limited, intend to apply for a Large Scale Reside | |
| 2026-07-27 | Planning permission for 1. A two storey extension to rear of existing. |
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.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Donabate, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Donabate, Dublin.
View the official OPW flood maps for Donabate →
Source: Office of Public Works, floodinfo.ie. No OPW flood-extent values are reproduced here.
County context
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022 Census) | 1,458,154 |
| Population change 2016 to 2022 | +8.2% |
| Disposable income per person (index, State = 100) | 116.6 |
| New dwelling permissions (Dublin region, 2017) | 848 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 Dublin towns
Dartry · Sandycove · Mount Merrion · Rathgar · Glenageary · Rathmines
All Dublin 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 Donabate
What's it like to live in Donabate?
Donabate is a town in Co. Dublin, about 22 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 5 schools, 76.4% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Donabate?
A home in Donabate costs a median €490,000 to buy or €1,956 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 4.8% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Donabate to Dublin?
About 22 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, estimated.
What schools are in Donabate?
Schools in Donabate include Donabate Community College, Donabate/Portrane Educate Together Ns, S N C Naomh Padraig, St Patricks Boys National School, among 4 primary and 1 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Donabate?
Donabate had a population of 9,669 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Donabate had a population of 9,669 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 9,669 |
|---|---|
| Households | 3,157 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76% |
| Rented homes | 20% |
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.
Each point is the median of that calendar year's open-market sales on the Property Price Register. 2026 is a part year, covering the 133 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €490,000.
Could a home in Donabate pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Donabate'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 Donabate?
Pre-filled with Donabate's median price. Adjust the income and deposit and it recalculates instantly.
Assumes 4x gross income for a first-time buyer or 3.5x otherwise, plus your deposit, with no minimum deposit applied (the Central Bank's 10% floor can cap the price lower; the affordability calculator applies it), and a 3.7% rate over 30 years unless you change them.
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 Donabate property
Pre-filled with Donabate's median price. Change the purchase price, tick new build if it applies, 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. New builds: duty is charged on the price net of 13.5% VAT. Figures are illustrative, not legal or financial advice.
Local Property Tax for a Donabate home
Pre-filled with Donabate's median price. Uses the 2026 Revenue valuation bands (valuation date: 1 November 2025) and your local authority's 2026 adjustment factor.
Revenue LPT 2026-2030 band table and Local Adjustment Factors (source: revenue.ie). Each local authority can vary the base charge by up to 15%. Figures are illustrative; verify at Revenue's LPT service for your exact property.
Rent cap calculator for Donabate
Pre-filled with Donabate's average rent (RTB). From 1 March 2026 all private tenancies in Ireland are covered by national rent control: for a standard tenancy the annual increase is capped at 2% or CPI inflation, whichever is lower. This computes the 2% leg as an illustrative cap.
No figure for this tenancy type: it follows CPI with no 2% cap and this widget holds no CPI series. Use the official RTB Rent Calculator.
Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025; national rent control from 1 March 2026 (source: rtb.ie). Illustrative, not legal advice: if CPI is below 2% the lawful ceiling is lower, and the RTB Rent Calculator at rtb.ie is the official tool.
What a month in Donabate costs
Real figures for Donabate: 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 €1,805
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02), Q4 2025. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Donabate'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.
More on Donabate
- Donabate house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- Things to do in Donabate: attractions, heritage sites and walks nearby.
- What's on in Co. Dublin: festivals, markets and gigs, grouped by week and refreshed every Monday.
- Dublin planning applications by district: what has been lodged, granted and refused in the last 12 months.