Living in Drogheda, Co. Louth: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Drogheda
- Getting around and commuting
- Getting around Drogheda
- Commute to Dublin from Drogheda
- Schools in Drogheda
- Things to do in and around Drogheda
- Where Drogheda is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Drogheda
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Drogheda
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Drogheda
- Nearby Louth towns
Leinster house prices & rents › Louth › Living in Drogheda
Drogheda is a town in Co. Louth, about 43 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 21 schools, 62.5% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €375,000 to buy or €1,462 a month to rent (a 4.7% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 766 sales · updated July 2026
How Drogheda compares: at €375,000 it is 1% above the County Louth median of €370k. Its 4.7% gross yield is above the county average of 4.7%.Recent activity in Drogheda: latest recorded sale Jun 2026; 413 new homes approved in the last year; prices +4.2% year on year. This page updates as new official data lands.
Who lives in Drogheda — 62.5% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Drogheda
44,135 people live in Drogheda on Census 2022 night. 62% of households own their home and 32% rent, so Drogheda leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (56%). It skews young: 20% are under 15 against 13% aged 65 and over. 36% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 44,135 |
| Owner-occupied households | 62% |
| Rented households | 32% |
| Aged under 15 | 20% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 29% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13% |
| Third level or higher | 36% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 55% |
| Unemployment rate | 8% |
| Commute by car | 56% |
| Commute by public transport | 15% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 26% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Drogheda built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Getting around and commuting
Nearest train station: Drogheda (in the town), on several Dublin intercity lines
Public transport serving Drogheda — Rail + bus
Getting around Drogheda
Drogheda is served by 6 public-transport operators running 25 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail, Matthews Coach Hire, Pat Keenan Coach Hire, Streamline Coaches and TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail | Rail |
| Matthews Coach Hire | Bus / coach |
| Pat Keenan Coach Hire | Bus / coach |
| Streamline Coaches | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes (a sample of 25)
- D1 - Drogheda - Laytown
- D2 - Drogheda - Coast Road - Laytown
- D4 - Southgate SC - Ballymakenny
- D5 - Colpe Road - Termonabbey
- 100 - Drogheda - Dundalk - Newry
- 101 - Dublin - Airport - Drogheda
- 105 - Blanchardstown - Ashbourne - Ashbourne - Drogheda
- 163 - Brú na Bóinne - Drogheda
- 168 - Dundalk - Annagassan
- 173 - Drogheda West St - Dominck St
- 182 - Drogheda - Collon - Ardee - Monaghan
- 188 - Athboy - Navan - Drogheda
- 190 - Drogheda - Navan - Trim
- 901 - Dundalk - Drogheda - 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.
Commute to Dublin from Drogheda
Driving from Drogheda to Dublin city centre takes about 42 minutes by car on a clear run. That makes it the closest to Dublin of the 2 Louth towns we have routed by road.
| Town | Drive to Dublin |
|---|---|
| Drogheda, Louth This town | 42 min |
| Leixlip, Kildare Closest routed town | 22 min |
| Wexford, Wexford Farthest routed town | 106 min |
Door-to-centre driving time routed on OpenStreetMap road data via OSRM, no live traffic. Comparison is against the Leinster commuter towns routed so far. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Schools in Drogheda
There are 14 primary and 7 post-primary schools in and around Drogheda, 8 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Oliver'S Community College | Post-primary | 1517 | DEIS |
| St. Joseph'S C.B.S. | Post-primary | 1057 | |
| Ballymakenny College | Post-primary | 1003 | |
| Our Lady'S College | Post-primary | 973 | |
| St Marys Parish Primary School | Primary | 967 | |
| St Mary'S Diocesan School | Post-primary | 915 | |
| Sacred Heart Secondary School | Post-primary | 706 | |
| St Brigid'S And St Patrick'S National School | Primary | 575 | DEIS |
| Drogheda Grammar School | Post-primary | 553 | |
| St Pauls Senior Ns | Primary | 466 | DEIS |
| S N Tulach Aluinn | Primary | 411 | |
| Presentation Convent | Primary | 385 | DEIS |
| Le Cheile Educate Together Ns | Primary | 383 | |
| Aston Village Educate Together National School | Primary | 375 |
Showing the 14 largest of 21.
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Drogheda
- Heritage nearby: Mellifont Abbey (8 km) · Newgrange Passage Tomb (8 km) · Knowth Passage Tomb Cemetery (9 km) · Skreen Church (20 km)
- Walking trails in County Louth: Tain Way · Annaloughan Loop · Barnavave Loop · Boyne Valley Camino
Full guide: things to do in Drogheda →
Where Drogheda is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Drogheda
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €375,000 (+4.2% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent | €1,462 |
| Gross rental yield | 4.7% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.6% |
| Louth county median | €370k |
| New build / second-hand | €399,950 / €287,000 |
What this means: New builds in Drogheda sell at about a 39% premium to second-hand homes (€399,950 vs €287,000).
Recent sales in Drogheda
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 26 | 3 Ushesr Mill Rise, Ushers Mill, Drogheda | New | €374,449 |
| 24 Jun 26 | 18 The Chesters, Termonfeckin Road, Drogheda | New | €334,801 |
| 24 Jun 26 | 19 SILK PARK, PLATIN ROAD, DROGHEDA | Second-hand | €370,000 |
| 24 Jun 26 | 8 Ushers Mill View, Ushers Mill, Drogheda | New | €427,313 |
| 22 Jun 26 | 1 Ushers Mill Avenue, Ushers Mill, Drogheda | New | €334,802 |
| 22 Jun 26 | 21 Ushers Mill Drive, Ushers Mill, Drogheda | New | €396,475 |
| 22 Jun 26 | 5 Ushers Mill Avenue, Ushers Mill, Drogheda | New | €321,586 |
| 22 Jun 26 | 57 FIVE OAKS, DROGHEDA, CO. LOUTH | Second-hand | €375,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Drogheda median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €315,000 | 626 sales | |
| 2024 | €320,000 | 546 sales | |
| 2025 | €374,999 | 839 sales | |
| 2026 | €385,000 | 259 sales |
Average rent by size
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| €1,165 | €1,390 | €1,597 | €1,989 |
Maximum legal rent increase in Drogheda
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
Drogheda compared with County Louth
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Drogheda | 375000 | |
| County Louth median | 370000 |
Rent or buy in Drogheda?
At a glance: €375,000 to buy versus €1,462 a month to rent, a 4.7% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Drogheda
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 Drogheda: 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 Drogheda
In the 12 months to July 2026, 135 planning grants were recorded in and around Drogheda, including 413 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Permission for development at a site of (c. 3.63ha). The proposed development comprises 99no. 2-storey dwellings (51no. 3-bed and 48no. 4-bed... | 99 |
| 2026-05-20 | Permission for development at a site (c. 2.33ha). The proposed development comprises: 79no. dwellings (8no. 2-bed, 62no. 3- bed and 9no. 4-bed... | 79 |
| 2026-02-11 | LRD Lagan Homes Tullyallen Ltd intend to make a planning application for planning permission to modify a permitted Strategic Housing Development... | 47 |
| 2026-01-22 | Permission for the proposed development will principally consist of the construction of 43no. residential dwellings (4,675.7sq.m. Residential GFA)... | 43 |
| 2025-09-10 | the development will consist of: 1. 36 duplex units comprising 22 no. 2 bed units and 14 no. 3 bed units contained within 3 storey blocks. 2... | 32 |
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 413 homes approved here in the last year are about 3% of Drogheda's roughly 15,751 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Drogheda, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Drogheda, Louth.
View the official OPW flood maps for Drogheda →
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 · Things to do in Drogheda
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 Drogheda
What's it like to live in Drogheda?
Drogheda is a town in Co. Louth, about 43 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 21 schools, 62.5% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Drogheda?
A home in Drogheda costs a median €375,000 to buy or €1,462 a month to rent, a 4.7% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Drogheda to Dublin?
About 43 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Drogheda?
Schools in Drogheda include St Oliver'S Community College, St. Joseph'S C.B.S., Ballymakenny College, Our Lady'S College, among 14 primary and 7 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
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 Drogheda pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Drogheda'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 Drogheda?
Pre-filled with Drogheda'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 Drogheda property
Pre-filled with Drogheda'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 Drogheda home
Pre-filled with Drogheda'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 Drogheda
Pre-filled with Drogheda'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.