Living in Drumcondra, Co. Dublin: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Drumcondra
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Drumcondra
- Schools in Drumcondra
- Things to do in and around Drumcondra
- Where Drumcondra is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Drumcondra
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Drumcondra
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Drumcondra
- Nearby Dublin towns
- Population and demographics
Is Drumcondra a nice place to live?
Drumcondra is home to about 1,447 households, 58% owner-occupied and 35% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €565,000, versus €454,000 across the Dublin region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €1,816 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 6 schools keyed to the town (4 primary, 2 post-primary), and there are 543 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Drumcondra, 0.6 km away, and 31 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Drumcondra is a town in Co. Dublin, about 10 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 6 schools, 58.1% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €565,000 to buy or €1,816 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025) (a 3.9% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 113 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Drumcondra: 58.1% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Drumcondra
3,606 people live in Drumcondra on Census 2022 night. 58% of households own their home and 35% rent, so Drumcondra leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by foot or bike (46%). 14% are under 15 and 14% are aged 65 and over. 71% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 3,606 |
| Owner-occupied households | 58% |
| Rented households | 35% |
| Aged under 15 | 14% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 35% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14% |
| Third level or higher | 71% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 65% |
| Unemployment rate | 3% |
| Commute by car | 28% |
| Commute by public transport | 24% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 46% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics, CC-BY 4.0. Figures are for the Botanic B electoral division around Drumcondra.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Drumcondra (in the town), on several Dublin intercity lines
Public transport serving Drumcondra: Rail + bus
Getting around Drumcondra
Drumcondra is served by 12 public-transport operators running 31 scheduled routes. Operators are Aircoach, Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Collins Coaches, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail, John McGinley Coach Travel, Kearns Transport, Matthews Coach Hire, McConnon Travel, Nitelink, Dublin Bus and Wexford Bus.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Aircoach | Bus / coach |
| Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| Collins Coaches | Bus / coach |
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
| Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail | Rail |
| John McGinley Coach Travel | Bus / coach |
| Kearns Transport | Bus / coach |
| Matthews Coach Hire | Bus / coach |
| McConnon Travel | Bus / coach |
| Nitelink, Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Wexford Bus | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes (a sample of 31)
- 1 - Sandymount - O'Connell Street - Santry
- 16 - Ballinteer - Dublin Airport
- 19 - Parnell Square West - Dublin Airport
- 33 - Balbriggan - Lower Abbey St
- 41 - Swords Manor - Lower Abbey Street
- 44 - Enniskerry - DCU
- N2 - Clontarf Station - Heuston Train Stn
- 101 - Dublin - Airport - Drogheda
- 16D - Airport - Beaumont Village - Ballinteer not
- 180 - Clones - Monaghan - Dublin
- 33E - Lwr Abbey St - Portrane - Skerries
- 33n - Westmoreland Street - Balbriggan
- 41B - Rolestown - Lower Abbey Street
- 41C - Swords Manor Via River Valley - Lower Abbey St
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 Drumcondra
There are 4 primary and 2 post-primary schools in and around Drumcondra, 1 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican College | Post-primary | 807 | |
| St Patricks N School | Primary | 449 | |
| Grace Park Educate Together National School | Primary | 409 | |
| St Columbas Con G & I | Primary | 378 | |
| Rosmini Community School | Post-primary | 111 | DEIS |
| Drumcondra N S | Primary | 81 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Drumcondra
- Heritage nearby: Casino Marino, Dublin City (2 km) · St. Mary's Abbey Abbey, Dublin City (2 km) · St. Audoens Church, Dublin City (3 km) · Kilmainham Gaol (5 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 Drumcondra is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Drumcondra
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €565,000 (+0.0% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2025) | €1,816 |
| Gross rental yield | 3.9% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.0% |
| Dublin county median | €500k |
| New build / second-hand | €440,000 / €570,000 |
What this means: New builds in Drumcondra sell at about a 23% discount to second-hand homes (€440,000 vs €570,000).
Recent sales in Drumcondra
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 26 | 16 ODALY RD, DRUMCONDRA, DUBLIN 9 | Second-hand | €480,000 |
| 14 Sep 26 | 214 GRACEPARK MANOR, DRUMCONDRA, DUBLIN 9 | Second-hand | €485,000 |
| 11 Sep 26 | 23 WALSH RD, DRUMCONDRA, DUBLIN 9 | Second-hand | €634,000 |
| 04 Sep 26 | APT 227, GRACEPARK MANOR, DRUMCONDRA | Second-hand | €425,000 |
| 02 Sep 26 | 20 CHURCH VIEW, DRUMCONDRA, DUBLIN 9 | Second-hand | €530,000 |
| 01 Sep 26 | 75 RUSSELL AVE, DRUMCONDRA, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €530,000 |
| 27 Aug 26 | 3 RUSSELL AVE, DRUMCONDRA, DUBLIN 3 | Second-hand | €537,000 |
| 13 Aug 26 | 33 CARLINGFORD RD, DRUMCONDRA, DUBLIN 9 | Second-hand | €677,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Drumcondra median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €500,000 | 163 sales | |
| 2024 | €578,000 | 162 sales | |
| 2025 | €570,000 | 143 sales | |
| 2026 | €567,500 | 72 sales |
Average rent by size (Q4 2025)
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| €1,299 | €2,025 | €2,433 | €2,898 |
Maximum legal rent increase in Drumcondra
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
Drumcondra compared with County Dublin
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Drumcondra | 565000 | |
| County Dublin median | 500000 |
Rent or buy in Drumcondra?
At a glance: €565,000 to buy versus €1,816 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 3.9% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Drumcondra
The median home (€565,000) falls in LPT Band 5, a base charge of €523 a year before Dublin County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Drumcondra: 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 Drumcondra
In the 12 months to September 2026, 23 planning grants were recorded in and around Drumcondra, including 3 new homes approved across those grants. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-15 | The development will consist of the construction of two 4 bed two storey plus attic level semi detached houses and the demolition of the existing... | 2 |
| 2026-03-13 | Erection of 1 No two storey 3 bedroom detached dwelling house (approx 119m2 gross internal area), & associated site works, to include demolition of... | 1 |
| 2026-07-29 | The proposed development will consist of the construction of a new single-storey flat-roof extension to the rear of the existing dwelling, to provide... | |
| 2026-07-06 | The development will consist of the removal of two redundant chimney stacks from the roofline of the existing dwelling, including all associated roof... | |
| 2026-06-26 | PROTECTED STRUCTURE, CHANGE OF USE:The development will consist of (a) the material changes of use from an office to a unit for day services use, to... |
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 3 homes approved here in the last year are about 0% of Drumcondra's roughly 1,447 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Drumcondra, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Drumcondra, Dublin.
View the official OPW flood maps for Drumcondra →
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 Drumcondra
What's it like to live in Drumcondra?
Drumcondra is a town in Co. Dublin, about 10 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 6 schools, 58.1% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Drumcondra?
A home in Drumcondra costs a median €565,000 to buy or €1,816 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 3.9% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Drumcondra to Dublin?
About 10 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, estimated.
What schools are in Drumcondra?
Schools in Drumcondra include Dominican College, St Patricks N School, Grace Park Educate Together National School, St Columbas Con G & I, among 4 primary and 2 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Drumcondra?
Drumcondra had a population of 3,606 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Drumcondra had a population of 3,606 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 3,606 |
|---|---|
| Households | 1,447 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58% |
| Rented homes | 35% |
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 72 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €565,000.
Could a home in Drumcondra pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Drumcondra'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 Drumcondra?
Pre-filled with Drumcondra'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 Drumcondra property
Pre-filled with Drumcondra'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 Drumcondra home
Pre-filled with Drumcondra'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 Drumcondra
Pre-filled with Drumcondra'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 Drumcondra costs
Real figures for Drumcondra: 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: 1 bed €1,299 · 2 bed €2,025 · 3 bed €2,433 · 4+ bed €2,898
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02), Q4 2025. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Drumcondra'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 Drumcondra
- Drumcondra house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- Things to do in Drumcondra: 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.