Living in Ferns, Co. Wexford: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Ferns
- Getting around and commuting
- Getting around Ferns
- Schools in Ferns
- Things to do in and around Ferns
- Where Ferns is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Ferns
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Ferns
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Ferns
- Nearby Wexford towns
- Population and demographics
Is Ferns a nice place to live?
Ferns is home to about 514 households, 51% owner-occupied and 43% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €332,500, versus €301,000 across the South-East region, and the median rent is €1,127 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 5 schools keyed to the town (5 primary), and there are 8 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Enniscorthy, 10.6 km away, and 3 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Ferns is a town in Co. Wexford, about 82 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 5 schools, 51.0% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €332,500 to buy or €1,127 a month to rent (RTB Q3 2025).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 28 sales · PPR sales to Aug 2026 · CSO benchmark to May 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Ferns: 51.0% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Ferns
1,317 people live in Ferns on Census 2022 night. 51% of households own their home and 43% rent, so Ferns leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (57%). 20% are under 15 and 16% are aged 65 and over. 23% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 1,317 |
| Owner-occupied households | 51% |
| Rented households | 43% |
| Aged under 15 | 20% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 27% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16% |
| Third level or higher | 23% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 49% |
| Unemployment rate | 10% |
| Commute by car | 57% |
| Commute by public transport | 14% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 21% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Ferns built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Getting around and commuting
Nearest train station: Enniscorthy (10.6 km away), on the Rosslare line
Public transport serving Ferns: 3 operators
Getting around Ferns
Ferns is served by 3 public-transport operators running 3 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Éireann, Dunnes Coaches and Wexford Bus.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| Dunnes Coaches | Bus / coach |
| Wexford Bus | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 2 - Dublin Airport - Gorey - Wexford
- 740 - Wexford - Dublin Airport
- IW07 - Gorey - Carlow
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 Ferns
There are 5 primary schools in and around Ferns, 2 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naomh Maodhog N.S. | Primary | 285 | DEIS |
| Ballyduff N S | Primary | 79 | |
| Camolin N S | Primary | 75 | DEIS |
| Tombrack N S | Primary | 54 | |
| St Edans N S | Primary | 39 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Ferns
- Heritage nearby: Ferns Cathedral and High Crosses (0 km) · Ferns Abbey (0 km) · Ferns Castle (0 km) · St. Peter's Church, Ferns (0 km)
- Walking trails in County Wexford: Clody Valley Craan Loop · Clody Valley Long Lane Loop · Abbey Wood Trail · Annagh Hill Turnaround Trail
- Nature reserves: Wexford Wildfowl Reserve · The Raven Nature Reserve · Ballyteigue Burrow Nature Reserve
Where Ferns is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Ferns
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €332,500 (+20.9% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q3 2025) | €1,127 |
| Gross rental yield | — |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.2% |
| Wexford county median | €301k |
| New build / second-hand | — / €332,500 |
What this means: Ferns's rent figure is the last published RTB quarter (Q3 2025). RTB has not yet published a more recent quarter for this town.
Recent sales in Ferns
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jul 26 | 29 BERRYFIELDS, FERNS, CO. WEXFORD | Second-hand | €342,000 |
| 12 Jun 26 | 8 ASHFIELD, TOMBRACK, FERNS | Second-hand | €330,000 |
| 04 Jun 26 | MONAGEAR, FERNS, WEXFORD | Second-hand | €461,000 |
| 30 Mar 26 | 15 COOLBAWN, FERNS, ENNISCORTHY | Second-hand | €91,000 |
| 11 Mar 26 | MOUNTAINVIEW HOUSE, TOMSOLLAGH, FERNS | Second-hand | €600,000 |
| 09 Mar 26 | LAMMTARRA, CRAAN, FERNS | Second-hand | €445,000 |
| 06 Mar 26 | EFFERNOGUE, FERNS, CO. WEXFORD | Second-hand | €325,000 |
| 25 Feb 26 | THE COTTAGE, BALLYBEG, FERNS | Second-hand | €307,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Ferns median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €242,000 | 41 sales | |
| 2024 | €280,000 | 23 sales | |
| 2025 | €300,000 | 30 sales | |
| 2026 | €332,500 | 12 sales |
Maximum legal rent increase in Ferns
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
Ferns compared with County Wexford
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Ferns | 332500 | |
| County Wexford median | 301000 |
Rent or buy in Ferns?
At a glance: €332,500 to buy versus €1,127 a month to rent (RTB Q3 2025).
Local Property Tax in Ferns
The median home (€332,500) falls in LPT Band 3, a base charge of €333 a year before Wexford County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Ferns: 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 Ferns
In the 12 months to August 2026, 42 planning grants were recorded in and around Ferns, including 17 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | Permission for the erection of three no. 2 storey (two bedroomed) | 3 |
| 2026-02-20 | Permission to demolish an existing dwelling and erect 2 no. dwellings | 2 |
| 2026-07-03 | Permission for retention of works completed to date to existing dwelling house | 1 |
| 2026-07-03 | Permission for the demolition of an existing derelict dwelling house | 1 |
| 2026-06-05 | Permission to construct a fully serviced dwelling house and garage with | 1 |
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 17 homes approved here in the last year are about 3% of Ferns's roughly 514 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Ferns, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Ferns, Wexford.
View the official OPW flood maps for Ferns →
Source: Office of Public Works, floodinfo.ie. No OPW flood-extent values are reproduced here.
County context
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022 Census) | 163,919 |
| Population change 2016 to 2022 | +9.5% |
| Disposable income per person (index, State = 100) | 89.3 |
| New dwelling permissions (South-East region, 2017) | 292 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 Wexford towns
Gorey · Rosslare · Bunclody · Mulgannon · Wexford · Clonard
All Wexford 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 Ferns
What's it like to live in Ferns?
Ferns is a town in Co. Wexford, about 82 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 5 schools, 51.0% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Ferns?
A home in Ferns costs a median €332,500 to buy or €1,127 a month to rent (RTB Q3 2025) (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Ferns to Dublin?
About 82 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Ferns?
Schools in Ferns include Naomh Maodhog N.S., Ballyduff N S, Camolin N S, Tombrack N S, among 5 primary and 0 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Ferns?
Ferns had a population of 1,317 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Ferns had a population of 1,317 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 1,317 |
|---|---|
| Households | 514 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 51% |
| Rented homes | 43% |
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 Ferns pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Ferns's median price and average rent (RTB Q3 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 Ferns?
Pre-filled with Ferns'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 Ferns property
Pre-filled with Ferns'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 Ferns home
Pre-filled with Ferns'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 Ferns
Pre-filled with Ferns'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 Ferns costs
Real figures for Ferns: 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), Q3 2025. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Ferns'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 Ferns house prices page: median, year trend, rents by bedroom, yields and recent sales.
Visiting first? Things to do in Ferns covers attractions, heritage sites and walks nearby.