Living in Portarlington, Co. Laois: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Portarlington
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Portarlington
- Commute to Dublin from Portarlington
- Schools in Portarlington
- Things to do in and around Portarlington
- Where Portarlington is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Portarlington
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Portarlington
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Portarlington
- Nearby Laois towns
- Population and demographics
Is Portarlington a nice place to live?
Portarlington is home to about 3,297 households, 62% owner-occupied and 33% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €349,950, versus €332,000 across the Midland region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €1,188 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 5 schools keyed to the town (4 primary, 1 post-primary), and there are 7 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Portarlington, 1.9 km away, and 11 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Portarlington is a town in Co. Laois, about 66 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 5 schools, 61.8% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €349,950 to buy or €1,188 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025) (a 4.1% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 157 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Portarlington: 61.8% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Portarlington
9,288 people live in Portarlington on Census 2022 night. 62% of households own their home and 33% rent, so Portarlington leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (64%). It skews young: 24% are under 15 against 10% aged 65 and over. 30% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 9,288 |
| Owner-occupied households | 62% |
| Rented households | 33% |
| Aged under 15 | 24% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 29% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10% |
| Third level or higher | 30% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 54% |
| Unemployment rate | 7% |
| Commute by car | 64% |
| Commute by public transport | 16% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 15% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Portarlington built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Portarlington (1.9 km away), on several Dublin intercity lines
Public transport serving Portarlington: Rail + bus
Getting around Portarlington
Portarlington is served by 4 public-transport operators running 11 scheduled routes. Operators are Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail, JJ Kavanagh, Slieve Bloom Coach Tours and TFI Local Link Laois Offaly.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail | Rail |
| JJ Kavanagh | Bus / coach |
| Slieve Bloom Coach Tours | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Laois Offaly | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 806 - Portarlington - Monasterevin
- 827 - Mountmellick - Portarlington - Portlaoise
- 829 - Portlaoise - Portarlington - Tullamore
- LS1 - Borris-in-Ossory - Mount Lucas
- IW04 - Portarlington - Carlow
- UM14 - Portlaoise - Maynooth
- rail - Dublin - Galway
- rail - Dublin - Limerick
- rail - Dublin - Tralee
- rail - Dublin - Westport
- Commuter - Dublin - Portlaoise
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 Portarlington
Driving from Portarlington to Dublin city centre takes about 66 minutes by car on a clear run. That makes it the closest to Dublin of the 2 Laois towns we have routed by road.
| Town | Drive to Dublin |
|---|---|
| Portarlington, Laois This town | 66 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 Portarlington
There are 4 primary and 1 post-primary schools in and around Portarlington.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coláiste Íosagáin | Post-primary | 1135 | |
| Scoil Phadraig | Primary | 521 | |
| Presentation Primary School | Primary | 496 | |
| S N Naomh Eoin | Primary | 374 | |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Cúil An Tsúdaire 2 | Primary | 84 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Portarlington
- Heritage nearby: Dunamase Castle (15 km) · Timahoe Round Tower (22 km) · Old Kilcullen Monastic Site (29 km)
- Walking trails in County Laois: Barrow Way · Abbeyleix Loops - Collins Bog Loop · Abbeyleix Loops - Killamuck Bog Loop · Brittas Forest Loop
- Nature reserves: Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve · Timahoe Esker Nature Reserve · Coolacurragh Wood Nature Reserve
Where Portarlington is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Portarlington
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €349,950 (+22.8% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2025) | €1,188 |
| Gross rental yield | 4.1% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.2% |
| Laois county median | €332k |
| New build / second-hand | €385,000 / €265,000 |
What this means: New builds in Portarlington sell at about a 45% premium to second-hand homes (€385,000 vs €265,000).
Recent sales in Portarlington
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep 26 | 8 THE GLEN, KILNA COURT WOODS, PORTARLINGTON | Second-hand | €305,000 |
| 08 Sep 26 | 162 WHITEFIELDS, STATION RD, PORTARLINGTON | Second-hand | €300,000 |
| 07 Sep 26 | 72 Coill an Easpaig, Portarlington | New | €339,207 |
| 02 Sep 26 | 98 RAILWAY MEWS, PORTARLINGTON, LAOIS | Second-hand | €311,000 |
| 31 Aug 26 | 77 Coill An Easpaig, Portarlington | New | €343,612 |
| 27 Aug 26 | SESKIN LANE, PORTARLINGTON, LAOIS | Second-hand | €301,000 |
| 26 Aug 26 | No 2 Heritage Village, Killenard, Portarlington | New | €436,123 |
| 17 Aug 26 | BISHOPSWOOD, PORTARLINGTON, CO LAOIS | Second-hand | €450,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Portarlington median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €242,000 | 144 sales | |
| 2024 | €229,250 | 114 sales | |
| 2025 | €288,000 | 137 sales | |
| 2026 | €368,163 | 127 sales |
Average rent by size (Q4 2025)
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a | €1,037 | n/a | n/a |
Maximum legal rent increase in Portarlington
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
Portarlington compared with County Laois
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Portarlington | 349950 | |
| County Laois median | 332000 |
Rent or buy in Portarlington?
At a glance: €349,950 to buy versus €1,188 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 4.1% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Portarlington
The median home (€349,950) falls in LPT Band 3, a base charge of €333 a year before Laois County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Portarlington: 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 Portarlington
In the 12 months to September 2026, 57 planning grants were recorded in and around Portarlington, including 49 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-18 | carry out development which will consist of Planning Permission to construct 7 no. 2 bed dormer/storey and a half type dwellings, comprising of a... | 6 |
| 2026-01-19 | construct 4 No. two storey three bedroom dwellings, shared car parking, common amenity space and associated infrastructural connections and site... | 4 |
| 2026-01-08 | construction of new two-storey extension to the front gable of existing dwelling together with all associated site works. Retention permission is... | 3 |
| 2026-03-24 | construct a NEW SINGLE STOREY COMMUNAL BUILDING, CONSISTING OF 3 NO. INDEPENDENT LIVING UNITS AND A COMMUNAL KITCHEN / UTILITY UNIT; ALL ASSOCIATED... | 3 |
| 2026-09-14 | construct a private dwelling house, domestic garage, new connections to mains foul sewer & water infrastructure, entrance onto public road and all... | 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 49 homes approved here in the last year are about 1% of Portarlington's roughly 3,297 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Portarlington, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Portarlington, Laois.
View the official OPW flood maps for Portarlington →
Source: Office of Public Works, floodinfo.ie. No OPW flood-extent values are reproduced here.
County context
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022 Census) | 91,877 |
| Population change 2016 to 2022 | +8.5% |
| Disposable income per person (index, State = 100) | 76.2 |
| New dwelling permissions (Midland region, 2017) | 168 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 Laois towns
Portlaoise · Mountmellick · Mountrath
All Laois 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 Portarlington
What's it like to live in Portarlington?
Portarlington is a town in Co. Laois, about 66 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 5 schools, 61.8% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Portarlington?
A home in Portarlington costs a median €349,950 to buy or €1,188 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 4.1% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Portarlington to Dublin?
About 66 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Portarlington?
Schools in Portarlington include Coláiste Íosagáin, Scoil Phadraig, Presentation Primary School, S N Naomh Eoin, among 4 primary and 1 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Portarlington?
Portarlington had a population of 9,288 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Portarlington had a population of 9,288 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 9,288 |
|---|---|
| Households | 3,297 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62% |
| Rented homes | 33% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0). Household tenure from the same release.
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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 127 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €349,950.
Could a home in Portarlington pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Portarlington'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 Portarlington?
Pre-filled with Portarlington'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 Portarlington property
Pre-filled with Portarlington'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 Portarlington home
Pre-filled with Portarlington'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 Portarlington
Pre-filled with Portarlington'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 Portarlington costs
Real figures for Portarlington: 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 €1,037
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02), Q4 2025. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Portarlington'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 Portarlington
- Portarlington house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- Things to do in Portarlington: attractions, heritage sites and walks nearby.
- What's on in Co. Laois: festivals, markets and gigs, grouped by week and refreshed every Monday.
- Planning applications in Co. Laois: what has been lodged, granted and refused in the last 12 months.