Living in Portobello, Co. Dublin: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Portobello
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Portobello
- Schools in Portobello
- Things to do in and around Portobello
- Where Portobello is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Portobello
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Portobello
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Portobello
- Nearby Dublin towns
- Population and demographics
Is Portobello a nice place to live?
Portobello is home to about 1,847 households, 32% owner-occupied and 54% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €662,500, versus €454,000 across the Dublin region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €1,899 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 8 schools keyed to the town (6 primary, 2 post-primary), and there are 564 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Dublin Pearse, 1.9 km away, and 32 bus and rail routes serve the town, including the Luas. The sections below break each of these down.
Portobello is a town in Co. Dublin, about 10 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 10 schools, 32.0% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €662,500 to buy or €1,899 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025) (a 3.4% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 18 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Portobello: 32.0% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Portobello
3,907 people live in Portobello on Census 2022 night. 32% of households own their home and 54% rent, so Portobello leans towards renters. The most common way to commute is by foot or bike (62%). 9% are under 15 and 12% are aged 65 and over. 68% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 3,907 |
| Owner-occupied households | 32% |
| Rented households | 54% |
| Aged under 15 | 9% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 46% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12% |
| Third level or higher | 68% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 67% |
| Unemployment rate | 5% |
| Commute by car | 16% |
| Commute by public transport | 20% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 62% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics, CC-BY 4.0. Figures are for the Wood Quay B electoral division around Portobello.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Dublin Pearse (1.9 km away), on the DART line
Public transport serving Portobello: 5 operators
Getting around Portobello
Portobello is served by 5 public-transport operators running 32 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus, Dublin Express, Go-Ahead Ireland, LUAS and Nitelink, Dublin Bus. The Luas tram network reaches the town.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Dublin Express | Bus / coach |
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
| LUAS | Tram |
| Nitelink, Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes (a sample of 32)
- 14 - Dundrum Luas Stn - Ardlea Rd (Beaumont)
- 15 - Ballycullen Road - Clongriffin
- 16 - Ballinteer - Dublin Airport
- 27 - Jobstown - Clare Hall
- 44 - Enniskerry - DCU
- 65 - Poolbeg Street - Blessington/Ballymore
- 68 - Newcastle / Greenogue Business Pk - Hawkins St
- 74 - Dundrum Luas - Eden Quay
- 80 - Liffey Valley SC - Palmerston Park
- 82 - Irishtown - Kiltipper
- F1 - The Square Tallaght - IKEA
- F2 - Charlestown SC - Rossmore
- F3 - Charlestown SC - Limekiln Avenue
- 122 - Drimnagh - Ashington
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 Portobello
There are 7 primary and 3 post-primary schools in and around Portobello, 6 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffith Barracks Multi D School | Primary | 403 | |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar School | Post-primary | 302 | |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St. | Post-primary | 291 | DEIS |
| St Brigids Primary School | Primary | 229 | DEIS |
| Presentation Primary School | Primary | 223 | DEIS |
| Presentation College | Post-primary | 221 | DEIS |
| Scoil Treasa Naofa | Primary | 175 | DEIS |
| St Clares Convent N S | Primary | 163 | |
| Sancta Maria C B S | Primary | 103 | DEIS |
| St Patricks | Primary | 24 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Portobello
- Heritage nearby: St. Audoens Church, Dublin City (1 km) · St. Mary's Abbey Abbey, Dublin City (2 km) · Kilmainham Gaol (3 km) · Rathfarnham Castle (4 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 Portobello is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Portobello
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €662,500 (+4.3% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2025) | €1,899 |
| Gross rental yield | 3.4% |
| Net yield (est.) | 2.7% |
| Dublin county median | €500k |
| New build / second-hand | n/a / €662,500 |
Recent sales in Portobello
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 26 | 7 PORTOBELLO QUAY, PORTOBELLO, DUBLIN 8 | Second-hand | €576,000 |
| 07 Sep 26 | 9 RICHMOND ROW, PORTOBELLO, DUBLIN 8 | Second-hand | €525,000 |
| 01 Sep 26 | 44 WARREN ST, PORTOBELLO, DUBLIN 8 | Second-hand | €642,500 |
| 24 Aug 26 | 26 LONG LANE, PORTOBELLO, DUBLIN 8 | Second-hand | €825,000 |
| 05 Aug 26 | 31 LENNOX ST, PORTOBELLO, DUBLIN 8 | Second-hand | €220,000 |
| 23 Jul 26 | 5 PORTOBELLO QUAY, PORTOBELLO, DUBLIN 8 | Second-hand | €566,000 |
| 02 Jul 26 | 48 LENNOX ST, PORTOBELLO, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €650,000 |
| 23 Jun 26 | 27 KINGSLAND PARADE, PORTOBELLO, DUBLIN 8 | Second-hand | €495,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Portobello median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €600,000 | 25 sales | |
| 2024 | €704,800 | 23 sales | |
| 2025 | €680,000 | 20 sales | |
| 2026 | €576,000 | 11 sales |
Maximum legal rent increase in Portobello
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
Portobello compared with County Dublin
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Portobello | 662500 | |
| County Dublin median | 500000 |
Rent or buy in Portobello?
At a glance: €662,500 to buy versus €1,899 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 3.4% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Portobello
The median home (€662,500) falls in LPT Band 6, a base charge of €618 a year before Dublin County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Portobello: 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 Portobello
In the 12 months to September 2026, 42 planning grants were recorded in and around Portobello, including 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-05 | RETENTION & PERMISSION: Retention permission is sought for the demolition of a single storey shed structure to the rear of No. 23 Harrington Street... | 2 |
| 2026-04-14 | Permission is sought for a change of use of 2 no. existing office suites (office suite no. 01 and office suite no. 02) located at first and second... | 2 |
| 2026-05-18 | PROTECTED STRUCTURE The development will consist of the demolition of the existing derelict four-storey rear return to the main house, and... | 1 |
| 2026-05-12 | (i) demolition of the existing single-storey garage; (ii) construction of a two- storey, two-bedroom, flat/green roofed with 3 no. rooflights, mews... | 1 |
| 2026-01-23 | The development will consist of: (i) the proposed demolition of the existing single and two-storey structures (ii) the construction of a detached... | 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 5 homes approved here in the last year are about 0% of Portobello's roughly 1,847 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Portobello, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Portobello, Dublin.
View the official OPW flood maps for Portobello →
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 Portobello
What's it like to live in Portobello?
Portobello is a town in Co. Dublin, about 10 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 10 schools, 32.0% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Portobello?
A home in Portobello costs a median €662,500 to buy or €1,899 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 3.4% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Portobello to Dublin?
About 10 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, estimated.
What schools are in Portobello?
Schools in Portobello include Griffith Barracks Multi D School, St Patricks Cathedral Grammar School, Christian Brothers, Synge St., St Brigids Primary School, among 7 primary and 3 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Portobello?
Portobello had a population of 3,907 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Portobello had a population of 3,907 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 3,907 |
|---|---|
| Households | 1,847 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 32% |
| Rented homes | 54% |
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 11 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €662,500.
Could a home in Portobello pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Portobello'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 Portobello?
Pre-filled with Portobello'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 Portobello property
Pre-filled with Portobello'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 Portobello home
Pre-filled with Portobello'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 Portobello
Pre-filled with Portobello'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 Portobello costs
Real figures for Portobello: 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), Q4 2025. Ownership: repayment mortgage on Portobello'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 Portobello
- Portobello house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- Things to do in Portobello: 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.