Living in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Rathcoole
- Getting around and commuting
- Getting around Rathcoole
- Schools in Rathcoole
- Things to do in and around Rathcoole
- Where Rathcoole is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Rathcoole
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Rathcoole
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Rathcoole
- Nearby Dublin towns
Leinster house prices & rents › Dublin › Living in Rathcoole
Rathcoole is a town in Co. Dublin, about 22 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 11 schools, 73.1% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €535,000 to buy or €1,923 a month to rent (a 4.3% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 93 sales · updated July 2026
How Rathcoole compares: at €535,000 it is 7% above the County Dublin median of €500k. Its 4.3% gross yield is below the county average of 5.2%.Recent activity in Rathcoole: latest recorded sale Jun 2026; 140 new homes approved in the last year; prices +24.4% year on year. This page updates as new official data lands.
Who lives in Rathcoole — 73.1% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Rathcoole
5,792 people live in Rathcoole on Census 2022 night. 73% of households own their home and 20% rent, so Rathcoole leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (60%). It skews young: 27% are under 15 against 13% aged 65 and over. 47% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 5,792 |
| Owner-occupied households | 73% |
| Rented households | 20% |
| Aged under 15 | 27% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 34% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13% |
| Third level or higher | 47% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 64% |
| Unemployment rate | 3% |
| Commute by car | 60% |
| Commute by public transport | 8% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 29% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Rathcoole built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Getting around and commuting
Nearest train station: Hazelhatch (5.9 km away), on several Dublin intercity lines
Public transport serving Rathcoole — 4 operators
Getting around Rathcoole
Rathcoole is served by 4 public-transport operators running 18 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, LUAS and Nitelink, Dublin Bus. The Luas tram network reaches the town.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
| LUAS | Tram |
| Nitelink, Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes (a sample of 18)
- 68 - Newcastle / Greenogue Business Pk - Hawkins St
- 69 - Rathcoole - Hawkins St
- S8 - Kingswood Avenue - Dun Laoghaire Stn
- W6 - Community College - The Square
- 125 - UCD - Newbridge
- 126 - Dublin - Rathangan
- 65B - Poolbeg Street - Citywest
- 69X - Rathcoole - Hawkins St
- 69n - Dublin City South, Westmoreland Street - Saggart,
- 77A - Citywest - Ringsend
- 77X - Citywest - UCD Belfield
- Red - The Point - Tallaght
- 126A - Dublin - Kildare
- 126B - Dublin - Rathangan
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 Rathcoole
There are 9 primary and 2 post-primary schools in and around Rathcoole, 1 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Family Community School | Post-primary | 986 | |
| Holy Family National School | Primary | 671 | |
| S N Naomh Mhuire | Primary | 666 | |
| Coláiste Pobail Fóla | Post-primary | 658 | |
| Caisleain Nua Liamhna | Primary | 626 | |
| Citywest & Saggart Community National School | Primary | 413 | |
| City West Educate Together National School | Primary | 376 | |
| Scoil Chronain | Primary | 354 | |
| Scoil Aoife Cns | Primary | 342 | DEIS |
| Rathcoole Etns | Primary | 114 | |
| Gaelscoil Lir | Primary | 53 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Rathcoole
- Heritage nearby: Rathfarnham Castle (12 km) · Kilmainham Gaol (12 km) · Kilmashogue Megalithic Tomb (13 km) · Maynooth Castle (14 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 Rathcoole is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Rathcoole
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €535,000 (+24.4% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent | €1,923 |
| Gross rental yield | 4.3% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.4% |
| Dublin county median | €500k |
| New build / second-hand | €690,000 / €460,000 |
What this means: New builds in Rathcoole sell at about a 50% premium to second-hand homes (€690,000 vs €460,000).
Recent sales in Rathcoole
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 26 | APT 34 THE COURTHOUSE, MAIN STREET, RATHCOOLE | Second-hand | €271,000 |
| 02 Jun 26 | 9 Rathmill Heights, Rathmill Manor, Rathcoole | New | €607,930 |
| 28 May 26 | ARDARAGH, RED GAP, RATHCOOLE | Second-hand | €1,175,000 |
| 27 May 26 | 10 BROADFIELD AVE, BROADFIELD MANOR, RATHCOOLE | Second-hand | €462,000 |
| 21 May 26 | 10 Rathmill Heights, Rathmill Manor, Rathcoole | New | €511,013 |
| 20 May 26 | 1A BEECHWOOD LAWNS, RATHCOOLE, CO DUBLIN | Second-hand | €550,000 |
| 19 May 26 | 42 EATON TERRACE, RATHCOOLE, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €305,000 |
| 18 May 26 | 146 FOREST HILLS, RATHCOOLE, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €430,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Rathcoole median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €361,000 | 67 sales | |
| 2024 | €400,000 | 65 sales | |
| 2025 | €490,000 | 79 sales | |
| 2026 | €550,000 | 44 sales |
Average rent by size
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | €1,860 | — | — |
Maximum legal rent increase in Rathcoole
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
Rathcoole compared with County Dublin
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Rathcoole | 535000 | |
| County Dublin median | 500000 |
Rent or buy in Rathcoole?
At a glance: €535,000 to buy versus €1,923 a month to rent, a 4.3% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Rathcoole
The median home (€535,000) 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 Rathcoole: 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 Rathcoole
In the 12 months to July 2026, 74 planning grants were recorded in and around Rathcoole, including 140 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | Large-scale Residential Development at this site within the townland of Newcastle South, Newcastle, Co. Dublin on an overall site of c.4.08 hectares... | 113 |
| 2025-07-21 | Permission for development at this site of c. 0.22 hectares at lands. This application site consists of: Parcel A, measuring c. 0.13 hectares, which... | 12 |
| 2026-05-26 | a) the part demolition of Muldowney's Pub to the rear; b) the change of use of the front portion of the pub to provide for 2no. 1-bed units; c) the... | 10 |
| 2025-12-08 | Emerald Irish Creative Ltd, intend to apply for Planning permission for the construction of 03 no. two-storey residential dwellings situated to the... | 3 |
| 2026-04-27 | The development will consist of the construction of a part one-storey and part two-storey, four-bedroom dwelling house (235m2); construction of a car... | 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 140 homes approved here in the last year are about 7% of Rathcoole's roughly 1,924 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Rathcoole, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Rathcoole, Dublin.
View the official OPW flood maps for Rathcoole →
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 · Mount Merrion · Sandycove · Glenageary · Dalkey · Rathgar
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 Rathcoole
What's it like to live in Rathcoole?
Rathcoole is a town in Co. Dublin, about 22 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 11 schools, 73.1% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Rathcoole?
A home in Rathcoole costs a median €535,000 to buy or €1,923 a month to rent, a 4.3% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Rathcoole to Dublin?
About 22 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Rathcoole?
Schools in Rathcoole include Holy Family Community School, Holy Family National School, S N Naomh Mhuire, Coláiste Pobail Fóla, among 9 primary and 2 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 Rathcoole pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Rathcoole'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 Rathcoole?
Pre-filled with Rathcoole'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 Rathcoole property
Pre-filled with Rathcoole'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 Rathcoole home
Pre-filled with Rathcoole'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 Rathcoole
Pre-filled with Rathcoole'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.