Living in Rathgar, Co. Dublin: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Rathgar
- Getting around and commuting
- Getting around Rathgar
- Schools in Rathgar
- Things to do in and around Rathgar
- Where Rathgar is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Rathgar
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Rathgar
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Rathgar
- Nearby Dublin towns
Leinster house prices & rents › Dublin › Living in Rathgar
Rathgar is a town in Co. Dublin, about 12 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 5 schools, 57.2% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €1,075,000 to buy or €1,797 a month to rent (a 2.0% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 63 sales · updated July 2026
How Rathgar compares: at €1,075,000 it is 115% above the County Dublin median of €500k. Its 2.0% gross yield is below the county average of 5.2%.Recent activity in Rathgar: latest recorded sale Jun 2026; 22 new homes approved in the last year; prices -6.2% year on year. This page updates as new official data lands.
Who lives in Rathgar — 57.2% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Rathgar
5,768 people live in Rathgar on Census 2022 night. 57% of households own their home and 36% rent, so Rathgar leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (36%). It skews older: 18% are aged 65 and over against 12% under 15. 77% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 5,768 |
| Owner-occupied households | 57% |
| Rented households | 36% |
| Aged under 15 | 12% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 27% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18% |
| Third level or higher | 77% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 49% |
| Unemployment rate | 3% |
| Commute by car | 36% |
| Commute by public transport | 30% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 32% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics, CC-BY 4.0. Figures are for the Rathfarnham electoral division around Rathgar.
Getting around and commuting
Nearest train station: Dublin Pearse (3.9 km away), on the DART line
Public transport serving Rathgar — 3 operators
Getting around Rathgar
Rathgar is served by 3 public-transport operators running 9 scheduled routes. Operators are Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus, Dublin Express and Go-Ahead Ireland.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Dublin Express | Bus / coach |
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 14 - Dundrum Luas Stn - Ardlea Rd (Beaumont)
- 15 - Ballycullen Road - Clongriffin
- 65 - Poolbeg Street - Blessington/Ballymore
- S4 - Liffey Valley - UCD
- 15A - Merrion Square - Limekiln Avenue
- 15B - Merrion Square - Stocking Avenue
- 15D - Merrion Square - Whitechurch
- 65B - Poolbeg Street - Citywest
- 783 - Dublin Airport - Terenure
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 Rathgar
There are 3 primary and 2 post-primary schools in and around Rathgar.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| The High School | Post-primary | 824 | |
| Stratford College | Post-primary | 191 | |
| Rathgar N S | Primary | 94 | |
| Zion Parish Primary School | Primary | 91 | |
| Scoil Naisiunta Stratford | Primary | 88 |
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Rathgar
- Heritage nearby: Rathfarnham Castle (2 km) · St. Audoens Church, Dublin City (4 km) · St. Mary's Abbey Abbey, Dublin City (4 km) · Kilmainham Gaol (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 Rathgar is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Rathgar
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €1,075,000 (-6.2% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent | €1,797 |
| Gross rental yield | 2.0% |
| Net yield (est.) | 1.5% |
| Dublin county median | €500k |
| New build / second-hand | — / €1,075,000 |
Recent sales in Rathgar
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 26 | 24 KENILWORTH SQ NRTH APT 1, RATHGAR, DUBLIN 6 | Second-hand | €1,225,000 |
| 09 Jun 26 | 6 THE AVENUE, MARIANELLA, RATHGAR | Second-hand | €1,850,000 |
| 08 Jun 26 | 33 ORWELL PARK, RATHGAR, DUBLIN 6 | Second-hand | €4,500,000 |
| 05 Jun 26 | THE GABLES, OAKLANDS DRIVE, RATHGAR | Second-hand | €3,500,000 |
| 04 Jun 26 | 48 ORWELL WOODS, RATHGAR, DUBLIN 6 | Second-hand | €695,000 |
| 15 May 26 | APT 7 36 TERENURE RD EAST, RATHGAR, DUBLIN 6 | Second-hand | €1,200,000 |
| 11 May 26 | 19 MADISON HOUSE, RATHGAR, DUBLIN 6 | Second-hand | €275,000 |
| 08 May 26 | 180 ORWELL RD, RATHGAR, DUBLIN 6 | Second-hand | €2,725,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Rathgar median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €1,047,500 | 70 sales | |
| 2024 | €1,100,000 | 79 sales | |
| 2025 | €1,005,000 | 65 sales | |
| 2026 | €1,160,000 | 23 sales |
Average rent by size
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| €1,496 | €2,198 | — | — |
Maximum legal rent increase in Rathgar
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
Rathgar compared with County Dublin
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Rathgar | 1075000 | |
| County Dublin median | 500000 |
Rent or buy in Rathgar?
At a glance: €1,075,000 to buy versus €1,797 a month to rent, a 2.0% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Rathgar
The median home (€1,075,000) falls in LPT Band 10, a base charge of €998 a year before Dublin County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Rathgar: 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 Rathgar
In the 12 months to July 2026, 15 planning grants were recorded in and around Rathgar, including 22 new homes approved across those grants.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-02 | The development will consist of: The demolition of the existing single storey car showroom fronting Rathgar Avenue and Kenilworth Square South and... | 19 |
| 2026-04-20 | PROTECTED STRUCTURE: Full planning permission at 29 Terenure Road East, Dublin 6, D06 RT93, a protected structure. The development consists of the... | 1 |
| 2026-03-13 | PROTECTED STRUCTURE: for construction of 3 bed 2 storey over basement dwelling, with amended landscaping & site works with provision for bicycle and... | 1 |
| 2025-12-10 | The development consists of one three storey mews residence (250 sqm) with four bedrooms and a home office. Vehicular access from Garville lane with... | 1 |
| 2025-08-01 | A side and a rear dormer attic extension, a front porch extension and a rear single storey extension and alterations to all elevations |
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 22 homes approved here in the last year are about 1% of Rathgar's roughly 1,991 households, a supply pipeline that typically eases price pressure.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Rathgar, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Rathgar, Dublin.
View the official OPW flood maps for Rathgar →
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 · Ranelagh
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 Rathgar
What's it like to live in Rathgar?
Rathgar is a town in Co. Dublin, about 12 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 5 schools, 57.2% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Rathgar?
A home in Rathgar costs a median €1,075,000 to buy or €1,797 a month to rent, a 2.0% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Rathgar to Dublin?
About 12 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Rathgar?
Schools in Rathgar include The High School, Stratford College, Rathgar N S, Zion Parish Primary School, among 3 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 Rathgar pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Rathgar'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 Rathgar?
Pre-filled with Rathgar'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 Rathgar property
Pre-filled with Rathgar'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 Rathgar home
Pre-filled with Rathgar'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 Rathgar
Pre-filled with Rathgar'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.