Living in Sandycove, Co. Dublin: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Sandycove
- Commuting to Dublin
- Getting around Sandycove
- Things to do in and around Sandycove
- Where Sandycove is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Sandycove
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Sandycove
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Sandycove
- Nearby Dublin towns
- Population and demographics
Is Sandycove a nice place to live?
Sandycove is home to about 1,401 households, 74% owner-occupied and 22% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €1,400,000, versus €685,000 across the Dublin region, and the average rent reported by the RTB is €2,949 a month. There are 98 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Glenageary, 0.7 km away, and 5 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Sandycove is a town in Co. Dublin, about 18 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 74.3% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €1,400,000 to buy or €2,949 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025) (a 2.5% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 29 sales · PPR sales to Sep 2026 · CSO benchmark to Jul 2026 · rents Q4 2025 (RTB)
Who lives in Sandycove: 74.3% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Sandycove
3,688 people live in Sandycove on Census 2022 night. 74% of households own their home and 22% rent, so Sandycove leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (42%). It skews older: 27% are aged 65 and over against 17% under 15. 70% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 3,688 |
| Owner-occupied households | 74% |
| Rented households | 22% |
| Aged under 15 | 17% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 18% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27% |
| Third level or higher | 70% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 49% |
| Unemployment rate | 3% |
| Commute by car | 42% |
| Commute by public transport | 30% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 27% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics, CC-BY 4.0. Figures are for the Dun Laoghaire-Sandycove electoral division around Sandycove.
Commuting to Dublin
Nearest train station: Glenageary (in the town), on the DART line
Public transport serving Sandycove: 4 operators
Getting around Sandycove
Sandycove is served by 4 public-transport operators running 5 scheduled routes. Operators are Aircoach, Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland and Nitelink, Dublin Bus.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Aircoach | Bus / coach |
| Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
| Nitelink, Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes
- 59 - Dun Laoghaire - Killiney Hill Park
- 7D - Dalkey - Mountjoy Square
- 7n - Dublin City South, D'Olier Street - Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Woodbrook Golf Club
- 111 - Brides Glen - Kilbogget Pk
- 702 - Dublin Airport - Dalkey
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.
Things to do in and around Sandycove
- Heritage nearby: Monkstown Castle (2 km) · Tully Church (5 km) · Kilmashogue Megalithic Tomb (11 km) · Rathfarnham Castle (11 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 Sandycove is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Sandycove
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €1,400,000 (+16.2% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent (Q4 2025) | €2,949 |
| Gross rental yield | 2.5% |
| Net yield (est.) | 1.9% |
| Dublin county median | €500k |
| New build / second-hand | n/a / €1,400,000 |
Recent sales in Sandycove
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 26 | UNIT 2, BISCAY AVENUE, SANDYCOVE | Second-hand | €2,026,000 |
| 07 Aug 26 | RAVEN LODGE, 17 SUMMERHILL ROAD, SANDYCOVE | Second-hand | €1,580,000 |
| 26 Jun 26 | 17 DUNDELA HAVEN, DUNDELA PARK, SANDYCOVE | Second-hand | €610,000 |
| 23 Jun 26 | 14 CASTLE PARK RD, SANDYCOVE, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €3,200,000 |
| 03 Jun 26 | 16 SANDYCOVE AVE EAST, SANDYCOVE, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €2,250,000 |
| 29 May 26 | ROSSAVEEL, 27 DUNDELA AVE, SANDYCOVE | Second-hand | €1,300,000 |
| 12 May 26 | 8 BALLYGIHEN, SANDYCOVE, DUN LAOGHAIRE | Second-hand | €400,000 |
| 30 Apr 26 | 13 GOWRAN HALL, BALLYGHIEN AVENUE, SANDYCOVE | Second-hand | €580,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Sandycove median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €922,500 | 32 sales | |
| 2024 | €946,000 | 46 sales | |
| 2025 | €1,100,000 | 33 sales | |
| 2026 | €1,500,000 | 18 sales |
Maximum legal rent increase in Sandycove
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
Sandycove compared with County Dublin
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Sandycove | 1400000 | |
| County Dublin median | 500000 |
Rent or buy in Sandycove?
At a glance: €1,400,000 to buy versus €2,949 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 2.5% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Sandycove
Renting in Sandycove: 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 Sandycove
In the 12 months to September 2026, 42 planning grants were recorded in and around Sandycove. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-10 | Retention of: (1). A 4.3 sq.m. by 2.5m high timber kiosk, operating as a hot bev | |
| 2026-09-07 | Planning permission for alterations to the front elevation of a dwelling at lowe | |
| 2026-09-07 | Retention Permission & Completion for minor deviations to approved plans and as | |
| 2026-08-31 | 1 Unit | |
| 2026-07-22 | The change of use of ground floor café unit (62.2sq.m) permitted under existing |
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.
Flood maps
For the modelled fluvial, coastal and pluvial flood extents around Sandycove, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Sandycove, Dublin.
View the official OPW flood maps for Sandycove →
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 · Rathgar · Glenageary · Rathmines · 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 Sandycove
What's it like to live in Sandycove?
Sandycove is a town in Co. Dublin, about 18 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 74.3% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Sandycove?
A home in Sandycove costs a median €1,400,000 to buy or €2,949 a month to rent (RTB Q4 2025), a 2.5% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Sandycove to Dublin?
About 18 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, estimated.
What is the population of Sandycove?
Sandycove had a population of 3,688 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Sandycove had a population of 3,688 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 3,688 |
|---|---|
| Households | 1,401 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74% |
| Rented homes | 22% |
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 18 sales recorded to July 2026. Over the 12 months to 25 September 2026 the median was €1,400,000.
Could a home in Sandycove pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Sandycove'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 Sandycove?
Pre-filled with Sandycove'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 Sandycove property
Pre-filled with Sandycove'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 Sandycove home
Pre-filled with Sandycove'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 Sandycove
Pre-filled with Sandycove'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 Sandycove costs
Real figures for Sandycove: 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 Sandycove'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 Sandycove
- Sandycove house prices: median, year trend and the latest sales recorded on the Property Price Register.
- Things to do in Sandycove: 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.