Living in Swords, Co. Dublin: Schools, Commute & House Prices 2026
On this page
- Who lives in Swords
- Getting around and commuting
- Getting around Swords
- Schools in Swords
- Things to do in and around Swords
- Where Swords is
- What it costs: house prices and rent in Swords
- Before you move: planning and flood
- Recent development in Swords
- Flood maps
- County context
- Common questions about living in Swords
- Nearby Dublin towns
- Population and demographics
Is Swords a nice place to live?
Swords is home to about 13,643 households, 69% owner-occupied and 27% renting, according to Census 2022. The median sale price over the last 12 months was €472,333, versus €500,000 across the Dublin region, and the median rent is €1,992 a month. The Department of Education dataset lists 21 schools keyed to the town (15 primary, 6 post-primary), and there are 75 visitor attractions within 10 km. The nearest rail station is Malahide, 4.3 km away, and 36 bus and rail routes serve the town. The sections below break each of these down.
Swords is a town in Co. Dublin, about 19 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 21 schools, 68.6% of households own their home. Living here costs a median €472,333 to buy or €1,992 a month to rent (a 5.1% gross yield).
Official CSO, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland, PPR & RTB data · 529 sales · updated July 2026
Who lives in Swords: 68.6% own their home, full Census breakdown
Who lives in Swords
40,776 people live in Swords on Census 2022 night. 69% of households own their home and 27% rent, so Swords leans towards owner occupiers. The most common way to commute is by car (57%). It skews young: 21% are under 15 against 10% aged 65 and over. 42% of those who have finished education hold a third level qualification.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2022) | 40,776 |
| Owner-occupied households | 69% |
| Rented households | 27% |
| Aged under 15 | 21% |
| Aged 25 to 44 | 32% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10% |
| Third level or higher | 42% |
| At work (aged 15+) | 64% |
| Unemployment rate | 5% |
| Commute by car | 57% |
| Commute by public transport | 20% |
| Commute on foot or bike | 20% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics for the Swords built-up area, CC-BY 4.0.
Getting around and commuting
Nearest train station: Malahide (4.3 km away), on the DART line
Public transport serving Swords: 8 operators
Getting around Swords
Swords is served by 8 public-transport operators running 36 scheduled routes. Operators are Ashbourne Connect, Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, Nitelink, Dublin Bus, Nolan Coaches, Swords Express and TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal.
| Operator | Mode |
|---|---|
| Ashbourne Connect | Bus / coach |
| Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Bus Éireann | Bus / coach |
| Go-Ahead Ireland | Bus / coach |
| Nitelink, Dublin Bus | Bus / coach |
| Nolan Coaches | Bus / coach |
| Swords Express | Bus / coach |
| TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal | Bus / coach |
Scheduled routes (a sample of 36)
- 33 - Balbriggan - Lower Abbey St
- 41 - Swords Manor - Lower Abbey Street
- 43 - Talbot Street - Swords Business Park
- 101 - Dublin - Airport - Drogheda
- 102 - Dublin Airport - Sutton DART
- 142 - Portmarnock - UCD (Belfield)
- 192 - Swords - Balbriggan
- 196 - Knocksedan - Swords
- 197 - Airside Ind. Estate, stop 7210 - Ashbourne Retail Pk, stop 101001
- 33A - Dublin Airport - Balbriggan
- 33B - Swords - Portrane
- 33E - Lwr Abbey St - Portrane - Skerries
- 33X - Skerries - Custom House Quay / St Stephen Green
- 33n - Westmoreland Street - Balbriggan
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 Swords
There are 15 primary and 6 post-primary schools in and around Swords, 3 of them in the DEIS programme.
| School | Level | Pupils | DEIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swords Community College | Post-primary | 930 | |
| Fingal Community College | Post-primary | 866 | |
| St Finians Community College | Post-primary | 661 | DEIS |
| Loreto College | Post-primary | 632 | |
| Holy Family Senior N S | Primary | 624 | |
| Holywell Educate Together National School | Primary | 613 | |
| Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary School | Post-primary | 607 | |
| Holy Family Junior N S | Primary | 565 | |
| Brackenstown Senior N S | Primary | 530 | |
| St Cronans Junior National School | Primary | 498 | |
| Gaelscoil Bhrian Bóroimhe | Primary | 441 | |
| Coláiste Choilm | Post-primary | 425 | |
| Swords Educate Together Ns | Primary | 394 | |
| Gaelscoil An Duinninigh | Primary | 380 |
Showing the 14 largest of 21.
Source: Department of Education, Data on Individual Schools. CC-BY 4.0.
Things to do in and around Swords
- Heritage nearby: Lusk (8 km) · Casino Marino, Dublin City (10 km) · St. Mary's Abbey Abbey, Dublin City (13 km) · St. Audoens Church, Dublin City (13 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 Swords is
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
What it costs: house prices and rent in Swords
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price (12 mo) | €472,333 (+12.5% YoY) |
| Average monthly rent | €1,992 |
| Gross rental yield | 5.1% |
| Net yield (est.) | 3.9% |
| Dublin county median | €500k |
| New build / second-hand | €500,000 / €412,500 |
What this means: New builds in Swords sell at about a 21% premium to second-hand homes (€500,000 vs €412,500).
Recent sales in Swords
| Date | Address | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Jul 26 | 10 HOLYWELL DRIVE, FELTRIM RD, SWORDS | Second-hand | €470,200 |
| 06 Jul 26 | 10 The Avenue, Baile Na Móna Vale, Swords | New | €361,233 |
| 06 Jul 26 | 26 GARTAN COURT, ESTUARY RD, SWORDS | Second-hand | €575,000 |
| 06 Jul 26 | 27 GLEN ELLEN AVE, SWORDS, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €900,000 |
| 03 Jul 26 | 34 ASHLEY AVE, SWORDS, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €420,000 |
| 03 Jul 26 | 40 Meadowbank Way, Millers Glen, Swords | New | €493,392 |
| 03 Jul 26 | 50 HOLYWELL CRESCENT NORTH, GORSEHILL, SWORDS | Second-hand | €410,000 |
| 03 Jul 26 | 9 HOLYWELL DENE, SWORDS, DUBLIN | Second-hand | €307,000 |
Actual sale prices from the Property Price Register, verifiable at propertypriceregister.ie.
Swords median price, year by year
| Year | Median | Relative | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | €405,000 | 563 sales | |
| 2024 | €420,000 | 502 sales | |
| 2025 | €430,000 | 459 sales | |
| 2026 | €485,000 | 258 sales |
Average rent by size
| 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| €1,433 | €1,848 | €2,293 | €2,519 |
Maximum legal rent increase in Swords
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
Swords compared with County Dublin
| County | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| County Dublin median | 500000 | |
| Swords | 472333 |
Rent or buy in Swords?
At a glance: €472,333 to buy versus €1,992 a month to rent, a 5.1% gross yield.
Local Property Tax in Swords
The median home (€472,333) falls in LPT Band 4, a base charge of €428 a year before Dublin County Council's local adjustment factor. Use the calculator for your exact valuation.
Renting in Swords: 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 Swords
In the 12 months to July 2026, 127 planning grants were recorded in and around Swords.
| Decided | Development | Homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | The development consists of the retention of alterations to the domest | |
| 2026-06-09 | Planning Permission for the construction of a single storey detached g | |
| 2026-06-08 | The proposed development will consist of conversion and extension work | |
| 2026-06-04 | Side and rear two storey extension, front entrance porch, reconfigurat | |
| 2026-06-04 | Planning permission for attic conversion with roof windows to front an |
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 Swords, open the official OPW flood maps, the authoritative source for Swords, Dublin.
View the official OPW flood maps for Swords →
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 · Rathgar · Dalkey
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 Swords
What's it like to live in Swords?
Swords is a town in Co. Dublin, about 19 minutes from Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line, 21 schools, 68.6% of households own their home (CSO Census 2022, Department of Education, Transport for Ireland).
How much does it cost to live in Swords?
A home in Swords costs a median €472,333 to buy or €1,992 a month to rent, a 5.1% gross yield (Property Price Register, RTB via CSO).
How long is the commute from Swords to Dublin?
About 19 minutes to Dublin city centre by car and on the rail line (OpenStreetMap routing).
What schools are in Swords?
Schools in Swords include Swords Community College, Fingal Community College, St Finians Community College, Loreto College, among 15 primary and 6 post-primary in total (Department of Education, 2024/25).
What is the population of Swords?
Swords had a population of 40,776 at the 2022 Census (CSO).
Population and demographics
Swords had a population of 40,776 at the 2022 Census.
| Population (2022 Census) | 40,776 |
|---|---|
| Households | 13,643 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69% |
| Rented homes | 27% |
Source: CSO Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0). Household tenure from the same release.
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 Swords pay as a buy-to-let?
Pre-filled with Swords'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 Swords?
Pre-filled with Swords'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 Swords property
Pre-filled with Swords'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 Swords home
Pre-filled with Swords'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 Swords
Pre-filled with Swords'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.
What a month in Swords costs
Real figures for Swords: 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: 1 bed €1,433 · 2 bed €1,848 · 3 bed €2,293 · 4+ bed €2,519
Rent: RTB average monthly rents (RIQ02). Ownership: repayment mortgage on Swords'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.
See the full Swords house prices page: median, year trend, rents by bedroom, yields and recent sales.
Visiting first? Things to do in Swords covers attractions, heritage sites and walks nearby.