Mapping Income Distribution in Ireland: What Small-Area Data Reveals

Contents

• What Are Small Areas and Why They Matter
• Dublin: Distinct Clusters of Income
• Galway: Contrasts Between the Coastal and Central Areas
• Interpreting the 15 Income Classes
• Beyond the Cities
• About the Data Source
• Access the Data
• Similar Datasets

What Are Small Areas and Why They Matter

Small Areas (SAs) are the smallest geographic units defined by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) for census reporting. Each covers roughly 250–300 residents or about 80–120 households.

Because Small Areas are so fine-grained, they capture variations that broader boundaries — such as municipalities or electoral divisions — tend to hide. Analysing income at this level reveals clear spatial patterns: clusters of high-income households in certain districts and concentrations of mid-to-low income in others. This detail is invaluable for spatial analysis, socioeconomic research and regional planning, ensuring decisions are based on the real texture of local economies rather than broad averages.

Dublin: Distinct Clusters of Income

High to Very High Income Clusters

Several concentrated clusters of high to very high income appear in Dublin’s southern and south-eastern suburbs, starting from Templeogue and extending through Rathmines, Terenure, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Blackrock. These neighbourhoods predominantly fall within the upper income intervals, corresponding to household incomes in the above €120,000 range.

The spatial continuity of these affluent zones is notable — forming an almost uninterrupted corridor of higher-income households along Dublin’s southern axis. This pattern reflects long-standing trends linked to residential desirability, access to high-value amenities and the city’s professional employment base. Such high-income clusters are also visible in select outer suburban areas where newer developments attract professionals and dual-income households seeking larger properties.

Mid-to-Low Income Clusters

In contrast, mid-to-low income clusters are primarily located in the north-western and central parts of Dublin. Areas such as Ballymun, Cabra and Finglas, as well as several inner-city neighbourhoods including The Liberties, Dolphin’s Barn, Rialto, Inchicore, Mountjoy and Ballybough, fall within income brackets below €75,000.

Other central areas showing similar income levels include Ringsend, Irishtown, and parts of Smithfield and Stoneybatter. These districts are characterised by a mix of older housing stock, higher population density and relatively lower household income levels. In contrast, nearby Small Areas in recently redeveloped zones may exceed €100,000, illustrating Dublin’s fine-grained spatial contrasts — where areas of affluence and modest means often coexist within short distances.

Galway: Contrasts Between the Coastal and Central Areas

High to Very High Income Clusters

The highest income levels are concentrated in Galway’s western and south-western areas, particularly around Knocknacarragh, Rockbarton, Taylors Hill, Rahoon and Salthill. These areas mostly fall within the above €100,000 income intervals.

Their proximity to the coast, larger residential plots and high housing demand contribute to the sustained concentration of high-income households. These neighbourhoods form a coherent cluster of affluence along the coast, reflecting Galway’s growth as a professional and academic hub.

Mid-to-Low Income Clusters

By contrast, mid-to-low income areas are more common in central and eastern Galway, including Shantalla, Mervue, Wellpark, St. Nicholas and Newcastle. These areas typically fall within the below €75,000 range.

They include older residential districts and mixed-use zones near the city centre, where income levels are moderated by student populations and diverse housing types. The variation between adjacent areas — such as between Newcastle and Rahoon — highlights the city’s fine-scale socioeconomic diversity. Overall, Galway presents a distinct west–east gradient, from high-income coastal areas to more modest-income neighbourhoods inland and around the city’s industrial and university zones.

Interpreting the 15 Income Classes

The dataset divides household income into 15 intervals, allowing smooth, detailed visualisation across the entire income spectrum. This classification reveals how quickly income levels shift from one band to another when moving across neighbourhood boundaries, highlighting both transitions and spatial concentrations. Such granularity is essential for identifying clustering patterns — whether continuous corridors of high-income households or smaller, fragmented pockets of lower-income areas.

Beyond the Cities

Although Dublin and Galway illustrate some of the clearest contrasts, the same dataset covers every county in Ireland. Applying similar analysis elsewhere helps identify:

• Localised clusters of high-income households in suburban or commuter-belt towns.
• Areas of persistent lower income in rural regions, especially where economic activity is more limited.
• Transitional zones that may be experiencing demographic or economic change.

These patterns help build a national perspective on spatial inequality and regional development.

About the Data Source

The foundation of this dataset is official income data published by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO), available at the Electoral Division (ED) level. This publicly available dataset provides essential information on income distribution across Ireland.

Geolocet further refines this data using robust machine learning and geospatial modelling techniques to estimate income values at the much more detailed Small Area (SA) level. This approach enables the identification of subtle spatial variations — making it possible to visualise and analyse socioeconomic patterns at the neighbourhood scale.

The resulting dataset combines the official accuracy of CSO income figures with Geolocet’s spatial precision, delivering a powerful analytical layer for business, academic and policy applications.

Access the Data

Explore and download the full dataset here: Ireland: Income Distribution at Small Area Level.

Data are available in CSV and Shapefile formats (EPSG:4326) and ready for integration into GIS, BI and analytical workflows.

Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), modelled by Geolocet to Small Area level.