We have carried out detailed analysis of census statistics from all the towns in Ireland with more than 1500 people. Based on that information we have compiled a top twenty of the best and worst towns in Ireland.

Longford Town came out second worst (just behind Rathnew).

At the last census in 2006 – the population of Longford Town was 8836
Unemployment was 11.14% the highest in Ireland at the time and almost double the – National Average of 5.92%)
5.5% of the workforce are unable to work because of disability or ill health – which is also more than the national average of 4.71%
Of those working – the majority work in manufacturing or sales (25% of the workforce) .

Lone parent households -make up 27.12% of those in Longford – which is the third highest in Ireland just behind Tipperary and Cashel .
Local Authority rented homes make up 19.3% of the dwelling units in Longford – the second highest in Ireland just behind Rathnew. Rented homes make up 47% of housing units in Longford – the most in all the towns in the survey and way above the average of 28.1%.
22.3% of homes in Longford are owned outright – with no mortgage outstanding . This compares with an average of 28% across Ireland as a whole.
Residents of Traveller ethnic origin make up 4.6% of Longford’s population – the eighth highest percentage in any town over 10000 population.

Central Heating – 17.92% of all dwellings in Longford have no central heating – which is 70% worse than the average for the country as a whole (10.22%).

Education : 20% of the people living in Longford – who have completed their education  – only went as far as primary school or had no formal education at all. This is about 25% above the national average of 16.72%

Community involvement in Longford is about the same as the average for the country . In Longford 15.49 % of the over 15s carry out some sort of voluntary work compared to the national average of 15.42%

The percentage of retired people though – is below the average of 11.05% at 8.84%.

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