5 Worst Places To Live In Northern Ireland

What are the worst places to live in Northern Ireland? When you think of Northern Ireland, you might picture rolling green hills, dramatic coastlines, and lively cities like Belfast and Derry. But behind the beauty lies a harder truth. Some towns are struggling with poverty, unemployment, and limited access to services. These aren’t bad places—but they are among the most deprived. Based on the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure, this article explores five of the worst places to live in Northern Ireland today, highlighting the challenges they face and the resilience of the people who live there.

FIVE. Collin Glen – On the Edge, and Often Overlooked
Located on the western fringe of Belfast, Collin Glen includes neighbourhoods such as Twinbrook, Poleglass, and Lagmore. These are areas with deep roots, strong identities, and tight-knit communities. But they also face ongoing struggles with poverty in Northern Ireland, long-term unemployment, and low educational attainment. Several areas in Collin Glen are ranked among the worst places to live in Northern Ireland in terms of deprivation. Many residents live in low-income households, and opportunities for employment are limited. Public transport options are inadequate, meaning access to jobs and colleges in central Belfast is a daily challenge.

FOUR. Craigavon – The City That Never Was
Craigavon, located in County Armagh, was once imagined as Northern Ireland’s utopian “new city.” Built between Portadown and Lurgan, it was designed in the nineteen sixties to balance urban growth away from Belfast. But despite its vision of modernity, Craigavon has become a symbol of urban decline in Northern Ireland. The town was developed with separate zones for housing, retail, and industry, but that separation has left many areas feeling disjointed and difficult to navigate. Some districts, like Brownlow, are among the most deprived towns in Northern Ireland, according to the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure.

THREE. Derry Cityside – A Tale of Two Halves
The city of Derry, also known as Londonderry, is rich in history, culture, and resilience. Yet, despite its international reputation as a vibrant cultural hub, Derry also illustrates the stark living conditions in Northern Ireland’s urban centres. The divide between the Cityside and the Waterside is more than geographical—it reflects a gap in prosperity and opportunity. Neighbourhoods like the Bogside, Creggan, and Brandywell, all located on the Cityside, rank among the top twenty most deprived areas in the country. They face high levels of youth unemployment, poor health outcomes, and reduced access to quality housing and education. These are key indicators of deprivation in Northern Ireland, particularly in areas once heavily reliant on manufacturing.

TWO. Inner North Belfast – Trapped in a Cycle of Hardship
Inner North Belfast lies just north of the city centre and includes areas such as New Lodge, Carrick Hill, and Duncairn. Despite its central location, it’s consistently identified as one of the worst places to live in Northern Ireland based on government data. Many neighbourhoods here are among the top ten most deprived in the region. According to the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure, Inner North Belfast suffers from low household income, high unemployment, and poor health indicators. Educational outcomes are also significantly below the national average, with many young people leaving school early and struggling to find work.

ONE. Strabane – Still Waiting for a Breakthrough
Strabane, located in County Tyrone near the border with the Republic of Ireland, ranks at the very top of multiple deprivation scales. The Strabane Central Two area is officially listed as the seventh most deprived district in all of Northern Ireland, according to the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure. Once a thriving centre for textile production, Strabane has suffered from industrial decline, poor infrastructure, and lack of connectivity. The town is isolated from major motorway links, and public transport access is limited. These factors have contributed to high unemployment, especially among those aged under thirty.

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[Music] Five worst places to live in Northern Ireland. When you think of Northern Ireland, you might picture rolling green hills, dramatic coastlines, and lively cities like Belfast and Derry. But behind the beauty lies a harder truth. Some towns are struggling with poverty, unemployment, and limited access to services. These aren’t bad places, but they are among the most deprived. Based on the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure explores five of the worst places to live in Northern Ireland today, highlighting the challenges they face and the resilience of the people who live there. Five. Colin Glenn on the edge and often overlooked. Located on the western fringe of Belfast, Colin Glenn includes neighborhoods such as Twinbrook, Pole Glass, and Lagmore. These are areas with deep roots, strong identities, and tight-knit communities, but they also face ongoing struggles with poverty in Northern Ireland, long-term unemployment, and low educational attainment. Several areas in Colin Glenn are ranked among the worst places to live in Northern Ireland in terms of deprivation. Many residents live in lowincome households and opportunities for employment are limited. Public transport options are inadequate, meaning access to jobs and colleges in central Belfast is a daily challenge. The environment itself reflects years of underinvestment. Housing estates are densely packed. Infrastructure is aging and recreational spaces are limited. While the Colin Glenn Forest Park adds natural beauty to the area, that alone can’t make up for decades of neglect in public services, schools, and transport. Despite the challenges, community spirit remains strong. Local organizations work tirelessly to support residents, provide afterchool activities, and advocate for change. But to lift Colin Glenn out of deprivation, wider attention and long-term planning are still urgently needed. In recent years, initiatives have been introduced to better connect the area with the rest of Belfast. Some regeneration programs aim to improve housing, while public health campaigns target long-standing issues such as obesity and substance abuse. However, progress is slow and many residents still feel left out of the city’s broader development. Four, Craigon, the city that never was. Craigon, located in County Armar, was once imagined as Northern Ireland’s utopian new city. Built between Porterown and Luren, it was designed in the 1960s to balance urban growth away from Belfast. But despite its vision of modernity, Craigon has become a symbol of urban decline in Northern Ireland. The town was developed with separate zones for housing, retail, and industry. But that separation has left many areas feeling disjointed and difficult to navigate. Some districts like Brownlow are among the most deprived towns in Northern Ireland. According to the Northern Ireland multiple deprivation measure, the area struggles with low employment rates, particularly among young adults and a lack of public transport has limited access to opportunities. Educational underachievement and social isolation are ongoing concerns. Although the South Lake Leisure Center and Rashmir Shopping Center offer some community hubs, they haven’t reversed decades of underinvestment. In terms of living conditions in Northern Ireland, Craigon highlights the dangers of planning without foresight. While the town has open green areas and spacious roads, it lacks the social cohesion and functional centers that give towns a heart. Residents often report a lack of identity and belonging. Over time, however, the government has begun investing in infrastructure upgrades, school refurbishment, and health service improvements. While these changes are welcome, they are often seen as too little, too late. The residents of Craigon continue to wait for the day when their community finally reflects the original promise that inspired its creation. Three. Derry city side. A tale of two halves. The city of Derry, also known as London Derry, is rich in history, culture, and resilience. Yet, despite its international reputation as a vibrant cultural hub, Derry also illustrates the stark living conditions in Northern Ireland’s urban centers. The divide between the city and the wateride is more than geographical. It reflects a gap in prosperity and opportunity. Neighborhoods like the Bogside, Kan, and Brandywell, all located on the city side, rank among the top 20 most deprived areas in the country. They face high levels of youth unemployment, poor health outcomes, and reduced access to quality housing and education. These are key indicators of deprivation in Northern Ireland, particularly in areas once heavily reliant on manufacturing. While Derry’s cultural festivals and tourism sector are thriving, these benefits are not equally distributed. The city especially has missed out on much of the investment seen elsewhere in the city. Long-standing residents still face barriers to employment and education, and many young people leave for university and don’t return. Nonetheless, the potential is enormous. Community projects, grassroots organizations, and youth initiatives are building new momentum. But until infrastructure, education, and job access improve across all districts, Derry’s West Bank will continue to struggle. Many residents have pointed to poor housing conditions and a lack of mental health support as core issues affecting their quality of life. The closure of local amenities such as libraries and recreation centers has further eroded public confidence. With consistent political will and inclusive policy, however, Derry could be transformed into a model for urban renewal. Two, Inner North Belfast trapped in a cycle of hardship. Inner North Belfast lies just north of the city center and includes areas such as New Lodge, Carrick Hill, and Duncan. Despite its central location, it’s consistently identified as one of the worst places to live in Northern Ireland based on government data. Many neighborhoods here are among the top 10 most deprived in the region. According to the Northern Ireland multiple deprivation measure, inner North Belfast suffers from low household income, high unemployment, and poor health indicators. Educational outcomes are also significantly below the national average with many young people leaving school early and struggling to find work. Unlike parts of Belfast that have experienced rapid regeneration, inner North Belfast has seen little change. While the Titanic Quarter and central retail zones have boomed, nearby workingclass communities have been left behind. Derelik buildings and social housing in poor condition are still commonplace. Yet, there’s a determined push for progress. The expansion of Olter University nearby is creating new opportunities and local organizations provide vital services in education, food security, and mental health. The need for meaningful long-term investment remains, but the foundations for change are already there. Public safety remains a concern, particularly at night with antisocial behavior occasionally reported. Despite this, families and longtime residents often stress their pride in the community and their hope for future redevelopment that includes not displaces them. Investment in youth clubs, adult training, and small businesses could help reshape inner North Belfast narrative for good. One strabain still waiting for a breakthrough. Strabbane located in County Tyrone near the border with the Republic of Ireland ranks at the very top of multiple deprivation scales. The Strabain central 2 area is officially listed as the seventh most deprived district in all of Northern Ireland according to the Northern Ireland multiple deprivation measure. Once a thriving center for textile production, Strabane has suffered from industrial decline, poor infrastructure and lack of connectivity. The town is isolated from major motorway links and public transport access is limited. These factors have contributed to high unemployment, especially among those aged under 30. Educational outcomes are poor, health services are stretched, and access to modern amenities is inconsistent. Many families live below the poverty line with a significant portion relying on social assistance for basic needs. For many young people, the only viable path to opportunity involves leaving the area altogether. Despite this, Strabane remains a proud and passionate town. Festivals, sports clubs, and local entrepreneurs continue to bring life into the community. But it will take more than local passion. It will require targeted investment, regional planning, and national support to bring Strabain up to the standard its people deserve. Efforts to promote tourism and local arts have shown promise, and communitydriven initiatives are trying to change the narrative. However, residents frequently express concern over the lack of long-term employment and the slow pace of infrastructure development. Strabain’s struggles may be among the most visible, but so too is its will to recover. Thank you for watching this video. Please don’t forget to subscribe and turn on the notification bell. [Music]