Waterford vs Swords
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Waterford leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Swords where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Swords's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Waterford | Swords |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 71 | 72 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 51 | 52 |
| Climate | 99 | 98 |
| Safety | 68 | 70 |
| Summer °C | 15.9 | 15.7 |
| Winter °C | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Waterford vs Swords: the short answer
Swords comes out ahead on overall livability (72/100), only marginally above Waterford (71/100). The two cities diverge most on natural-disaster exposure. On affordability Swords is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Waterford 51 vs Swords 52, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Waterford runs warmer in summer (about 15.9°C peak vs 15.7°C in Swords), while winter lows sit near 5.4°C in Waterford and 4.9°C in Swords. On natural-disaster exposure Swords is the safer choice (safety 70/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Waterford and flooding for Swords.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Swords — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Waterford — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Swords — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Swords — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Waterford or Swords better to live in?
Swords scores higher overall — 72 vs 71 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Waterford or Swords?
Swords has the lower cost of living (cost index 52 vs 51; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Waterford or Swords?
Waterford — summer highs reach about 15.9°C versus 15.7°C in Swords.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Waterford or Swords?
Swords (disaster-safety 70/100). Main hazard: flooding in Waterford, flooding in Swords.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Waterford?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Waterford on our risk index.
How is the Waterford vs Swords comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.