# Rathcoole

East Antrim and Newtownabbey. About 2,676 people (mid-2024 estimate) in 0.7 square kilometres.

Rathcoole had 2,975 usual residents at the census (NISRA Census 2021).

Ward. Code N08000131. In: [Northern Ireland](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland) › [Antrim and Newtownabbey](https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey)

## Key figures

- **Population: 2,975** (2021). Rathcoole had 2,975 usual residents at the census (NISRA Census 2021). Joint 1,086th least populated of 8,397. Source: Census 2021, England and Wales and Scotland's Census 2022 and Census 2021, Northern Ireland, 2021. Published 21 July 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/rathcoole#f-population
- **People in radon Affected Area squares: 88%** (2022). About 88% of people in Rathcoole live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. UK 44%. Source: Worked out by Open Index from the UKHSA and BGS radon atlas and census output areas. Published 1 December 2022. https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/rathcoole#f-radon-affected-share
- **Gigabit broadband coverage: 99.3%** (January 2026). In Rathcoole, 99.3% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026 (Ofcom). UK 87.8%. Source: Connected Nations (Ofcom), January 2026. Published 13 May 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/rathcoole#f-gigabit-coverage
- **Aged 15 to 64: 62.9%** (2021). 62.9% of residents in Rathcoole were aged 15 to 64 at the census (NISRA Census 2021). Joint 3,557th highest of 8,397. Source: Census 2021, England and Wales and Scotland's Census 2022 and Census 2021, Northern Ireland, 2021. Published 21 July 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/rathcoole#f-age-15-to-64

## On the map

- [Radon Affected Area by ward](https://openindex.co.uk/map/radon-affected-areas?place=N08000131) (Worked out by Open Index · 2022): About 88% of people in Rathcoole live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area.
- [Average house price by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/house-prices?place=N08000131) (UK House Price Index · August 2026): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Antrim and Newtownabbey. The outline is Rathcoole.
- [Crime and ASB by ward](https://openindex.co.uk/map/recorded-crime?place=N08000131) (Police recorded crime and outcomes (data.police.uk) · August 2026): Crime and anti-social behaviour for Rathcoole.
- [Population by ward](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=N08000131) (Census 2021, England and Wales): Rathcoole had 2,975 usual residents at the census.

## How Rathcoole compares

Each ward against every other ward the measure covers.

| Measure | Rathcoole | Rank | Compared with |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Population | 2,975 | 10th least populated | 40 wards, Antrim and Newtownabbey · 2021 |
| People in radon Affected Area squares | 88% | 2nd most people in radon Affected Areas | 40 wards, Antrim and Newtownabbey · 2022 |
| Gigabit broadband coverage | 99.3% | joint 11th highest | 40 wards, Antrim and Newtownabbey · Jan 2026 |
| Aged 15 to 64 | 62.9% | joint 14th lowest | 40 wards, Antrim and Newtownabbey · 2021 |

## Is Rathcoole safe? What police records show

In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Rathcoole at a rate of 74.1 per 1,000 people.
That compares with 61.3 per 1,000 people across Antrim and Newtownabbey.
Across Northern Ireland as a whole, the recorded crime rate was 70.2 per 1,000 people.
In August 2026 alone, 28 cases of crime and anti-social behaviour were recorded in Rathcoole.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the most common types were anti-social behaviour (74), violence and sexual offences (64) and criminal damage and arson (52).
Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.
Rates are per resident, so places that many people work in or visit, such as Westminster, the City of London and other city centres, have far higher rates than their residents alone would suggest.

## Figures for the whole of Antrim and Newtownabbey

These figures are published for the whole of Antrim and Newtownabbey, not for each ward, so they describe all of Antrim and Newtownabbey and not Rathcoole alone. [See Antrim and Newtownabbey](https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey)

- **Average house price: £206,120** (August 2026). Antrim and Newtownabbey’s average house price was £206,120 in August 2026 (HM Land Registry). Up 8.8% in a year. Source: UK House Price Index, August 2026. Published 21 October 2026.
- **Population estimate: 148,487** (2025). Antrim and Newtownabbey’s population was an estimated 148,487 in mid-2025 (ONS population estimates). Up 0.3% in a year. Source: Mid-year population estimates, 2025. Published 1 October 2026.
- **Female life expectancy: 82.5 years** (2022 to 2024). A baby girl born in Antrim and Newtownabbey could expect to live 82.5 years, based on deaths in 2022 to 2024 (ONS life expectancy). UK 83.0 years. Source: Life expectancy for local areas of the UK, 2022 to 2024. Published 10 December 2025.
- **Full-fibre broadband coverage: 96.7%** (January 2026). In Antrim and Newtownabbey, 96.7% of homes and businesses could get full-fibre broadband in January 2026 (Ofcom). UK 81.0%. Source: Connected Nations (Ofcom), January 2026. Published 13 May 2026.

## Rathcoole in brief

Rathcoole had 2,975 usual residents at the census.
About 88% of people in Rathcoole live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area.
In Rathcoole, 99.3% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026.
62.9% of residents in Rathcoole were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

## About

- Type: Ward
- Code: N08000131
- Constituency: [Belfast North †](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/belfast-north)
- Council: [Antrim and Newtownabbey](https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey)
- Nation: [Northern Ireland](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland)
- Area: 0.66 km²
- People, mid-2024: 2,676*
- Neighbourhoods: 6

* People: worked out by Open Index from neighbourhood estimates, shared out by where people lived at the census (by area in Northern Ireland). This area's edges do not follow neighbourhood edges, so the figure is close but not exact.
† Best fit: the constituency this ward mostly lies in. Its edges do not follow it.

## Next door

[Carnmoney Hill](https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/carnmoney-hill), [Whitehouse](https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/whitehouse), [O'Neill](https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/oneill), [Abbey](https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/abbey)

## Latest updates for Rathcoole

- August 2026 house prices published: HM Land Registry and partners · Oct 2026.
- September 2026 rent published: ONS private rents · Oct 2026.
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) updated: Defra · Oct 2026.
- 2025 population published: ONS population estimates · Oct 2026.

The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/N08000131

## How to cite

Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/rathcoole, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/rathcoole#f-population.

Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it.

Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/antrim-and-newtownabbey/ward/rathcoole