In brief
Kajaani has 36,433 residents in 18 postal code areas. The number of residents has fallen by 4% since 2014, while it has grown in Finland. The age structure is close to Finland's: 23% of residents are aged 16 to 34 and 25% are 65 or over.
An old one-bedroom flat sells for €1,088 per m² on average, 57% less than in Finland. Between postal code areas the price ranges from €694 (Lehtikangas) to €1,223 (Kajaani Keskus). The price per m² has fallen by 6% since 2020. 64% of households own their home and 35% rent (Finland: 38% rent).
The median disposable monetary income of residents is €25,528 a year, about €2,127 a month: 3% lower than in Finland. Between postal code areas the median income ranges from €21,901 (Palokangas) to €31,127 (Kuluntalahti). 12% of the labour force is unemployed, about the same as in Finland (12%). Kajaani has 15,852 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (23%). More common than usual is public administration and defence: 10% of jobs (Finland: 5%).
Highs and lows
Price per m², 1 bedroom
Highest price per m², 1 bedroomKajaani Keskus€1,223Lowest price per m², 1 bedroomLehtikangas€694Median disposable income
Highest median incomeKuluntalahti€31,127Lowest median incomePalokangas€21,901Households renting
Most households rentingPalokangas57%Fewest households rentingSalmijärvi2%Aged 16 to 34
Most residents aged 16 to 34Kajaani Keskus32%Fewest residents aged 16 to 34Kajaani14%
Key figures
Residents and households 2024, prices and rents from the latest quarters
- Price per m², 1 bedroom
- €1,088
- -5.9% since 2020
- 2025 Q3–2026 Q2
- Finland€2,502
- Rent per m², 1 bedroom
- €12.88
- a month
- Finland€16.12
- Residents
- 36,433
- -3.6% since 2014
- Mean age44.0
- Disposable monetary income, median
- €25,528
- +30.0% since 2014
- a year, about €2,127 a month
- Finland€26,351
- Households renting
- 35%
- of 18,827 households
- Finland38%
- University or college degree
- 32%
- of residents aged 18 or over
- Finland36%
Postal code areas
Kajaani · Price per m², 1 bedroom
€1,088
* Hatched: figure from a larger area
| 87100Kajaani Keskus | €1,223 | €12.99 | €22,459 | 55% | 6,114 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87150Purola | €954* | €12.99 | €24,903 | 27% | 2,239 |
| 87200Teppana | €1,084 | €12.99 | €27,221 | 32% | 3,875 |
| 87250Kättö-Kätönlahti | €954* | €12.99 | €27,789 | 24% | 4,128 |
| 87300Palokangas | €954* | €12.99 | €21,901 | 57% | 1,090 |
| 87400Petäisenniska | €964 | €12.99 | €25,252 | 29% | 1,653 |
| 87500Lehtikangas | €694 | €12.99 | €26,312 | 27% | 5,601 |
| 87700Lohtaja-Kettu | €954* | €12.99 | €23,744 | 50% | 4,220 |
| 87800Vuoreslahti | €954* | €12.99 | €29,598 | 2% | 920 |
| 87830Nakertaja | €954* | €12.99 | €28,010 | 22% | 1,442 |
| 87850Paltaniemi | €954* | €12.99 | €29,405 | 7% | 411 |
| 87900Kajaani | €954* | €12.99 | €28,556 | 4% | 450 |
Housing costs
An old one-bedroom flat sells for €1,088 per m² on average, 57% less than in Finland. The price per m² has fallen by 6% since 2020.
Prices and rents by flat size
Last four quarters, 2025 Q3–2026 Q2. Source: Statistics Finland
| Flat size | Price per m² | Rent per m² a month | Price-to-rent ratio | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | – | €16.93 | – | – |
| 1 bedroom | €1,088 | €12.88 | 7.0 | 104 |
| 2+ bedrooms | €1,074 | €10.78 | 8.3 | 79 |
| All sizes | €1,128 | €13.10 | 7.2 | 252 |
- Maintenance charge
- €4.55
- Average per m² a month, Finland outside Greater Helsinki, 2025
- Gross rental yield
- 14.2%
- 1 bedroom. A year of rent as a share of the price, before costs
Yearly average price of old flats in blocks of flats, all sizes. Source: Statistics Finland.
Thinking of moving here?
See how prices, sales and rents have developed in the area, and what the coming years could bring.
See the area's housing marketDifferences between the areas
In the most expensive postal code area a one-bedroom flat costs about 1.8 times as much per m² as in the cheapest. The highest median income is about 1.4 times the lowest.
Price per m², 1 bedroom
€694Lehtikangas€1,223Kajaani KeskusKajaani €1,088€694Lehtikangas€1,223Kajaani KeskusMedian disposable income
€21,901Palokangas€31,127KuluntalahtiKajaani €25,528€21,901Palokangas€31,127KuluntalahtiHouseholds renting
2%Salmijärvi57%PalokangasKajaani 35%2%Salmijärvi57%PalokangasAged 16 to 34
14%Kajaani32%Kajaani KeskusKajaani 23%14%Kajaani32%Kajaani KeskusAged 65 or over
15%Kuluntalahti42%SalmijärviKajaani 25%15%Kuluntalahti42%SalmijärviFamilies with children
8%Kajaani Keskus39%KuluntalahtiKajaani 19%8%Kajaani Keskus39%KuluntalahtiUniversity or college degree
17%Otanmäki-Kytökoski46%PaltaniemiKajaani 32%17%Otanmäki-Kytökoski46%PaltaniemiUnemployment
5%Jormua21%PalokangasKajaani 12%5%Jormua21%PalokangasAverage home size
55.0 m²Kajaani Keskus118.7 m²KuluntalahtiKajaani 77.3 m²55.0 m²Kajaani Keskus118.7 m²Kuluntalahti
Residents
Age
The age structure is close to Finland's: 23% of residents are aged 16 to 34 and 25% are 65 or over.
KajaaniFinland
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of residents in each age group.
Main activity
Pensioners make up 28% of residents, more than in Finland (26%).
- Kajaani41%28%14%
- Finland43%26%15%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of all residents. Unemployment is counted for ages 16 to 64.
- Mean age
- 44.0
- Finland: 44.0
- Unemployed, share of the labour force
- 12%
- Finland: 12%
- Household size
- 1.9
- Finland: 1.9
- Floor area per person
- 42.0 m²
- Finland: 41.6 m²
Households and homes
Tenure
64% of households own their home and 35% rent (Finland: 38% rent).
- Kajaani64%35%
- Finland61%38%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of households.
Dwellings
51% of homes are detached, semi-detached or terraced houses and 47% are in blocks of flats. The average home is 77.3 m².
- Kajaani47%51%
- Finland48%50%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of dwellings by building type.
Household types
49% of households are people living alone and 19% are families with children.
KajaaniFinland
- Living alone49%, Finland 47%
- Living alone, under 3514%, Finland 13%
- Couple under 35, no children4%, Finland 4%
- With children19%, Finland 20%
- With a child under 34%, Finland 4%
- Single parent4%, Finland 4%
- All members aged 18–6447%, Finland 48%
- At least one member 65 or over35%, Finland 33%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of households. A household can belong to several types.
- Average dwelling size
- 77.3 m²
- Finland: 78.5 m²
- Dwellings
- 21,095
- Summer cottages
- 1,653
Education and income
Highest qualification
32% of adults have a university or college degree, fewer than in Finland (36%).
- Kajaani20%43%24%
- Finland22%36%22%13%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of residents aged 18 or over.
Income groups
20% of adults are in Finland's lowest-earning fifth and 14% in the highest, close to 20% each.
- Kajaani20%66%14%
- Finland20%60%20%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of residents aged 18 or over in each national income group. Across Finland the groups hold 20%, 60% and 20% of adults.
- Inhabitants' disposable monetary income, median
- €25,528
- a year, about €2,127 a month
- Finland: €26,351
- Households' disposable monetary income, median
- €35,184
- a year, about €2,932 a month
- Finland: €37,777
- University or college degree
- 32%
- Finland: 36%
Jobs
Kajaani has 15,852 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (23%). More common than usual is public administration and defence: 10% of jobs (Finland: 5%).
Largest industries
KajaaniFinland
- Health and social work23%, Finland 19%
- Administrative and support services11%, Finland 7%
- Public administration and defence10%, Finland 5%
- Wholesale and retail trade9%, Finland 11%
- Manufacturing8%, Finland 12%
- Education8%, Finland 7%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of jobs with a known industry.
- Jobs located here
- 15,852
- Jobs per resident
- 0.44
- People working in the area divided by people living there
- Finland: 0.43
Sectors
- Kajaani15%83%
- Finland20%77%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024
Change since 2010
The number of residents has fallen by 4% since 2014, while it has grown in Finland. Median income has risen by 30% since 2014, at the same pace as in Finland.
Permanent residents at the end of each year. Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo.
Income after taxes and compulsory payments, including transfers received. Euros of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo.
Definitions and sources
- Residents
- People whose permanent home was in the area on 31 December, placed by the coordinates of their building. About 1% of residents have no coordinates and appear only in city figures.
- Income
- Disposable monetary income of residents aged 18 or over: earnings, business and property income and transfers received, minus taxes and other transfers paid. In euros of each year.
- Households
- People living permanently in the same dwelling. Household types overlap.
- Prices
- Average debt-free prices per m² of old flats in housing companies. A postal code area with too few sales gets the figure of its price area or city.
- Rents
- Average rents per m² of non-subsidised flats in new leases, by rent area.
- Small areas
- Statistics Finland withholds details of areas with fewer than 30 residents, households or adults, with fewer than 10 dwellings or only one building, or with fewer than 10 jobs.
Source: Statistics Finland: postal code area statistics (Paavo) 2024, prices of old dwellings, rents of dwellings (CC BY 4.0).