Kotka

Region of Kymenlaakso · 25 postal code areas

In brief

Kotka has 50,210 residents in 25 postal code areas. The number of residents has fallen by 8% since 2014, while it has grown in Finland. Older residents stand out: 29% are 65 or over (Finland: 24%).

An old one-bedroom flat sells for €988 per m² on average, 61% less than in Finland. Between postal code areas the price ranges from €459 (Karhuvuori) to €1,413 (Kotkansaari). The price per m² has fallen by 4% since 2020. 61% of households own their home and 38% rent (Finland: 38% rent).

The median disposable monetary income of residents is €24,628 a year, about €2,052 a month: 7% lower than in Finland. Between postal code areas the median income ranges from €18,442 (Karhuvuori) to €31,200 (Mussalo). 16% of the labour force is unemployed, more than in Finland (12%). Kotka has 21,142 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (26%). More common than usual is transport and storage: 10% of jobs (Finland: 5%).

Highs and lows

Price per m², 1 bedroom
Highest price per m², 1 bedroomKotkansaari€1,413 Lowest price per m², 1 bedroomKarhuvuori€459
Median disposable income
Highest median incomeMussalo€31,200 Lowest median incomeKarhuvuori€18,442
Households renting
Most households rentingHovinsaari68%Fewest households rentingTavastila2%
Aged 16 to 34
Most residents aged 16 to 34Hovinsaari28%Fewest residents aged 16 to 34Huruksela9%

Key figures

Residents and households 2024, prices and rents from the latest quarters

Price per m², 1 bedroom: €988; -4.2% since 2020; 2025 Q3–2026 Q2; Finland€2,502

Rent per m², 1 bedroom: €12.27; a month; Finland€16.12

Residents: 50,210; -7.9% since 2014; Mean age48.0

Disposable monetary income, median: €24,628; +27.9% since 2014; a year, about €2,052 a month; Finland€26,351

Households renting: 38%; of 27,742 households; Finland38%

University or college degree: 30%; of residents aged 18 or over; Finland36%

Postal code areas

Colour by

€621€679€922

Kotka · Price per m², 1 bedroom

€988

* Hatched: figure from a larger area


46930Huruksela	€679*	€11.16	€25,999	3%	207
48100Kotkansaari	€1,413	€13.30	€23,442	57%	10,203
48130Katariina	€679*	€11.16	€26,379	25%	689
48200Hovinsaari	€821	€11.16	€19,151	68%	1,639
48210Toukolan Sairaala-Alue	€1,370*	€13.30	€28,283	42%	223
48220Metsola	€679*	€11.16	€24,819	34%	1,294
48230Korela-Jylppy	€679*	€11.16	€22,984	41%	1,337
48300Ruonala	€679*	€11.16	€28,956	6%	1,236
48310Mussalo	€1,370*	€13.30	€31,200	21%	4,313
48350Karhuvuori	€459	€11.16	€18,442	63%	3,102
48400Sutela	€679*	€11.16	€27,268	15%	3,898
48410Kaukola	€679*	€11.16	€28,930	6%	1,545
48600Karhula	€922	€11.16	€23,227	44%	6,845
48700Kyminlinna	€629	€11.16	€23,580	34%	2,265
48710Koivula	€1,370*	€13.30	€28,642	4%	1,183
48720Kymi	€679*	€11.16	€27,546	4%	1,631
48750Nikeli	€679*	€11.16	€25,429	17%	160
48770Ristinkallio	€679*	€11.16	€25,174	18%	1,657
48800Otsola-Mäntykangas	€1,370*	€13.30	€28,581	7%	2,082
48810Rantahaka	€679*	€11.16	€27,123	4%	659
48900Sunila	€621	€11.16	€23,592	43%	1,239
48910Suulisniemi	€679*	€11.16	€25,646	23%	1,309
48930Tiutinen	€679*	€11.16	€30,788	3%	293
49300Tavastila	€679*	€11.16	€25,298	2%	591
49340Juurikorpi	€679*	€11.16	€25,654	6%	95

Housing costs

An old one-bedroom flat sells for €988 per m² on average, 61% less than in Finland. The price per m² has fallen by 4% 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	€994	€15.78	5.3	62
1 bedroom	€988	€12.27	6.7	244
2+ bedrooms	€1,050	€10.44	8.4	148
All sizes	€1,022	€12.46	6.8	493

Maintenance charge: €4.55; Average per m² a month, Finland outside Greater Helsinki, 2025
Gross rental yield: 14.9%; 1 bedroom. A year of rent as a share of the price, before costs

Price per m² of old flats

Yearly average price of old flats in blocks of flats, all sizes. Source: Statistics Finland.

Differences between the areas

In the most expensive postal code area a one-bedroom flat costs about 3.1 times as much per m² as in the cheapest. The highest median income is about 1.7 times the lowest.

Price per m², 1 bedroom
€459Karhuvuori
Kotka €988
€1,413Kotkansaari
€459Karhuvuori€1,413Kotkansaari
Median disposable income
€18,442Karhuvuori
Kotka €24,628
€31,200Mussalo
€18,442Karhuvuori€31,200Mussalo
Households renting
2%Tavastila
Kotka 38%
68%Hovinsaari
2%Tavastila68%Hovinsaari
Aged 16 to 34
9%Huruksela
Kotka 20%
28%Hovinsaari
9%Huruksela28%Hovinsaari
Aged 65 or over
20%Mussalo
Kotka 29%
38%Kotkansaari
20%Mussalo38%Kotkansaari
Families with children
7%Kotkansaari
Kotka 16%
28%Mussalo
7%Kotkansaari28%Mussalo
University or college degree
15%Karhuvuori
Kotka 30%
48%Mussalo
15%Karhuvuori48%Mussalo
Unemployment
6%Huruksela
Kotka 16%
39%Karhuvuori
6%Huruksela39%Karhuvuori
Average home size
52.5 m²Hovinsaari
Kotka 73.3 m²
106.3 m²Kaukola
52.5 m²Hovinsaari106.3 m²Kaukola

Residents

Age

Older residents stand out: 29% are 65 or over (Finland: 24%).

KotkaFinland

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of residents in each age group.

Main activity

Pensioners make up 33% of residents, more than in Finland (26%).

Kotka38%33%12%
Finland43%26%15%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of all residents. Unemployment is counted for ages 16 to 64.

Mean age: 48.0; Finland: 44.0
Unemployed, share of the labour force: 16%; Finland: 12%
Household size: 1.8; Finland: 1.9
Floor area per person: 42.6 m²; Finland: 41.6 m²

Households and homes

Tenure

61% of households own their home and 38% rent (Finland: 38% rent).

Kotka61%38%
Finland61%38%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of households.

Dwellings

57% of homes are in blocks of flats and 42% in detached, semi-detached or terraced houses. Homes are smaller on average than in Finland (73.3 m² compared with 78.5 m²).

Kotka57%42%
Finland48%50%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of dwellings by building type.

Household types

52% of households are people living alone and 16% are families with children.

KotkaFinland

Living alone52%, Finland 47%
Living alone, under 3512%, Finland 13%
Couple under 35, no children3%, Finland 4%
With children16%, Finland 20%
With a child under 33%, Finland 4%
Single parent4%, Finland 4%
All members aged 18–6446%, Finland 48%
At least one member 65 or over38%, Finland 33%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of households. A household can belong to several types.

Average dwelling size: 73.3 m²; Finland: 78.5 m²
Dwellings: 31,532
Summer cottages: 1,845

Education and income

Highest qualification

30% of adults have a university or college degree, fewer than in Finland (36%).

Kotka22%42%23%
Finland22%36%22%13%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of residents aged 18 or over.

Income groups

21% of adults are in Finland's lowest-earning fifth and 15% in the highest, close to 20% each.

Kotka21%63%15%
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: €24,628; a year, about €2,052 a month; Finland: €26,351
Households' disposable monetary income, median: €33,461; a year, about €2,788 a month; Finland: €37,777
University or college degree: 30%; Finland: 36%

Jobs

Kotka has 21,142 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (26%). More common than usual is transport and storage: 10% of jobs (Finland: 5%).

Largest industries

KotkaFinland

Health and social work26%, Finland 19%
Manufacturing14%, Finland 12%
Transport and storage10%, Finland 5%
Wholesale and retail trade9%, Finland 11%
Administrative and support services9%, Finland 7%
Education6%, Finland 7%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of jobs with a known industry.

Jobs located here: 21,142
Jobs per resident: 0.42; People working in the area divided by people living there; Finland: 0.43

Sectors

Kotka21%79%
Finland20%77%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024

Change since 2010

The number of residents has fallen by 8% since 2014, while it has grown in Finland. Median income has risen by 28% since 2014, at the same pace as in Finland.

Residents

Permanent residents at the end of each year. Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo.

Disposable monetary income, medianKotkaFinland

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).