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Karhula

48600 · Kotka · Kymenlaakso

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48600 Karhula

In brief

Karhula (48600) has 6,845 residents, 14% of the population of Kotka. It is the 2nd largest among the postal code areas of Kotka. Older residents stand out: 36% are 65 or over (Kotka: 29%). This is the 3rd highest share among the postal code areas of Kotka. 61% of households are people living alone and 13% are families with children.

69% of homes are in blocks of flats and 29% in detached, semi-detached or terraced houses. Homes are smaller on average than in Kotka (67.0 m² compared with 73.3 m²). 55% of households own their home and 44% rent (Kotka: 38% rent). An old one-bedroom flat sells for €922 per m² on average, 7% less than the average in Kotka. The price per m² has fallen by 18% since 2020. The price equals 6.9 years of rent at €11.16 per m² a month in new leases.

The median disposable monetary income of residents is €23,227 a year, about €1,936 a month: 6% lower than in Kotka and 12% lower than in Finland. 18% of the labour force is unemployed, more than in Kotka (16%). The area has 4,209 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (26%). More common than usual is professional, scientific and technical: 8% of jobs (Kotka: 4%).

The number of residents has fallen by 6% since 2014, at the same pace as in Kotka.

Rank among the city's areas

  • Residents

    6,845

    2nd highest of 24 areas in Kotka

  • Aged 65 or over

    36%

    3rd highest of 24 areas in Kotka

    Kotka 29%

  • Jobs per resident

    0.61

    4th highest of 24 areas in Kotka

    Kotka 0.42

  • Homes in small houses

    29%

    4th lowest of 24 areas in Kotka

    Kotka 42%

Key figures

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

Price per m², 1 bedroom
€922
-17.8% since 2020
Kotka€988
Rent per m², 1 bedroom
€11.16
Figure for Kotka 2
Kotka€12.27
Residents
6,845
-6.5% since 2014
Mean age51.0
Disposable monetary income, median
€23,227
+27.6% since 2014
a year, about €1,936 a month
Kotka€24,628
Finland€26,351
Households renting
44%
of 4,149 households
Kotka38%
Finland38%
University or college degree
26%
of residents aged 18 or over
Kotka30%
Finland36%

Housing costs

An old one-bedroom flat sells for €922 per m² on average, 7% less than the average in Kotka. The price per m² has fallen by 18% since 2020.

Price per m²

€922

Postal code area 48600
Sales of old flats in blocks of flats, 2026 Q1, 17 sales

Rent per m² a month

€11.16

Figure for Kotka 2
New leases, non-subsidised flats, 2026 Q3

Kotka: €12.27

Middle half of sales, € per m²

Karhula€922Kotka €988
€596 – €1,356Figure for Kotka, 2026 Q2
Price-to-rent ratio
6.9 years
Kotka: 6.7
Gross rental yield
14.5%
Kotka: 14.9%
Maintenance charge
€4.55
Average per m² a month, Finland outside Greater Helsinki, 2025
Change a year
10 yrs5 yrsPrice-0.4%-0.3%Rent+0.9%+1.0%
Average of the price index (Kotka) and rent index (Kotka)

Source: Statistics Finland

Price per m² by flat sizeStudio1 bedroom2+ bedrooms

Yearly average price of old flats in blocks of flats in this postal code area. Gaps are years with too few sales to publish. Source: Statistics Finland.

Rent, right of occupancy or buy?Enter a flat in this area and see which option is best, year by year.Compare here

Compared with the other areas

The area is among the three highest or lowest postal code areas of Kotka in 1 of 9 figures: aged 65 or over.

  • Price per m², 1 bedroom2/6

    €459Karhuvuori
    Kotka €988Karhula €922
    €1,413Kotkansaari
    €459Karhuvuori€1,413Kotkansaari

  • Median disposable income21/24

    €18,442Karhuvuori
    Kotka €24,628Karhula €23,227
    €31,200Mussalo
    €18,442Karhuvuori€31,200Mussalo

  • Households renting4/24

    2%Tavastila
    Kotka 38%Karhula 44%
    68%Hovinsaari
    2%Tavastila68%Hovinsaari

  • Aged 16 to 349/24

    9%Huruksela
    Kotka 20%Karhula 19%
    28%Hovinsaari
    9%Huruksela28%Hovinsaari

  • Aged 65 or over3/24

    20%Mussalo
    Kotka 29%Karhula 36%
    38%Kotkansaari
    20%Mussalo38%Kotkansaari

  • Families with children21/24

    7%Kotkansaari
    Kotka 16%Karhula 13%
    28%Mussalo
    7%Kotkansaari28%Mussalo

  • University or college degree17/24

    15%Karhuvuori
    Kotka 30%Karhula 26%
    48%Mussalo
    15%Karhuvuori48%Mussalo

  • Unemployment5/24

    6%Huruksela
    Kotka 16%Karhula 18%
    39%Karhuvuori
    6%Huruksela39%Karhuvuori

  • Average home size20/24

    52.5 m²Hovinsaari
    Kotka 73.3 m²Karhula 67.0 m²
    106.3 m²Kaukola
    52.5 m²Hovinsaari106.3 m²Kaukola

Residents

Age

Older residents stand out: 36% are 65 or over (Kotka: 29%). This is the 3rd highest share among the postal code areas of Kotka.

KarhulaKotka

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

Main activity

Pensioners make up 40% of residents, more than in Kotka (33%).

  • Karhula34%40%
  • 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
51.0
Kotka: 48.0
Unemployed, share of the labour force
18%
Kotka: 16%
Household size
1.6
Kotka: 1.8
Floor area per person
42.3 m²
Kotka: 42.6 m²

Households and homes

Tenure

55% of households own their home and 44% rent (Kotka: 38% rent).

  • Karhula55%44%
  • Kotka61%38%
  • Finland61%38%

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

Dwellings

69% of homes are in blocks of flats and 29% in detached, semi-detached or terraced houses. Homes are smaller on average than in Kotka (67.0 m² compared with 73.3 m²).

  • Karhula69%29%
  • Kotka57%42%
  • Finland48%50%

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

Household types

61% of households are people living alone and 13% are families with children.

KarhulaKotka

  • Living alone61%, Kotka 52%
  • Living alone, under 3512%, Kotka 12%
  • Couple under 35, no children2%, Kotka 3%
  • With children13%, Kotka 16%
  • With a child under 32%, Kotka 3%
  • Single parent4%, Kotka 4%
  • All members aged 18–6444%, Kotka 46%
  • At least one member 65 or over43%, Kotka 38%

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

Average dwelling size
67.0 m²
Kotka: 73.3 m²
Dwellings
4,586
Summer cottages
1

Education and income

Highest qualification

26% of adults have a university or college degree, fewer than in Kotka (30%).

  • Karhula25%45%20%
  • 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 12% in the highest, close to 20% each.

  • Karhula21%66%12%
  • 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
€23,227
a year, about €1,936 a month
Kotka: €24,628
Households' disposable monetary income, median
€28,084
a year, about €2,340 a month
Kotka: €33,461
University or college degree
26%
Kotka: 30%

Jobs

The area has 4,209 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (26%). More common than usual is professional, scientific and technical: 8% of jobs (Kotka: 4%).

Largest industries

KarhulaKotka

  • Health and social work26%, Kotka 26%
  • Manufacturing20%, Kotka 14%
  • Wholesale and retail trade15%, Kotka 9%
  • Professional, scientific and technical8%, Kotka 4%
  • Administrative and support services6%, Kotka 9%
  • Education6%, Kotka 6%

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

Jobs located here
4,209
Jobs per resident
0.61
People working in the area divided by people living there
Kotka: 0.42

Sectors

  • Karhula26%74%
  • Kotka21%79%
  • Finland20%77%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024

Change since 2010

The number of residents has fallen by 6% since 2014, at the same pace as in Kotka. Median income has risen by 28% since 2014, at the same pace as in Kotka.

Residents

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

Disposable monetary income, medianKarhulaKotkaFinland

Income after taxes and compulsory payments, including transfers received. Euros of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo.

Neighbouring areas

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).