In brief
Kouvola has 78,386 residents in 49 postal code areas. The number of residents has fallen by 9% since 2014, while it has grown in Finland. Older residents stand out: 31% are 65 or over (Finland: 24%).
An old one-bedroom flat sells for €710 per m² on average, 72% less than in Finland. Between postal code areas the price ranges from €608 (Lehtomäki) to €981 (Kouvola Keskus). The price per m² has risen by 4% since 2020. 70% of households own their home and 29% rent (Finland: 38% rent).
The median disposable monetary income of residents is €25,380 a year, about €2,115 a month: 4% lower than in Finland. Between postal code areas the median income ranges from €21,592 (Vuohijärvi) to €29,201 (Kukkuramäki). 14% of the labour force is unemployed, more than in Finland (12%). Kouvola has 29,040 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (22%). More common than usual is public administration and defence: 9% of jobs (Finland: 5%).
Highs and lows
Price per m², 1 bedroom
Highest price per m², 1 bedroomKouvola Keskus€981Lowest price per m², 1 bedroomLehtomäki€608Median disposable income
Highest median incomeKukkuramäki€29,201Lowest median incomeVuohijärvi€21,592Households renting
Most households rentingKorjala-Kaunisnurmi51%Fewest households rentingVoikoski0%Aged 16 to 34
Most residents aged 16 to 34Korjala-Kaunisnurmi30%Fewest residents aged 16 to 34Vuohijärvi4%
Key figures
Residents and households 2024, prices and rents from the latest quarters
- Price per m², 1 bedroom
- €710
- +3.7% since 2020
- 2025 Q4–2026 Q2
- Finland€2,502
- Rent per m², 1 bedroom
- €11.07
- a month
- Finland€16.12
- Residents
- 78,386
- -9.3% since 2014
- Mean age49.0
- Disposable monetary income, median
- €25,380
- +26.3% since 2014
- a year, about €2,115 a month
- Finland€26,351
- Households renting
- 29%
- of 42,468 households
- Finland38%
- University or college degree
- 29%
- of residents aged 18 or over
- Finland36%
Postal code areas
Kouvola · Price per m², 1 bedroom
€710
* Hatched: figure from a larger area
| 45100Kouvola Keskus | €981 | €11.25 | €24,989 | 40% | 8,995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45120Kotkankallio-Vahteronmäki | €633* | €11.25 | €28,900 | 15% | 3,729 |
| 45130Korjala-Kaunisnurmi | €864 | €11.25 | €23,376 | 51% | 1,675 |
| 45150Kankaronmäki-Eskolanmäki | €633* | €11.25 | €23,343 | 42% | 4,705 |
| 45160Lehtomäki | €608 | €11.25 | €23,501 | 41% | 5,109 |
| 45200Tornionmäki | €903 | €11.25 | €23,869 | 41% | 5,785 |
| 45330Harju | €633* | €11.25 | €27,468 | 2% | 269 |
| 45360Kukkuramäki | €633* | €11.25 | €29,201 | 21% | 3,563 |
| 45370Valkeala kk | €633* | €11.25 | €27,373 | 29% | 2,498 |
| 45410Utti | €633* | €11.25 | €27,280 | 8% | 758 |
| 45460Savero | €633* | €11.25 | €26,151 | 4% | 179 |
| 45610Koria | €633* | €11.25 | €26,886 | 22% | 4,565 |
Housing costs
An old one-bedroom flat sells for €710 per m² on average, 72% less than in Finland. The price per m² has risen by 4% since 2020.
Prices and rents by flat size
Last four quarters, 2025 Q4–2026 Q2. Source: Statistics Finland
| Flat size | Price per m² | Rent per m² a month | Price-to-rent ratio | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | €639 | €14.06 | 3.8 | 96 |
| 1 bedroom | €710 | €11.07 | 5.3 | 306 |
| 2+ bedrooms | €852 | €9.66 | 7.3 | 133 |
| All sizes | €763 | €11.05 | 5.8 | 554 |
- Maintenance charge
- €4.55
- Average per m² a month, Finland outside Greater Helsinki, 2025
- Gross rental yield
- 18.7%
- 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 1.6 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
€608Lehtomäki€981Kouvola KeskusKouvola €710€608Lehtomäki€981Kouvola KeskusMedian disposable income
€21,592Vuohijärvi€29,201KukkuramäkiKouvola €25,380€21,592Vuohijärvi€29,201KukkuramäkiHouseholds renting
0%Voikoski51%Korjala-KaunisnurmiKouvola 29%0%Voikoski51%Korjala-KaunisnurmiAged 16 to 34
4%Vuohijärvi30%Korjala-KaunisnurmiKouvola 18%4%Vuohijärvi30%Korjala-KaunisnurmiAged 65 or over
22%Kukkuramäki54%VuohijärviKouvola 31%22%Kukkuramäki54%VuohijärviFamilies with children
4%Vuohijärvi25%KukkuramäkiKouvola 16%4%Vuohijärvi25%KukkuramäkiUniversity or college degree
15%Savero43%Kotkankallio-VahteronmäkiKouvola 29%15%Savero43%Kotkankallio-VahteronmäkiUnemployment
7%Ruotila22%VuohijärviKouvola 14%7%Ruotila22%VuohijärviAverage home size
62.2 m²Korjala-Kaunisnurmi121.9 m²MuhniemiKouvola 81.6 m²62.2 m²Korjala-Kaunisnurmi121.9 m²Muhniemi
Residents
Age
Older residents stand out: 31% are 65 or over (Finland: 24%).
KouvolaFinland
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of residents in each age group.
Main activity
Pensioners make up 34% of residents, more than in Finland (26%).
- Kouvola39%34%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
- 49.0
- Finland: 44.0
- Unemployed, share of the labour force
- 14%
- Finland: 12%
- Household size
- 1.8
- Finland: 1.9
- Floor area per person
- 46.4 m²
- Finland: 41.6 m²
Households and homes
Tenure
70% of households own their home and 29% rent (Finland: 38% rent).
- Kouvola70%29%
- Finland61%38%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of households.
Dwellings
60% of homes are detached, semi-detached or terraced houses and 38% are in blocks of flats. Homes are larger on average than in Finland (81.6 m² compared with 78.5 m²).
- Kouvola38%60%
- Finland48%50%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of dwellings by building type.
Household types
50% of households are people living alone and 16% are families with children.
KouvolaFinland
- Living alone50%, Finland 47%
- Living alone, under 3510%, 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 18–6444%, Finland 48%
- At least one member 65 or over41%, Finland 33%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of households. A household can belong to several types.
- Average dwelling size
- 81.6 m²
- Finland: 78.5 m²
- Dwellings
- 48,580
- Summer cottages
- 7,238
Education and income
Highest qualification
29% of adults have a university or college degree, fewer than in Finland (36%).
- Kouvola23%44%22%
- 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 16% in the highest, close to 20% each.
- Kouvola20%65%16%
- 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
- €25,380
- a year, about €2,115 a month
- Finland: €26,351
- Households' disposable monetary income, median
- €35,122
- a year, about €2,927 a month
- Finland: €37,777
- University or college degree
- 29%
- Finland: 36%
Jobs
Kouvola has 29,040 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (22%). More common than usual is public administration and defence: 9% of jobs (Finland: 5%).
Largest industries
KouvolaFinland
- Health and social work22%, Finland 19%
- Manufacturing12%, Finland 12%
- Wholesale and retail trade11%, Finland 11%
- Public administration and defence9%, Finland 5%
- Administrative and support services8%, Finland 7%
- Construction7%, Finland 7%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of jobs with a known industry.
- Jobs located here
- 29,040
- Jobs per resident
- 0.37
- People working in the area divided by people living there
- Finland: 0.43
Sectors
- Kouvola21%77%
- Finland20%77%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024
Change since 2010
The number of residents has fallen by 9% since 2014, while it has grown in Finland. Median income has risen by 26% 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).