Saarijärvi

70460 · Kuopio · Pohjois-Savo

70460 Saarijärvi

In brief

Saarijärvi (70460) has 3,632 residents, 3% of the population of Kuopio. The age structure is close to Kuopio's: 27% of residents are aged 16 to 34 and 27% are 65 or over. 54% of households are people living alone and 15% are families with children.

Almost all homes are in blocks of flats (84%). Homes are smaller on average than in Kuopio (66.0 m² against 72.9 m²). 52% of households own their home and 48% rent (Kuopio: 45% rent). An old one-bedroom flat sells for €769 per m² on average, 61% less than the average in Kuopio. The price is the lowest among the postal code areas of Kuopio. The price per m² has fallen by 20% since 2020. The price equals 4.7 years of rent at €13.66 per m² a month in new leases.

The median disposable monetary income of residents is €22,028 a year, about €1,836 a month: 13% lower than in Kuopio and 16% lower than in Finland. 22% of the labour force is unemployed, more than in Kuopio (12%). The area has 1,430 jobs; the largest industry is manufacturing (35%). Its share is clearly higher than in Kuopio (7%).

The number of residents has fallen by 9% since 2014, while it has grown in Kuopio.

Rank among the city's areas

Unemployment
22%
The highest of 53 areas in Kuopio
Kuopio 12%
Price per m², 1 bedroom
€769
The lowest of 13 areas in Kuopio
Kuopio €1,948
Homes in small houses
15%
6th lowest of 53 areas in Kuopio
Kuopio 40%
Living alone
54%
9th highest of 53 areas in Kuopio
Kuopio 49%

Key figures

Residents and households 2024, prices and rents latest quarters

Price per m², 1 bedroom: €769; -20.0% since 2020; Kuopio€1,948

Rent per m², 1 bedroom: €13.66; Figure for Kuopio 2; Kuopio€14.69

Residents: 3,632; -9.2% since 2014; Mean age45.0

Disposable monetary income, median: €22,028; +21.4% since 2014; a year, about €1,836 a month; Kuopio€25,390; Finland€26,351

Households renting: 48%; of 2,141 households; Kuopio45%; Finland38%

University or college degree: 23%; of residents aged 18 or over; Kuopio38%; Finland36%

Housing costs

An old one-bedroom flat sells for €769 per m² on average, 61% less than the average in Kuopio. The price is the lowest among the postal code areas of Kuopio. The price per m² has fallen by 20% since 2020.

Price per m²

€769

Postal code area 70460
Sales of old flats in blocks of flats, 2025, 18 sales

Rent per m² a month

€13.66

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

Kuopio: €14.69

Middle half of sales, € per m²

Saarijärvi€769Kuopio €1,948

€1,271 – €2,647Figure for Kuopio, 2026 Q2

Price-to-rent ratio: 4.7 years; Kuopio: 11.1
Gross rental yield: 21.3%; Kuopio: 9.0%
Middle half of rents, € a month: 601–€742; Figure for Kuopio 2, 2026 Q3
Maintenance charge: €4.55; Average per m² a month, Finland outside Greater Helsinki, 2025
Change a year: 10 yrs5 yrsPrice-3.3%-3.9%Rent+1.0%+1.0%; Average of the price index (Kuopio 2) and rent index (Kuopio)

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 comes out ahead, year by year.Compare here

Compared with the other areas

The area is among the three highest or lowest postal code areas of Kuopio in 2 of 9 figures: price per m², 1 bedroom, unemployment.

Price per m², 1 bedroom13/13
€769Saarijärvi
Kuopio €1,948Saarijärvi €769
€2,757Jynkänmäki
€769Saarijärvi€2,757Jynkänmäki
Median disposable income49/53
€20,091Niuvaniemen Sairaala-alue
Kuopio €25,390Saarijärvi €22,028
€31,776Kurkimäki
€20,091Niuvaniemen Sairaala-alue€31,776Kurkimäki
Households renting13/53
0%Jännevirta
Kuopio 45%Saarijärvi 48%
84%Niuvaniemen Sairaala-alue
0%Jännevirta84%Niuvaniemen Sairaala-alue
Aged 16 to 3412/53
7%Viitaniemi
Kuopio 27%Saarijärvi 27%
45%Etu-Niirala
7%Viitaniemi45%Etu-Niirala
Aged 65 or over24/53
10%Niuvaniemen Sairaala-alue
Kuopio 23%Saarijärvi 27%
52%Mustinlahti
10%Niuvaniemen Sairaala-alue52%Mustinlahti
Families with children40/53
5%Niuvaniemen Sairaala-alue
Kuopio 18%Saarijärvi 15%
43%Kurkimäki
5%Niuvaniemen Sairaala-alue43%Kurkimäki
University or college degree39/53
10%Viitaniemi
Kuopio 38%Saarijärvi 23%
54%Jynkänmäki
10%Viitaniemi54%Jynkänmäki
Unemployment1/53
4%Kurkimäki
Kuopio 12%Saarijärvi 22%
22%Saarijärvi
4%Kurkimäki22%Saarijärvi
Average home size43/53
50.7 m²Etu-Niirala
Kuopio 72.9 m²Saarijärvi 66.0 m²
122.4 m²Kaislastenlahti
50.7 m²Etu-Niirala122.4 m²Kaislastenlahti

Residents

Age

The age structure is close to Kuopio's: 27% of residents are aged 16 to 34 and 27% are 65 or over.

SaarijärviKuopio

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

Main activity

Employed people make up 36% of residents, less than in Kuopio (43%).

Saarijärvi36%10%30%12%
Kuopio43%25%14%
Finland43%26%15%

Employed36%
Unemployed10%
Students9%
Pensioners30%
Children aged 0–1412%
Other3%

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

Mean age: 45.0; Kuopio: 43.0
Unemployed, share of the labour force: 22%; Kuopio: 12%
Household size: 1.7; Kuopio: 1.8
Floor area per person: 39.0 m²; Kuopio: 40.2 m²

Households and homes

Tenure

52% of households own their home and 48% rent (Kuopio: 45% rent).

Saarijärvi52%48%
Kuopio54%45%
Finland61%38%

Owner-occupied52%
Rented48%
Other or unknown0%

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

Dwellings

Almost all homes are in blocks of flats (84%). Homes are smaller on average than in Kuopio (66.0 m² against 72.9 m²).

Saarijärvi84%15%
Kuopio59%40%
Finland48%50%

Blocks of flats84%
Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses15%
Other buildings1%

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

Household types

54% of households are people living alone and 15% are families with children.

SaarijärviKuopio

Living alone54%, Kuopio 49%
Living alone, under 3515%, Kuopio 17%
Couple under 35, no children4%, Kuopio 6%
With children15%, Kuopio 18%
With a child under 33%, Kuopio 4%
Single parent4%, Kuopio 4%
All members aged 18–6450%, Kuopio 52%
At least one member 65 or over35%, Kuopio 30%

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

Average dwelling size: 66.0 m²; Kuopio: 72.9 m²
Dwellings: 2,301
Summer cottages: 9

Education and income

Highest qualification

23% of adults have a university or college degree, fewer than in Kuopio (38%).

Saarijärvi24%48%18%
Kuopio17%37%24%13%
Finland22%36%22%13%

Basic education or unknown24%
Matriculation examination5%
Vocational qualification48%
Bachelor's or lowest tertiary18%
Master's or higher5%

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

Income groups

24% of adults are in the lowest-earning fifth of Finland and 6% in the highest, close to 20% each.

Saarijärvi24%69%
Kuopio21%63%17%
Finland20%60%20%

Lowest 20% in Finland24%
Middle 60%69%
Highest 20%6%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of residents aged 18 or over in the national income tenths. In Finland the groups hold 20%, 60% and 20%.

Inhabitants' disposable monetary income, median: €22,028; a year, about €1,836 a month; Kuopio: €25,390
Households' disposable monetary income, median: €29,134; a year, about €2,428 a month; Kuopio: €34,696
University or college degree: 23%; Kuopio: 38%

Jobs

The area has 1,430 jobs; the largest industry is manufacturing (35%). Its share is clearly higher than in Kuopio (7%).

Largest industries

SaarijärviKuopio

Manufacturing35%, Kuopio 7%
Administrative and support services21%, Kuopio 9%
Wholesale and retail trade18%, Kuopio 10%
Construction12%, Kuopio 7%
Health and social work6%, Kuopio 25%
Transport and storage5%, Kuopio 4%

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

Jobs located here: 1,430
Jobs per resident: 0.39; People working in the area divided by people living there; Kuopio: 0.44

Sectors

Saarijärvi47%53%
Kuopio14%83%
Finland20%77%

Primary production0%
Industry and construction47%
Services53%

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 Kuopio. Median income has risen by 21% since 2014, slower than in Kuopio (29%).

Residents

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

Disposable monetary income, medianSaarijärviKuopioFinland

Income after taxes and compulsory payments, transfers received included. 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 money income of residents aged 18 or over: earnings, entrepreneurial and property income and received transfers, minus taxes and other paid transfers. In euros of the 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).