Oulu

Region of Pohjois-Pohjanmaa · 46 postal code areas

In brief

Oulu has 216,152 residents in 46 postal code areas. The number of residents has grown by 10% since 2014, faster than in Finland. Young adults stand out: 30% of residents are aged 16 to 34 (Finland: 23%).

An old one-bedroom flat sells for €2,136 per m² on average, 15% less than in Finland. Between postal code areas the price ranges from €918 (Rajakylä) to €3,397 (Äimärautio). The price per m² has fallen by 2% since 2020. 54% of households own their home and 45% rent (Finland: 38% rent).

The median disposable monetary income of residents is €25,996 a year, about €2,166 a month: about the same as in Finland. Between postal code areas the median income ranges from €18,045 (Kaijonharju-Linnanmaa) to €33,738 (Hiukkavaara). 14% of the labour force is unemployed, about the same as in Finland (12%). Oulu has 99,464 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (23%).

Highs and lows

Price per m², 1 bedroom
Highest price per m², 1 bedroomÄimärautio€3,397 Lowest price per m², 1 bedroomRajakylä€918
Median disposable income
Highest median incomeHiukkavaara€33,738 Lowest median incomeKaijonharju-Linnanmaa€18,045
Households renting
Most households rentingKontinkangas92%Fewest households rentingKontio2%
Aged 16 to 34
Most residents aged 16 to 34Äimärautio61%Fewest residents aged 16 to 34Pahkakoski - Räinä5%

Key figures

Residents and households 2024, prices and rents latest quarters

Price per m², 1 bedroom: €2,136; -1.7% since 2020; 2025 Q3–2026 Q2; Finland€2,502

Rent per m², 1 bedroom: €14.67; a month; Finland€16.12

Residents: 216,152; +10.1% since 2014; Mean age40.0

Disposable monetary income, median: €25,996; +27.8% since 2014; a year, about €2,166 a month; Finland€26,351

Households renting: 45%; of 110,889 households; Finland38%

University or college degree: 41%; of residents aged 18 or over; Finland36%

Postal code areas

Colour by

€1,191€1,979€2,381

Oulu · Price per m², 1 bedroom

€2,136

* Hatched: figure from a larger area


90100Oulu Keskus	€2,680	€15.57	€22,861	70%	10,298
90120Heinäpää	€2,002	€15.57	€22,877	68%	7,087
90130Raksila	€2,436	€15.57	€23,362	60%	6,955
90140Karjasilta	€2,760	€15.57	€25,234	52%	3,811
90150Höyhtyä	€1,508	€13.78	€25,667	43%	6,174
90220Kontinkangas	€1,314	€13.78	€18,106	92%	987
90230Värttö-Maikkula	€2,380	€15.57	€28,671	40%	7,332
90240Iinatti	€1,576	€13.78	€27,841	33%	6,163
90250Kaukovainio	€1,138	€13.78	€22,066	66%	6,930
90310Madekoski	€1,845*	€13.78	€30,338	15%	2,639
90400Äimärautio	€3,397	€15.57	€22,664	74%	1,985
90410Kaakkuri	€1,845*	€13.78	€29,731	27%	4,139
90420Metsokangas	€1,979	€13.78	€30,019	41%	10,926
90460Oulunsalo Keskus	€1,845*	€13.78	€28,953	23%	8,818
90470Varjakka	€1,845*	€13.78	€28,195	5%	1,077
90500Tuira	€1,889	€13.78	€21,553	64%	9,177
90510Hietasaari	€2,657	€15.57	€27,109	51%	1,984
90520Taskila-Toppila	€2,330	€15.57	€21,048	75%	8,453
90530Välivainio	€2,251	€13.78	€21,622	67%	6,139
90540Kuivasjärvi	€2,527	€13.78	€32,563	20%	12,397
90550Pyykösjärvi-Puolivälinkangas	€1,191	€13.78	€23,698	47%	3,862
90560Koskela-Oulu	€1,106	€13.78	€24,031	44%	2,971
90570Kaijonharju-Linnanmaa	€1,401	€13.78	€18,045	80%	8,504
90580Rajakylä	€918	€13.78	€23,540	48%	4,369
90590Teknologiakylä	€1,845*	€13.78	€8,850	100%	79
90600Oulun rahtiterminaali	€1,845*	€13.78	–	–	0
90620Rusko-Heikinharju	€1,845*	€13.78	€26,889	13%	483
90630Korvensuora	€2,381	€13.78	€30,633	23%	8,151
90650Haapalehto	€2,025	€13.78	€28,132	31%	10,202
90660Sanginsuu	€1,845*	€13.78	€29,391	4%	617
90670Hiukkavaara	€2,197	€15.57	€33,738	22%	6,671
90800Pateniemi	€2,825	€13.78	€28,973	22%	8,393
90810Kiviniemi	€1,845*	€13.78	€30,339	10%	3,010
90820Kello	€1,845*	€13.78	€28,847	10%	3,114
90830Haukipudas Keskus	€1,845*	€13.78	€27,168	28%	8,409
90840Haukipudas Asemanseutu	€1,845*	€13.78	€28,162	11%	1,747
90850Martinniemi	€1,845*	€13.78	€26,642	18%	2,135
90860Halosenniemi	€1,845*	€13.78	€26,950	4%	493
90900Kiiminki Keskus	€1,845*	€13.78	€28,413	16%	6,518
90910Kontio	€1,845*	€13.78	€30,484	2%	1,644
90940Jääli	€1,845*	€13.78	€28,858	15%	5,014
91200Yli-Ii Keskus	€1,845*	€13.78	€23,692	20%	1,128
91240Tannila	€1,845*	€13.78	€21,127	5%	171
91260Pahkakoski - Räinä	€1,845*	€13.78	€20,449	3%	114
91300Ylikiiminki Keskus	€1,845*	€13.78	€25,558	13%	2,946
91310Arkala	€1,845*	€13.78	€27,242	8%	194

Housing costs

An old one-bedroom flat sells for €2,136 per m² on average, 15% less than in Finland. The price per m² has fallen by 2% 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	€2,479	€19.13	10.8	390
1 bedroom	€2,136	€14.67	12.1	768
2+ bedrooms	€2,165	€12.46	14.5	568
All sizes	€2,205	€14.89	12.3	1,726

Maintenance charge: €4.55; Average per m² a month, Finland outside Greater Helsinki, 2025
Gross rental yield: 8.2%; 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 3.7 times as much per m² as in the cheapest. The highest median income is about 1.9 times the lowest.

Price per m², 1 bedroom
€918Rajakylä
Oulu €2,136
€3,397Äimärautio
€918Rajakylä€3,397Äimärautio
Median disposable income
€18,045Kaijonharju-Linnanmaa
Oulu €25,996
€33,738Hiukkavaara
€18,045Kaijonharju-Linnanmaa€33,738Hiukkavaara
Households renting
2%Kontio
Oulu 45%
92%Kontinkangas
2%Kontio92%Kontinkangas
Aged 16 to 34
5%Pahkakoski - Räinä
Oulu 30%
61%Äimärautio
5%Pahkakoski - Räinä61%Äimärautio
Aged 65 or over
5%Hiukkavaara
Oulu 18%
48%Pahkakoski - Räinä
5%Hiukkavaara48%Pahkakoski - Räinä
Families with children
5%Äimärautio
Oulu 20%
46%Hiukkavaara
5%Äimärautio46%Hiukkavaara
University or college degree
14%Pahkakoski - Räinä
Oulu 41%
62%Hiukkavaara
14%Pahkakoski - Räinä62%Hiukkavaara
Unemployment
6%Hiukkavaara
Oulu 14%
45%Pahkakoski - Räinä
6%Hiukkavaara45%Pahkakoski - Räinä
Average home size
45.6 m²Äimärautio
Oulu 74.8 m²
129.5 m²Kontio
45.6 m²Äimärautio129.5 m²Kontio

Residents

Age

Young adults stand out: 30% of residents are aged 16 to 34 (Finland: 23%).

OuluFinland

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

Main activity

Pensioners make up 20% of residents, less than in Finland (26%).

Oulu44%11%20%16%
Finland43%26%15%

Employed44%
Unemployed7%
Students11%
Pensioners20%
Children aged 0–1416%
Other3%

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

Mean age: 40.0; Finland: 44.0
Unemployed, share of the labour force: 14%; Finland: 12%
Household size: 1.9; Finland: 1.9
Floor area per person: 39.7 m²; Finland: 41.6 m²

Households and homes

Tenure

54% of households own their home and 45% rent (Finland: 38% rent).

Oulu54%45%
Finland61%38%

Owner-occupied54%
Rented45%
Other or unknown1%

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

Dwellings

56% of homes are in blocks of flats and 43% in detached, semi-detached or terraced houses. Homes are smaller on average than in Finland (74.8 m² against 78.5 m²).

Oulu56%43%
Finland48%50%

Blocks of flats56%
Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses43%
Other buildings1%

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

Household types

49% of households are people living alone and 20% are families with children.

OuluFinland

Living alone49%, Finland 47%
Living alone, under 3519%, Finland 13%
Couple under 35, no children6%, Finland 4%
With children20%, Finland 20%
With a child under 35%, Finland 4%
Single parent4%, Finland 4%
All members aged 18–6456%, Finland 48%
At least one member 65 or over24%, Finland 33%

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

Average dwelling size: 74.8 m²; Finland: 78.5 m²
Dwellings: 120,808
Summer cottages: 4,089

Education and income

Highest qualification

41% of adults have a university or college degree, more than in Finland (36%).

Oulu16%34%24%17%
Finland22%36%22%13%

Basic education or unknown16%
Matriculation examination10%
Vocational qualification34%
Bachelor's or lowest tertiary24%
Master's or higher17%

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

Income groups

22% of adults are in the lowest-earning fifth of Finland and 19% in the highest, close to 20% each.

Oulu22%59%19%
Finland20%60%20%

Lowest 20% in Finland22%
Middle 60%59%
Highest 20%19%

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: €25,996; a year, about €2,166 a month; Finland: €26,351
Households' disposable monetary income, median: €35,724; a year, about €2,977 a month; Finland: €37,777
University or college degree: 41%; Finland: 36%

Jobs

Oulu has 99,464 jobs; the largest industry is health and social work (23%).

Largest industries

OuluFinland

Health and social work23%, Finland 19%
Manufacturing10%, Finland 12%
Education9%, Finland 7%
Wholesale and retail trade9%, Finland 11%
Construction8%, Finland 7%
Professional, scientific and technical7%, Finland 6%

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

Jobs located here: 99,464
Jobs per resident: 0.46; People working in the area divided by people living there; Finland: 0.43

Sectors

Oulu19%81%
Finland20%77%

Primary production1%
Industry and construction19%
Services81%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024

Change since 2010

The number of residents has grown by 10% since 2014, faster than 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, medianOuluFinland

Income after taxes and compulsory payments, transfers received included. 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 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).