In brief
Sonka (97240) has 275 residents, under 1% of the population of Rovaniemi. Older residents stand out: 40% are 65 or over (Rovaniemi: 21%). 36% of households are people living alone and 15% are families with children.
Almost all homes are detached, semi-detached or terraced houses (97%). Homes are larger on average than in Rovaniemi (87.4 m² compared with 74.4 m²). 86% of households own their home and 11% rent (Rovaniemi: 41% rent). There are too few sales for the area to have its own price, so the one-bedroom price of €2,022 per m² is that of price area Rovaniemi. The price equals 10.3 years of rent at €16.40 per m² a month in new leases.
The median disposable monetary income of residents is €25,461 a year, about €2,122 a month: 3% lower than in Rovaniemi and 3% lower than in Finland. 8% of the labour force is unemployed, about the same as in Rovaniemi (9%). The area has 25 jobs; the largest industry is construction (28%). More common than usual is agriculture, forestry and fishing: 20% of jobs (Rovaniemi: 2%).
The number of residents has fallen by 10% since 2014, while it has grown in Rovaniemi. The trend has turned recently: since 2021 the number has grown by 9%.
Rank among the city's areas
Students
2%
2nd lowest of 33 areas in Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi 8%
Aged 16 to 34
11%
5th lowest of 33 areas in Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi 26%
Jobs per resident
0.09
6th lowest of 33 areas in Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi 0.45
Key figures
Residents and households 2024, prices and rents from the latest quarters
- Price per m², 1 bedroom
- €2,022
- Figure for Rovaniemi
- Rovaniemi€2,061
- Rent per m², 1 bedroom
- €16.40
- Figure for Rovaniemi
- Rovaniemi€15.67
- Residents
- 275
- -10.1% since 2014
- Mean age51.0
- Disposable monetary income, median
- €25,461
- +48.8% since 2014
- a year, about €2,122 a month
- Rovaniemi€26,370
- Finland€26,351
- Households renting
- 11%
- of 140 households
- Rovaniemi41%
- Finland38%
- University or college degree
- 28%
- of residents aged 18 or over
- Rovaniemi37%
- Finland36%
Housing costs
There are too few sales for the area to have its own price, so the one-bedroom price of €2,022 per m² is that of price area Rovaniemi. The price equals 10.3 years of rent at €16.40 per m² a month in new leases.
Price per m²
€2,022
Figure for Rovaniemi
Sales of old flats in blocks of flats, 2026 Q2, 92 sales
Rent per m² a month
€16.40
Figure for Rovaniemi
New leases, non-subsidised flats, 2026 Q3
Rovaniemi: €15.67
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 10.3 years
- Rovaniemi: 11.0
- Gross rental yield
- 9.7%
- Rovaniemi: 9.1%
- Maintenance charge
- €4.55
- Average per m² a month, Finland outside Greater Helsinki, 2025
- Change a year
- 10 yrs5 yrsPrice+0.9%+2.7%Rent+1.8%+2.3%
- Average of the price index (Rovaniemi) and rent index (Rovaniemi)
Source: Statistics Finland
Statistics Finland has published no yearly prices for this postal code area in recent years, because there were too few sales.
Rent, right of occupancy or buy?Enter a flat in this area and see which option is best, year by year.Compare hereCompared with the other areas
In none of these 8 figures is the area among the three highest or lowest postal code areas of Rovaniemi.
Median disposable income19/33
€19,981Juotas€31,525KoskenkyläRovaniemi €26,370Sonka €25,461€19,981Juotas€31,525KoskenkyläHouseholds renting22/33
1%Narkaus - Kämät69%Niemelänkangas - KorvanniemiRovaniemi 41%Sonka 11%1%Narkaus - Kämät69%Niemelänkangas - KorvanniemiAged 16 to 3429/33
6%Marraskoski48%Niemelänkangas - KorvanniemiRovaniemi 26%Sonka 11%6%Marraskoski48%Niemelänkangas - KorvanniemiAged 65 or over6/33
4%Someroharju56%AuttiRovaniemi 21%Sonka 40%4%Someroharju56%AuttiFamilies with children21/33
3%Juotas40%Ylikylä - PatosaariRovaniemi 20%Sonka 15%3%Juotas40%Ylikylä - PatosaariUniversity or college degree20/33
16%Someroharju55%PöykköläRovaniemi 37%Sonka 28%16%Someroharju55%PöykköläUnemployment21/33
4%Rautionsaari33%JuotasRovaniemi 9%Sonka 8%4%Rautionsaari33%JuotasAverage home size17/33
55.2 m²Rovaniemi Keskus115.2 m²KoskenkyläRovaniemi 74.4 m²Sonka 87.4 m²55.2 m²Rovaniemi Keskus115.2 m²Koskenkylä
Residents
Age
Older residents stand out: 40% are 65 or over (Rovaniemi: 21%).
SonkaRovaniemi
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 Rovaniemi (24%).
- Sonka36%40%15%
- Rovaniemi46%24%15%
- 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
- Rovaniemi: 42.0
- Unemployed, share of the labour force
- 8%
- Rovaniemi: 9%
- Household size
- 2.0
- Rovaniemi: 1.9
- Floor area per person
- 45.5 m²
- Rovaniemi: 40.6 m²
Households and homes
Tenure
86% of households own their home and 11% rent (Rovaniemi: 41% rent).
- Sonka86%11%
- Rovaniemi57%41%
- Finland61%38%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of households.
Dwellings
Almost all homes are detached, semi-detached or terraced houses (97%). Homes are larger on average than in Rovaniemi (87.4 m² compared with 74.4 m²).
- Sonka97%
- Rovaniemi51%47%
- Finland48%50%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of dwellings by building type.
Household types
36% of households are people living alone and 15% are families with children.
SonkaRovaniemi
- Living alone36%, Rovaniemi 49%
- Living alone, under 353%, Rovaniemi 16%
- Couple under 35, no children2%, Rovaniemi 5%
- With children15%, Rovaniemi 20%
- With a child under 35%, Rovaniemi 4%
- Single parent1%, Rovaniemi 5%
- All members aged 18–6433%, Rovaniemi 50%
- At least one member 65 or over53%, Rovaniemi 30%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of households. A household can belong to several types.
- Average dwelling size
- 87.4 m²
- Rovaniemi: 74.4 m²
- Dwellings
- 160
- Summer cottages
- 312
Education and income
Highest qualification
28% of adults have a university or college degree, fewer than in Rovaniemi (37%).
- Sonka22%48%22%
- Rovaniemi16%40%25%12%
- Finland22%36%22%13%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of residents aged 18 or over.
Income groups
19% of adults are in Finland's lowest-earning fifth and 18% in the highest, close to 20% each.
- Sonka19%64%18%
- Rovaniemi18%65%17%
- 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
- €25,461
- a year, about €2,122 a month
- Rovaniemi: €26,370
- Households' disposable monetary income, median
- €42,587
- a year, about €3,549 a month
- Rovaniemi: €35,687
- University or college degree
- 28%
- Rovaniemi: 37%
Jobs
The area has 25 jobs; the largest industry is construction (28%). More common than usual is agriculture, forestry and fishing: 20% of jobs (Rovaniemi: 2%).
Largest industries
SonkaRovaniemi
- Construction28%, Rovaniemi 7%
- Administrative and support services24%, Rovaniemi 10%
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing20%, Rovaniemi 2%
- Health and social work16%, Rovaniemi 25%
- Accommodation and food services4%, Rovaniemi 5%
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4%, Rovaniemi 2%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024 · Share of jobs with a known industry.
- Jobs located here
- 25
- Jobs per resident
- 0.09
- People working in the area divided by people living there
- Rovaniemi: 0.45
Sectors
- Sonka20%28%52%
- Rovaniemi13%86%
- Finland20%77%
Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024
Change since 2010
The number of residents has fallen by 10% since 2014, while it has grown in Rovaniemi. The trend has turned recently: since 2021 the number has grown by 9%. Median income has risen by 49% since 2014, faster than in Rovaniemi (31%).
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.
Neighbouring areas
- Meltosjärvi95675 · YlitornioShow on the map
- Lampsijärvi95790 · PelloShow on the map
- Ylikylä - Patosaari96800 · Rovaniemi
- Muurola97140 · Rovaniemi
- Sinettä97220 · Rovaniemi
- Raanujärvi97250 · YlitornioShow on the map
- Tapio97280 · Rovaniemi
- Marraskoski97290 · Rovaniemi
- Marrasjärvi97320 · Rovaniemi
- Rattosjärvi97330 · PelloShow on the map
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).