Vaasa

Region of Pohjanmaa · 15 postal code areas

In brief

Vaasa has 70,361 residents in 15 postal code areas. The number of residents has grown by 5% since 2014, at the same pace as in Finland. Young adults stand out: 30% of residents are aged 16 to 34 (Finland: 23%).

An old one-bedroom flat sells for €1,997 per m² on average, 20% less than in Finland. Between postal code areas the price ranges from €727 (Ristinummi) to €2,496 (Vaasa Keskus). The price per m² has risen by 2% since 2020. 54% of households own their home and 45% rent (Finland: 38% rent).

The median disposable monetary income of residents is €25,231 a year, about €2,103 a month: 4% lower than in Finland. Between postal code areas the median income ranges from €19,982 (Palosaari) to €36,172 (Vaskiluoto). 9% of the labour force is unemployed, less than in Finland (12%). Vaasa has 39,893 jobs; the largest industry is manufacturing (22%). Its share is clearly higher than in Finland (12%).

Highs and lows

Price per m², 1 bedroom
Highest price per m², 1 bedroomVaasa Keskus€2,496 Lowest price per m², 1 bedroomRistinummi€727
Median disposable income
Highest median incomeVaskiluoto€36,172 Lowest median incomePalosaari€19,982
Households renting
Most households rentingPalosaari67%Fewest households rentingVedenoja1%
Aged 16 to 34
Most residents aged 16 to 34Palosaari47%Fewest residents aged 16 to 34Vedenoja12%

Key figures

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

Price per m², 1 bedroom: €1,997; +1.6% since 2020; 2025 Q3–2026 Q2; Finland€2,502

Rent per m², 1 bedroom: €14.15; a month; Finland€16.12

Residents: 70,361; +5.1% since 2014; Mean age42.0

Disposable monetary income, median: €25,231; +22.6% since 2014; a year, about €2,103 a month; Finland€26,351

Households renting: 45%; of 36,850 households; Finland38%

University or college degree: 38%; of residents aged 18 or over; Finland36%

Postal code areas

Colour by

€935€1,146€1,847

Vaasa · Price per m², 1 bedroom

€1,997

* Hatched: figure from a larger area


65100Vaasa Keskus	€2,496	€15.50	€22,408	64%	20,467
65130Hietalahti	€2,280*	€13.46	–	–	0
65170Vaskiluoto	€2,749*	€15.50	€36,172	19%	230
65200Palosaari	€1,847	€13.46	€19,982	67%	6,350
65230Vetokannas	€1,146	€13.46	€28,072	33%	5,606
65280Gerby	€2,280*	€13.46	€31,033	18%	6,998
65300Asevelikylä	€2,749*	€15.50	€32,875	12%	5,695
65320Huutoniemi	€1,268	€13.46	€26,613	32%	6,042
65350Suvilahti	€1,039	€13.46	€25,107	46%	3,866
65370Ristinummi	€727	€13.46	€22,718	44%	4,440
65380Vanha Vaasa	€935	€13.46	€26,098	33%	3,378
65410Sundom	€2,280*	€13.46	€31,683	6%	2,637
66430Vedenoja	€2,280*	€13.46	€27,856	1%	167
66500Vähäkyrö Keskus	€2,280*	€13.46	€26,545	17%	2,039
66510Merikaarto	€2,280*	€13.46	€28,267	7%	1,145

Housing costs

An old one-bedroom flat sells for €1,997 per m² on average, 20% less than in Finland. The price per m² has risen 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	€2,552	€19.03	11.2	176
1 bedroom	€1,997	€14.15	11.8	295
2+ bedrooms	€1,835	€12.99	11.8	284
All sizes	€2,006	€14.55	11.5	755

Maintenance charge: €4.55; Average per m² a month, Finland outside Greater Helsinki, 2025
Gross rental yield: 8.5%; 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 3.4 times as much per m² as in the cheapest. The highest median income is about 1.8 times the lowest.

Price per m², 1 bedroom
€727Ristinummi
Vaasa €1,997
€2,496Vaasa Keskus
€727Ristinummi€2,496Vaasa Keskus
Median disposable income
€19,982Palosaari
Vaasa €25,231
€36,172Vaskiluoto
€19,982Palosaari€36,172Vaskiluoto
Households renting
1%Vedenoja
Vaasa 45%
67%Palosaari
1%Vedenoja67%Palosaari
Aged 16 to 34
12%Vedenoja
Vaasa 30%
47%Palosaari
12%Vedenoja47%Palosaari
Aged 65 or over
12%Asevelikylä
Vaasa 21%
31%Vähäkyrö Keskus
12%Asevelikylä31%Vähäkyrö Keskus
Families with children
9%Vaasa Keskus
Vaasa 18%
41%Asevelikylä
9%Vaasa Keskus41%Asevelikylä
University or college degree
21%Ristinummi
Vaasa 38%
58%Vaskiluoto
21%Ristinummi58%Vaskiluoto
Unemployment
2%Vaskiluoto
Vaasa 9%
17%Ristinummi
2%Vaskiluoto17%Ristinummi
Average home size
55.8 m²Palosaari
Vaasa 73.8 m²
120.8 m²Sundom
55.8 m²Palosaari120.8 m²Sundom

Residents

Age

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

VaasaFinland

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

Main activity

Pensioners make up 22% of residents, less than in Finland (26%).

Vaasa46%11%22%14%
Finland43%26%15%

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

Mean age: 42.0; Finland: 44.0
Unemployed, share of the labour force: 9%; Finland: 12%
Household size: 1.9; Finland: 1.9
Floor area per person: 40.3 m²; Finland: 41.6 m²

Households and homes

Tenure

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

Vaasa54%45%
Finland61%38%

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

Dwellings

64% of homes are in blocks of flats and 34% in detached, semi-detached or terraced houses. Homes are smaller on average than in Finland (73.8 m² compared with 78.5 m²).

Vaasa64%34%
Finland48%50%

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

Household types

49% of households are people living alone and 18% are families with children.

VaasaFinland

Living alone49%, Finland 47%
Living alone, under 3521%, Finland 13%
Couple under 35, no children6%, Finland 4%
With children18%, Finland 20%
With a child under 34%, Finland 4%
Single parent4%, Finland 4%
All members aged 18–6454%, Finland 48%
At least one member 65 or over27%, Finland 33%

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

Average dwelling size: 73.8 m²; Finland: 78.5 m²
Dwellings: 42,109
Summer cottages: 1,851

Education and income

Highest qualification

38% of adults have a university or college degree, more than in Finland (36%).

Vaasa20%11%31%24%14%
Finland22%36%22%13%

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

Income groups

23% of adults are in Finland's lowest-earning fifth and 18% in the highest, close to 20% each.

Vaasa23%60%18%
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: €25,231; a year, about €2,103 a month; Finland: €26,351
Households' disposable monetary income, median: €34,619; a year, about €2,885 a month; Finland: €37,777
University or college degree: 38%; Finland: 36%

Jobs

Vaasa has 39,893 jobs; the largest industry is manufacturing (22%). Its share is clearly higher than in Finland (12%).

Largest industries

VaasaFinland

Manufacturing22%, Finland 12%
Health and social work19%, Finland 19%
Wholesale and retail trade8%, Finland 11%
Education8%, Finland 7%
Administrative and support services7%, Finland 7%
Public administration and defence6%, Finland 5%

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

Jobs located here: 39,893
Jobs per resident: 0.57; People working in the area divided by people living there; Finland: 0.43

Sectors

Vaasa28%72%
Finland20%77%

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo, statistics year 2024

Change since 2010

The number of residents has grown by 5% since 2014, at the same pace as in Finland. Median income has risen by 23% since 2014, slower than in Finland (28%).

Residents

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

Disposable monetary income, medianVaasaFinland

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).