Söderhamn Municipality
24,163 residents · 71 km from Gävle
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About Söderhamn
Söderhamn is a municipality in Gävleborg County with 24,163 residents, 71 km from Gävle. The municipal tax rate is 21.7% (Sweden 20.9%). Median income for people aged 20–64 is SEK 369,500 (Sweden SEK 405,393). The average single-family house costs SEK 1.7 million (Sweden SEK 4.6 million). Unemployment is 3.4% (Sweden 3.1%). The average year 9 merit rating is 220.6 points (Sweden 224.1 points). The average temperature is 7.1 °C, with 13.7 °C in June and 2.2 °C in December.
Key figures
- Municipal tax rate 21.7%Sweden: 20.9%
- Merit rating, year 9 220.6 pointsSweden: 224.1 points
- Eligible for upper secondary school 73.3%Sweden: 83.9%
- Unemployment 3.4%Sweden: 3.1%
- Median income, age 20–64 SEK 369,500Sweden: SEK 405,393
- Feel safe outdoors at night 71.9%Sweden: 79.1%
- Population 24,163Sweden: 199,284
- Population change -1.6%Sweden: 0.2%
- Children per adult in preschool 5.5 children per adultSweden: 5.1 children per adult
- New businesses 9.3 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 11.4 per 1,000 residents
- Business bankruptcies 2.1 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 1.6 per 1,000 residents
- House price SEK 1.7 millionSweden: SEK 4.6 million
- Net migration -7 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 2.8 per 1,000 residents
- Job openings 2.4 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 4 per 1,000 residents
- Temperature June 13.7 °CDecember 2.2 °C
Source: Kolada, Statistics Sweden (SCB), Swedish Public Employment Service (Jobtech), SMHI. "Sweden" is Kommunlotsen's own population-weighted average across all municipalities, not an official national figure. The "highest" and "lowest" labels mark the 10 highest and lowest of Sweden's municipalities and are not judgements of quality. Sources and licences: open data page (in Swedish). Last updated 21 September 2026.
Origin
16.2% have a foreign background (Sweden 27.5%), 12.6% are foreign-born (Sweden 20.8%), 7.8% of all residents were born outside Europe (Sweden 11.9%).
The most common countries of birth among foreign-born residents.
- Syria 2% of residents
- Finland 1.3% of residents
- Somalia 1.3% of residents
- Eritrea 1.3% of residents
- Thailand 0.6% of residents
- Iraq 0.4% of residents
- Afghanistan 0.4% of residents
- Germany 0.4% of residents
- Ethiopia 0.3% of residents
- Poland 0.3% of residents
Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB). "Foreign background" adds the foreign-born to people born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents. "Born outside Europe" follows the UN's regional classification. Shares and the national figure are Kommunlotsen's own calculations from SCB data.
Housing & leisure
- Holiday homes 162.9 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 59.8 per 1,000 residents
- Holiday home price SEK 20,909/m²Sweden: SEK 35,616/m²
- Living space per resident 49 m²Sweden: 42 m²
Commuting
Share of employed residents who commute across the municipal border. A "bedroom community" sends at least 60% out and takes in under 50%; a "job hub" is the reverse; a "commuter hub" has at least 50% both ways.
People
- Average age 47.6 yearsSweden: 42.4 years
- Post-secondary education, age 25–44 33.1%Sweden: 50.7%
- Turnout in the municipal election 79%Sweden: 80.4%
Everyday life & connectivity
- Electric cars 23.3 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 40.7 per 1,000 residents
- Gigabit broadband coverage 96.5%Sweden: 98.5%
Frequently asked questions about Söderhamn
- How many people live in Söderhamn?
- Söderhamn has 24,163 residents, making it Sweden’s 109th largest municipality out of 290. It is in Gävleborg County.
- What is the municipal tax rate in Söderhamn?
- The municipal tax rate in Söderhamn is 21.7%, compared with 20.9% for Sweden as a whole.
- How much does a house cost in Söderhamn?
- The average single-family house in Söderhamn costs SEK 1.7 million, which is cheaper than the national average (Sweden SEK 4.6 million).
- How far is Söderhamn from Gävle?
- About 71 km in a straight line, to Gävle, the nearest of Sweden’s 30 largest cities.
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