Vara Municipality
16,011 residents · 39 km from Trollhättan
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About Vara
Vara is a municipality in Västra Götaland County with 16,011 residents, 39 km from Trollhättan. The municipal tax rate is 21.8% (Sweden 20.9%). Median income for people aged 20–64 is SEK 375,600 (Sweden SEK 405,393). The average single-family house costs SEK 1.5 million (Sweden SEK 4.6 million). Unemployment is 2.2% (Sweden 3.1%). The average year 9 merit rating is 203.6 points (Sweden 224.1 points). The average temperature is 8.5 °C, with 14.6 °C in June and 3.7 °C in December.
Key figures
- Municipal tax rate 21.8%Sweden: 20.9%
- Merit rating, year 9 203.6 pointsSweden: 224.1 points
- Eligible for upper secondary school 77.5%Sweden: 83.9%
- Unemployment 2.2%Sweden: 3.1%
- Median income, age 20–64 SEK 375,600Sweden: SEK 405,393
- Feel safe outdoors at night 83.7%Sweden: 79.1%
- Population 16,011Sweden: 199,284
- Population change -0.5%Sweden: 0.2%
- Children per adult in preschool 5.1 children per adultSweden: 5.1 children per adult
- New businesses 9.7 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 11.4 per 1,000 residents
- Business bankruptcies 1 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 1.6 per 1,000 residents
- House price SEK 1.5 millionSweden: SEK 4.6 million
- Net migration 3.7 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 2.8 per 1,000 residents
- Job openings 2.8 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 4 per 1,000 residents
- Temperature June 14.6 °CDecember 3.7 °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
14.9% have a foreign background (Sweden 27.5%), 12.2% are foreign-born (Sweden 20.8%), 4.3% of all residents were born outside Europe (Sweden 11.9%).
The most common countries of birth among foreign-born residents.
- Romania 1.4% of residents
- Syria 1% of residents
- Poland 0.9% of residents
- Finland 0.8% of residents
- Lithuania 0.7% of residents
- Thailand 0.6% of residents
- Norway 0.5% of residents
- Afghanistan 0.5% of residents
- Germany 0.4% of residents
- Bosnia & Herzegovina 0.4% 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 43.9 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 59.8 per 1,000 residents
- Holiday home price SEK 8,781/m²Sweden: SEK 35,616/m²
- Living space per resident 51 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 44.9 yearsSweden: 42.4 years
- Post-secondary education, age 25–44 30.1%Sweden: 50.7%
- Turnout in the municipal election 82%Sweden: 80.4%
Everyday life & connectivity
- Electric cars 36.5 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 40.7 per 1,000 residents
- Gigabit broadband coverage 99.4%Sweden: 98.5%
Frequently asked questions about Vara
- How many people live in Vara?
- Vara has 16,011 residents, making it Sweden’s 150th largest municipality out of 290. It is in Västra Götaland County.
- What is the municipal tax rate in Vara?
- The municipal tax rate in Vara is 21.8%, compared with 20.9% for Sweden as a whole.
- How much does a house cost in Vara?
- The average single-family house in Vara costs SEK 1.5 million, which is cheaper than the national average (Sweden SEK 4.6 million).
- How far is Vara from Trollhättan?
- About 39 km in a straight line, to Trollhättan, the nearest of Sweden’s 30 largest cities.
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