Kuopio nearly matches Tampere in city attractiveness, say long-term residents

A new survey shows Kuopio has closed the gap with Tampere in urban appeal, with the eastern Finnish city scoring particularly high in community spirit and safety.

Tampere remains Finland’s most attractive city, according to the latest Vetovoima & pitovoima 2026 survey by Reputation and Trust Analytics. However, the margin between Tampere and second-place Kuopio has narrowed to its smallest ever, reports public broadcaster Yle.

For Ari and Tiina Luukkanen, who moved from Tampere to Kuopio over 40 years ago, the city’s growing appeal comes as no surprise. Ari relocated for work, while Tiina—who admits she “moved here in tears” and still considers herself a Tampere native—has grown to appreciate Kuopio’s compact size and natural surroundings.

“It’s easy to live here because everything is close. You can bike almost anywhere,” Ari Luukkanen said.

Kuopio’s high scores in community and safety reflect residents’ pride in the city, according to Kirsi Soininen, the city’s director of strategy and communications. She attributes the strong sense of security to Kuopio’s tight-knit social fabric.

“If Kuopio’s own residents don’t believe in their city, it’s hard for others to say otherwise,” Soininen noted.

The city’s 250th-anniversary celebrations in 2023 may have further boosted its image, she added, though competition for talent and investment remains fierce among Finnish municipalities.

“All cities are vying for the same people. Now we’ll see who succeeds,” Soininen said.