German rent tracks density and jobs — not crime, not clean air
Key finding: Across German housing-market districts, advertised rent and population density have a rank correlation of 0.47; rent and recorded crime have −0.11.
Question: what does a higher rent in Germany actually go together with?
Answer: density and size, and a labour market — not crime, and not dirty air. Across Germany's 399 housing-market districts, advertised rent ranks with population density at +0.47 and with district population at +0.37. It moves against unemployment at −0.28. And the two things people most often assume it prices in barely register: recorded crime at −0.11 and annual PM2.5 at −0.12.
None of these is an explanation. They are bivariate rank correlations between published values, and the characteristics are entangled with each other. What they can do is dismantle a few assumptions.
What we measured
The rent measure needs naming exactly, because it is not the number on a German tenant's existing lease. It is the BBSR Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen — the average advertised rent for re-letting an existing flat, drawn from property portals and newspaper listings, excluding new-build. It excludes utilities and operating charges, so it is not a total housing bill either. It is what somebody searching today is quoted.
That series is published to district level, and so is the German recorded-crime indicator used here — both are BBSR compilations. The 2,058 German city rows in the packet therefore carry only 399 distinct rent values: a median of four cities share one figure, and the largest district covers 27. Correlating city by city counts the same pair of numbers up to 27 times, inflating the apparent sample without adding a single independent observation. So every coefficient below is computed once per district, against the median of its member cities for the city-level characteristics.
That choice is not cosmetic. It changes two of the six results materially:
Germany is the only country in the packet with enough co-published rent, population, density, unemployment, crime, air-quality and foreign-share data to support this at scale. The other 42 rent rows in the file come from seven different national systems and are not used here.
The median district advertises €9/m² per month; the range runs from €6 to €21. Rents are dated 2024. The other characteristics are latest published values and are not synchronised to that year — a real limitation, stated again in the limits below.
What the data shows
Density is the clearest signal: +0.47 across 395 districts. District population follows at +0.37. Denser, larger places rank higher on advertised rent, which is neither surprising nor useless — it says the market tier a place belongs to is broadly legible from its size.
The figure carries the qualification the coefficient cannot. A positive rank correlation of 0.47 is a tendency, not a formula. Districts of comparable density sit several euros apart, and knowing a district's density will not tell you its rent.
The most interesting result is what does not appear. Recorded crime correlates with rent at −0.11 — close to nothing. Measured at city level the same underlying numbers give −0.26, more than twice as strong, purely because each district's single crime figure and single rent figure are repeated across its member cities. Both variables being district-level compilations makes this the worst case for that error, and correcting it removes most of the apparent relationship.
Annual PM2.5 behaves similarly: −0.12 across 392 districts, where a lower value means cleaner air. Expensive districts are not, on average, notably dirtier or notably cleaner.
Unemployment moves the other way from the submitted reading. At district grain it is −0.28 across 382 districts, nearly twice the city-level figure and the strongest negative association in the set. More expensive districts tend to have lower unemployment. That is the one "what rent prices in" candidate here with a real signal behind it, and it still does not establish direction: strong labour markets and expensive housing are two faces of the same regional economies.
Foreign-population share shows +0.47, but across only 120 districts — under a third of the sample. It is reported with its n rather than treated as a general result.
| Characteristic | City rows (as submitted) | Districts (correct) |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | +0.43 (n = 2,048) | +0.47 (n = 395) |
| Population | +0.30 (n = 2,058) | +0.37 (n = 399) |
| Recorded crime per 100k | −0.26 (n = 2,058) | −0.11 (n = 399) |
| Unemployment rate | −0.16 (n = 1,152) | −0.28 (n = 382) |
| Annual PM2.5 | −0.14 (n = 1,797) | −0.12 (n = 392) |
| Foreign-population share | +0.46 (n = 133) | +0.47 (n = 120) |
Hover, focus, or tap a mark to inspect its exact values.
Use Arrow keys to move between marks. Home/End jump to the first/last mark. Page Up/Page Down move by 10 marks. Tab exits the chart. On small screens, swipe horizontally across the chart. Exact values are listed below.
View exact figure values
Figure conclusion: What advertised rent moves with, once each district counts once. Density and size rank with it; crime and air quality barely register.
| Mark | Group | Value | Unit | Sample/note | Exact detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | Population density | 0.47 | coefficient | 395 districts | Population density; Group: Population density; Value: 0.47 coefficient; 395 districts |
| Foreign-population share | Foreign-population share | 0.46 | coefficient | 124 districts | Foreign-population share; Group: Foreign-population share; Value: 0.46 coefficient; 124 districts |
| District population | District population | 0.37 | coefficient | 399 districts | District population; Group: District population; Value: 0.37 coefficient; 399 districts |
| Recorded crime | Recorded crime | -0.11 | coefficient | 397 districts | Recorded crime; Group: Recorded crime; Value: -0.11 coefficient; 397 districts |
| Annual PM2.5 | Annual PM2.5 | -0.12 | coefficient | 397 districts | Annual PM2.5; Group: Annual PM2.5; Value: -0.12 coefficient; 397 districts |
| Unemployment rate | Unemployment rate | -0.2 | coefficient | 399 districts | Unemployment rate; Group: Unemployment rate; Value: -0.2 coefficient; 399 districts |
Hover, focus, or tap a mark to inspect its exact values.
Use Arrow keys to move between marks. Home/End jump to the first/last mark. Page Up/Page Down move by 10 marks. Tab exits the chart. On small screens, swipe horizontally across the chart. Exact values are listed below.
View exact figure values
Figure conclusion: Rent against population density, one point per district. The slope is positive and the scatter is wide.
- Mark 1; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 869.907621; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 2; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 248.452473; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 3; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 339.4317495; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 4; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 91.84283099999999; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 5; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 134.00961; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 6; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 97.75141049999999; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 7; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 387.575883; Rent (€/m²/month): 15
- Mark 8; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 402.377466; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 9; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 315.227538; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 10; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 166.437465; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 11; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 659.69779; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 12; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 94.945384; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 13; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 284.0982365; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 14; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 183.667084; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 15; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 116.1643655; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 16; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 256.8055415; Rent (€/m²/month): 16
- Mark 17; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 605.273994; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 18; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 294.8850615; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 19; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 577.006858; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 20; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 236.346633; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 21; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 946.1736; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 22; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 856.810631; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 23; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 720.414201; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 24; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1672.816465; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 25; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 209.6579905; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 26; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 473.18661499999996; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 27; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 595.776173; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 28; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 195.51523550000002; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 29; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 707.170199; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 30; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 82.3505855; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 31; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 477.642886; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 32; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 106.072316; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 33; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 304.827947; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 34; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 82.89800650000001; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 35; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 217.2160515; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 36; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 144.216913; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 37; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 103.959746; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 38; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 203.571905; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 39; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 140.0895365; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 40; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 49.25262; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 41; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 253.06181; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 42; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 76.758724; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 43; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 648.101059; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 44; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 182.54091; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 45; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 628.256013; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 46; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 108.138557; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 47; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 113.637416; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 48; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 134.532374; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 49; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 941.5280339999999; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 50; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 291.78447900000003; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 51; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 187.138303; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 52; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 900.4930615000001; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 53; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 919.7644295; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 54; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1339.8752559999998; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 55; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1849.743132; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 56; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 71.2347795; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 57; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 247.3346245; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 58; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1173.36059; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 59; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 162.701771; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 60; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 82.793639; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 61; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 110.132853; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 62; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 157.0664975; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 63; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 201.875382; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 64; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 213.811421; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 65; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 679.684211; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 66; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 346.359599; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 67; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 126.690821; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 68; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 127.392017; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 69; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 247.851755; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 70; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1172.355857; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 71; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 201.0060555; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 72; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 73.388029; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 73; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 395.650768; Rent (€/m²/month): 16
- Mark 74; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 98.87727; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 75; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 518.259936; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 76; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 471.729898; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 77; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 45.169401; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 78; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 106.77774; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 79; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 826.941363; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 80; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 436.117608; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 81; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 106.15011150000001; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 82; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 228.86821; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 83; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 318.7138985; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 84; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 293.90545; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 85; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 400.3899; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 86; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 471.769901; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 87; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 84.3340595; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 88; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 109.1298255; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 89; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 239.008285; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 90; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 284.14194799999996; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 91; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1312.724442; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 92; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1713.202056; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 93; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 187.307645; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 94; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 40.642871; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 95; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 563.0417705; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 96; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 694.081381; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 97; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 41.070629; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 98; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 346.635858; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 99; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1008.090226; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 100; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 282.257049; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 101; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 223.8265715; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 102; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 582.936268; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 103; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1427.380737; Rent (€/m²/month): 16
- Mark 104; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 447.49647799999997; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 105; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 263.58833549999997; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 106; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 176.6757875; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 107; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2149.770225; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 108; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 56.118649; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 109; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 104.0933795; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 110; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 177.662722; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 111; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 242.66454399999998; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 112; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 248.784993; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 113; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 836.7500015; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 114; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 113.5407425; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 115; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 323.4677405; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 116; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 297.4489095; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 117; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 387.704638; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 118; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 324.8778175; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 119; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 127.29490100000001; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 120; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 708.878037; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 121; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 42.042048; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 122; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 208.66575; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 123; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 62.822532; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 124; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 294.964111; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 125; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 931.771804; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 126; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 658.244681; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 127; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 467.57889950000003; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 128; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 170.268383; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 129; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 302.9031225; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 130; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 81.924002; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 131; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 124.98058900000001; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 132; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 86.570841; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 133; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 320.920985; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 134; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 72.424263; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 135; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 111.1314615; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 136; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1111.242818; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 137; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 589.128397; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 138; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 230.079394; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 139; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 89.2576955; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 140; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 203.466724; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 141; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 798.4974685; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 142; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 177.0473285; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 143; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 113.095835; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 144; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 289.256981; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 145; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 179.498525; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 146; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 75.751503; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 147; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 176.46882; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 148; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 97.639936; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 149; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 351.425287; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 150; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 593.846154; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 151; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 83.631544; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 152; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 81.415718; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 153; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 157.875895; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 154; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 442.071146; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 155; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 548.7242215; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 156; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 209.140557; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 157; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 127.287677; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 158; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 469.690105; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 159; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 83.684211; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 160; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 209.532648; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 161; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 72.825683; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 162; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 422.574455; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 163; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 366.573816; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 164; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 194.060732; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 165; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 208.613394; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 166; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 57.656109; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 167; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 58.459607; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 168; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 141.932258; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 169; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 148.775164; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 170; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 309.464285; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 171; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2050.425604; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 172; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 289.059077; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 173; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 390.011099; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 174; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 487.4852035; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 175; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1120.293848; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 176; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 160.8253365; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 177; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 722.540923; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 178; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 213.155812; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 179; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1753.734551; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 180; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 321.8012945; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 181; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 213.85551; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 182; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 303.7112665; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 183; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 154.982383; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 184; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 313.337211; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 185; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 226.24600400000003; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 186; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 177.9285265; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 187; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 228.3193045; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 188; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1521; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 189; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 115.56317150000001; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 190; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 457.04142; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 191; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1077.225653; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 192; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 99.444976; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 193; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 96.471936; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 194; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 47.092211; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 195; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 251.287431; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 196; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1097.082954; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 197; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 235.66095; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 198; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 98.639876; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 199; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 120.851755; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 200; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 204.514242; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 201; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 261.318681; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 202; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 194.43688; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 203; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 243.820439; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 204; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 312.320271; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 205; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 746.187135; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 206; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1186.562792; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 207; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 112.049158; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 208; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 836.567974; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 209; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 151.841029; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 210; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 67.497716; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 211; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 329.438742; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 212; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 137.56045; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 213; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 227.340724; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 214; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 171.760797; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 215; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 247.7065235; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 216; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1108.205625; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 217; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 975.039746; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 218; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1056.788618; Rent (€/m²/month): 14
- Mark 219; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 592.823976; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 220; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1019.041693; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 221; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 115.286104; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 222; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1281.169107; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 223; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 275.783476; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 224; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 436.259542; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 225; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 149.956052; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 226; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 246.82376250000002; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 227; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 310.976073; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 228; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 66.441441; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 229; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2129.52381; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 230; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 736.7843359999999; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 231; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 601.445373; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 232; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 464.600519; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 233; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 656.530214; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 234; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 127.96989549999999; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 235; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 159.548374; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 236; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 196.834182; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 237; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 440.746224; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 238; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 99.686455; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 239; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 184.299065; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 240; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 90.4628835; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 241; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 108.354702; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 242; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 72.6488265; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 243; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 242.57285; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 244; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 172.355126; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 245; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 508.966821; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 246; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 348.442714; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 247; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 135.9669055; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 248; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 414.45257399999997; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 249; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 53.6009625; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 250; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 297.28142; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 251; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1154.247876; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 252; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 83.5932675; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 253; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 325.404353; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 254; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 86.910533; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 255; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 169.143383; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 256; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 363.660893; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 257; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 897.7887435; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 258; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 268.983242; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 259; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 102.67009; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 260; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 211.834238; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 261; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 97.48868; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 262; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 525.6347135000001; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 263; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1782.089724; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 264; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 380.573634; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 265; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 163.841013; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 266; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 630.323777; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 267; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 44.364636; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 268; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 107.947993; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 269; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 199.403309; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 270; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 61.281491; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 271; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1211.468663; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 272; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 219.3917795; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 273; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 110.55261899999999; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 274; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 178.085633; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 275; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 505.302245; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 276; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 183.93795699999998; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 277; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 467.614041; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 278; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2732.157459; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 279; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 762.188168; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 280; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 98.329654; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 281; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 430.60641999999996; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 282; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1797.439985; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 283; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 762.492812; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 284; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1348.340961; Rent (€/m²/month): 15
- Mark 285; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1016.413875; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 286; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 94.1308665; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 287; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2054.566823; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 288; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1412.486269; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 289; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 880.1960965000001; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 290; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1144.51138; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 291; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1697.972854; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 292; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1551.620491; Rent (€/m²/month): 14
- Mark 293; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 718.869005; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 294; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1506.340956; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 295; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 278.969521; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 296; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1679.532588; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 297; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 140.00817899999998; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 298; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1416.834257; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 299; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 385.466741; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 300; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 155.201958; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 301; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1114; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 302; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 133.965016; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 303; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1012.600962; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 304; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 407.787008; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 305; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 806; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 306; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 231.146107; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 307; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 470.9783285; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 308; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 244.915972; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 309; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 367.971724; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 310; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1091.645147; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 311; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 632.5809174999999; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 312; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 177.540107; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 313; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2292.187722; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 314; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 386.249577; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 315; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1526.078431; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 316; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1058.755156; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 317; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1567.507479; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 318; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 133.893894; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 319; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 593.8424225; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 320; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 224.070812; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 321; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 322.60915; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 322; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 794.806342; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 323; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1431.186254; Rent (€/m²/month): 14
- Mark 324; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1000.857843; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 325; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 400.24308; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 326; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 405.742207; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 327; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 305.204245; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 328; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 131.157495; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 329; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 797.875471; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 330; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 217.783401; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 331; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 504.3355505; Rent (€/m²/month): 14
- Mark 332; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 581.251507; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 333; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1846.895777; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 334; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 377.90884800000003; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 335; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 34.296761; Rent (€/m²/month): 6
- Mark 336; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2288.80279; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 337; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 133.322194; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 338; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 115.289204; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 339; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1386.118531; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 340; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 305.290536; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 341; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 848.683686; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 342; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 633.173688; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 343; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 724.988904; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 344; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2157.146538; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 345; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 229.3604885; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 346; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 437.974007; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 347; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 304.114671; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 348; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 155.85264; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 349; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 891.354861; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 350; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 452.173542; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 351; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1267.2343375; Rent (€/m²/month): 18
- Mark 352; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 981.481088; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 353; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1321.313445; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 354; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 105.421982; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 355; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1895.815074; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 356; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1376.79355; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 357; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 343.7051065; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 358; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1264.903487; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 359; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2299.027934; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 360; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2771.384097; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 361; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 956.04252; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 362; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1368.305071; Rent (€/m²/month): 14
- Mark 363; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 4135.542912; Rent (€/m²/month): 17
- Mark 364; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 574.379566; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 365; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 3044.665942; Rent (€/m²/month): 16
- Mark 366; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1719.751583; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 367; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1131.916419; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 368; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2553.173242; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 369; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 196.413536; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 370; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1303.538831; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 371; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1160.47764; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 372; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 764.887831; Rent (€/m²/month): 10
- Mark 373; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2127.163133; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 374; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1178.163204; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 375; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2193.798717; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 376; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 810.614649; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 377; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 780.797916; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 378; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1090.447003; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 379; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 753.202574; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 380; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 850.362394; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 381; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1872.235963; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 382; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 3030.941268; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 383; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2955.013746; Rent (€/m²/month): 15
- Mark 384; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 425.458945; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 385; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 235.841695; Rent (€/m²/month): 9
- Mark 386; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1094.388271; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 387; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2462.419333; Rent (€/m²/month): 8
- Mark 388; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1527.482555; Rent (€/m²/month): 7
- Mark 389; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2137.454038; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 390; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1170.392314; Rent (€/m²/month): 12
- Mark 391; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2845.706269; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 392; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2840.098691; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
- Mark 393; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2957.798574; Rent (€/m²/month): 13
- Mark 394; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 2466.679469; Rent (€/m²/month): 14
- Mark 395; Group: All observations; Density (people/km²): 1068.97914; Rent (€/m²/month): 11
| Rent | vs median | Unemployment | PM2.5 | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €21/m² | 133% | 5.6% | 7.9 µg/m³ | Munich |
| €18/m² | 100% | 6.7% | 7.0 µg/m³ | Unterschleißheim, Garching b.München |
| €17/m² | 89% | 10.2% | 11.3 µg/m³ | Berlin |
| €16/m² | 78% | 3.5% | 8.0 µg/m³ | Miesbach, Tegernsee |
| €16/m² | 78% | 5.3% | 6.0 µg/m³ | Starnberg |
| €16/m² | 78% | 5.6% | 9.0 µg/m³ | Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germering, Puchheim |
| Rent | vs median | Unemployment | PM2.5 | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €6/m² | -33% | 5.4% | 9.0 µg/m³ | Hartenstein, Glauchau, Zwickau |
| €6/m² | -33% | 8.9% | 9.8 µg/m³ | Reichenbach/O.L., Rothenburg/O.L., Zittau |
| €6/m² | -33% | 7.4% | 9.0 µg/m³ | Laucha an der Unstrut, Lützen, Hohenmölsen |
| €6/m² | -33% | 8.3% | 8.0 µg/m³ | Seeland, Calbe (Saale), Alsleben (Saale) |
| €6/m² | -33% | 7.6% | 8.4 µg/m³ | Gera |
| €6/m² | -33% | 10.2% | 8.0 µg/m³ | Allstedt, Kelbra (Kyffhäuser), Hettstedt |
Where it breaks down
The national median is a better tool for a named place than any coefficient. Against the €9 district median:
The Munich district advertises €21/m², 133% above the median, at 7.9 µg/m³ of PM2.5. Berlin advertises €17/m², 89% above, at 11.3 µg/m³. Frankfurt am Main and Hamburg sit between them. Berlin's air reading is markedly worse than Munich's while its rent is markedly lower — whatever separates these two markets, air quality is not it.
At the other end, districts advertising €6/m² — a third below the median — are concentrated in eastern Germany and in thinly populated western districts. Places like Gera and Görlitz sit in this band. Their low rents come with the profile the coefficients predict: low density, small population, and — reliably — higher unemployment than the expensive districts.
Two cautions about these tables. The published values are whole euros, so many districts tie at €6, €7 or €8, and the ordering within a tie carries no information. And every city inside a district shares its figure, so a table row describes a market area, not a town.
What this means if you are moving
Use density and size to place a market, not to price it. They tell you which tier a district belongs to; they will not tell you what a flat costs.
Do not read rent as a safety or air-quality signal in either direction. At −0.11 and −0.12 those relationships are effectively absent at the grain the data is published at, and the stronger-looking city-level versions are an artefact of repeated values. If safety or air quality matters to you, read those series directly for the place you are considering.
Take the unemployment relationship seriously as context rather than as a rule. Cheaper districts do tend to have weaker labour markets, and a low advertised rent in a district with high unemployment is describing a coherent regional situation, not a bargain that others have missed.
Finally, remember what the number is. Advertised re-letting rent excludes utilities, heating and operating charges, and it describes what is on the market rather than what sitting tenants pay. Check the city's own Mietspiegel where one exists — in the largest cities the two differ by a factor approaching two.
Limits
Every coefficient is bivariate. Density, size, unemployment, crime and air quality are correlated with one another, and nothing here isolates an independent effect. There is no regression, no adjustment, no effect size in euros.
The grain is a housing-market district. Neighbourhood variation is invisible, and so is variation between the towns inside one district. A district-level correlation need not hold at street level.
Coverage is uneven: foreign share pairs with only 120 districts, unemployment with 382, PM2.5 with 392, against 399 for population and crime. Missing values are not zeroes, and the characteristics are not observed in the same year as the 2024 rents.
The rent measure is advertised, charges-excluded and rounded to whole euros. It is not total housing cost, not the rent of an existing tenancy, and not a guarantee that any dwelling is available at that price.
Recorded crime depends on reporting and classification practice and is not a measure of personal risk. Annual PM2.5 is a background mean, not exposure at an address.
Method
The analysis uses the 2,058 German cities that carry the BBSR advertised-rent series and collapses them to their 399 distinct districts before any coefficient is computed. Each district contributes its published rent once; for the city-level characteristics — density, population, crime, PM2.5, unemployment, foreign share — it contributes the median of its member cities' values. Districts are weighted equally.
Spearman's rank correlation is used throughout, because the distributions are skewed, the rent values are tied at whole euros, and the question is about ordering rather than about euros per unit. Each coefficient is reported with the number of districts behind it, which varies by characteristic according to coverage.
The city-level figures shown for comparison in the "What we measured" section use exactly the same data without the district collapse, and are reported only to show the size of the distortion. They are not used for any conclusion.
The median district rent is €9/m² per month. The two tables rank districts by percentage distance from that median, calculated as (district rent / median rent − 1) × 100. Distance from the median is not a claim about over- or under-pricing, and no multivariable residual was estimated.
FAQ
What is most closely associated with rent in Germany?
Population density, at Spearman +0.47 across 395 housing-market districts, followed by district population at +0.37 across 399. Both are bivariate rank correlations: they show which districts sit high on both measures, not how many euros density adds.
Do more expensive German places have more recorded crime?
Barely a relationship either way. At the grain both figures are actually published at — the district — rent and recorded crime correlate at −0.11 across 399 districts. Measured city by city the same data gives −0.26, but that counts each district's single rent and crime value up to 27 times.
Does rent track the job market?
More than it tracks crime. Rent and the unemployment rate correlate at −0.28 across 382 districts: more expensive districts tend to have lower unemployment. It is the strongest negative relationship in the set and it does not establish that either causes the other.
Why does this article show €21 for Munich when the Munich page shows €15.38?
They are different measures. This article uses BBSR advertised re-letting rents, which give the Munich district €21/m² per month for 2024. The city page shows the official Mietspiegel reference rent of €15.38/m², which covers existing tenancies rather than new listings.
Why is the analysis reported for districts rather than cities?
Because that is the grain the data is published at. Both the rent series and the German crime indicator come from BBSR compilations produced to district level, so 2,058 city rows carry only 399 distinct values — a median of four cities share each one.
Sources
- BBSR — Laufende Raumbeobachtung, Wohnungsmarktbeobachtung (IDN ImmoDaten GmbH). INKAR indicator "Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen (Angebotsmieten)", district level, 2024 Source grade: C; last checked: 2026-07-16.
- BBSR; Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik. All recorded offences per 100,000 residents, BBSR/PKS district indicator Source grade: A; last checked: 2026-07-16.
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA). Arbeitslosenquoten — Länder, Kreise und Gemeinden, 2024 annual average Source grade: A; last checked: 2026-07-26.
- Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) and the statistical offices of the Länder. Zensus 2022 regional tables — municipalities Source grade: A; last checked: 2026-08-03.
- Umweltbundesamt (UBA). Air Data — 2024 PM2.5 station measurements Source grade: A; last checked: 2026-07-27.
- European Environment Agency. EEA air quality statistics — DE PM2.5 annual mean 2024 Source grade: A; last checked: 2026-07-31.
- Mietspiegel Berlin. Berliner Mietspiegel — reference rent Source grade: A; last checked: 2026-07-26.
- Landeshauptstadt München. Münchner Mietspiegel Source grade: A; last checked: 2026-07-26.
- Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg. Hamburger Mietenspiegel Source grade: A; last checked: 2026-07-26.