From real estate sales, we see that people want to live outside the city. They do not want to give up the job and service opportunities in Tallinn. The commute to work or home should take up to 45 minutes.
Dago Antov, Emeritus Professor at Tallinn University of Technology, says that a new railway zone is emerging around Tallinn. People prefer nature and smaller communities. They want a quick connection to the capital.
Keila, Saue, and Rapla have become more popular in recent years. The Kloogaranna summer cottage area is also cheaper than Tallinn, but it has good rail connections.
Antov says that a railway zone is emerging around Tallinn. Many people use parking lots and trains because the parking lots are full in the morning.
Nordic cities have moved toward rail-connected regions. It is important to have good mobility options. Railways allow for quick movement and reduce car dependency.
Statistics from the Land and Space Department show that 54% of real estate transactions occurred outside Tallinn and Tartu. In Tallinn, a three-room apartment costs about 200,000 euros, while in Rapla it costs 80,000 euros.
According to Marek Kirjanen, a board member of the real estate agency Uus Maa, the 50-kilometer limit is important. Prices are much lower outside the city limits. Commuting from Rapla does not take much longer.
Human geographer Rivo Noorkõiv says that people’s movement to the suburbs of Tallinn will continue for at least another ten years. Tallinn’s role in the population is growing, but there is not much movement to rural areas because people want better services.