City · Cataluña · All places
A big, industrial Catalan city in the hills behind Barcelona, with textile mills turned into museums and trains to the capital.
Terrassa is the third largest city in Catalonia after Barcelona and L'Hospitalet, in the Vallès Occidental just beyond the Collserola hills. It is not a suburb in the usual sense: it has its own old centre, its own hospitals, a university campus, its own football and hockey clubs and its own working week. Barcelona is a train ride away, and many residents commute there, but plenty do not.
It is a manufacturing and services city that grew up on wool and cotton. It is practical, a bit plain, and good value for a place so close to the capital. For anyone who wants Catalan daily life, family space and a job market in two cities at once, it works well. It does not work for anyone who wants a postcard.
The city has 233,270 residents (2025). Residents born abroad make up 21.3% (2025).
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
Fit for you
Neutral priorities. Pick who you are:
Working out your fit…
What the data says
Terrassa stands out for digital, housing and healthcare; it is weaker on connectivity and transport. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €623 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Terrassa’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
You will meet English speakers, mostly in the centre and at international employers. Shops, landlords and schools expect Spanish. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish or Catalan.
Catalan is an official language alongside Spanish. Expect it on signs, at the town hall and in state schools.
New leases cost about 18% more than what sitting tenants pay, so the averages you read understate what a newcomer will pay. Good flats go fast.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
People born abroad are in work less often than people born in Spain across Cataluña. Remote income or a job offer makes the move far easier.
Almost every home can get gigabit fibre, so working from home is not a gamble on the flat you pick.
Non-urgent surgery takes longer than in most of Spain (Cataluña-wide figure). Many residents add private health insurance.
Residents are younger than in most of Spain: more students, young families and evening life.
Catalan home cooking, calçots in season and a lunch menu in every neighbourhood.
Orderly, local and family-run, with Barcelona's rush hour on the trains and not in the streets.
Weekend bars around the old centre and the parks, with big-city nights taken in Barcelona.
The tidy centre, Vallparadís and the hillside Sant Pere, plus working-class Ca n'Anglada and Can Parellada.
Catalan and Spanish both common, with Catalan the language of schools and the town hall.
The Festa Major in early July, Jazz Terrassa and the Cavalcada de Reis in January.
Down-to-earth, associative and sporty, with a large long-standing immigrant population.
Terrassa has the feel of a self-sufficient Catalan city that does not need Barcelona to be interesting, even if it uses it. The centre is built around the Plaça Vella, the old square, and the Raval de Montserrat, with pedestrian streets and a good market. The Vallparadís park, a deep ravine running through the middle of the city, has the old stone mills, the Egara church complex and the shady paths where people run and walk dogs.
Evenings are local. People meet for a vermouth, a beer or dinner in the centre, then go home. For a big night out, many take the train to Barcelona, though there are concerts, a decent theatre and a long-running jazz festival each autumn. The city has strong sports clubs, especially in field hockey and rugby, and weekend morning matches are a ritual for families.
Beyond the centre, the city is a patchwork. Ca n'Anglada, built for workers in the sixties, is dense and multicultural. Sant Pere and the north-east are hillier and greener, with detached and semi-detached houses. The Sant Llorenç del Munt and l'Obac natural park rises directly behind, with trails to the monastery on La Mola, a short drive from the edge of the city.
Catalan is the language of the town hall and most schools, and it is what most people speak among themselves, though Spanish is universal and many families speak both. Food is plain Catalan: botifarra, escalivada, rice, and calçots in winter.
Terrassa was a textile town. From the nineteenth century, steam-powered wool mills filled the valley, and the city grew rich on cloth, building modernist factories and a downtown of merchants' houses. The best of these buildings are now preserved: the Vapor Aymerich mill houses the Catalan museum of science and technology, and several other mills have become offices, schools or flats.
Wool declined in the late twentieth century. The city replaced it with a mix of engineering, automotive suppliers, logistics, health services and education, and the Terrassa campus of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia feeds a steady flow of engineers into local firms and Barcelona. Immigration from southern Spain in the mid century and from abroad later gave the city its working-class, multicultural character. Jobs come out average, and unemployment is 9.9% (2025). Adults with a university degree make up 42% (2024), below what a big Catalan city might suggest.
Prices sit below the capital but not far below. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €623 a month (2024), and buying costs €2,272 per square metre (Q2 2026). Newly signed rents are higher than the average existing lease: about €765 a month a month (Q1 2026). Housing comes out above average.
The commute is the price of living here. Many people work in Barcelona, and the average commute is 47 min (2021). Mobility comes out below average, and car use is 62% of commuters of commuters (2021). The nearest major airport, at Barcelona, is 32 km away (2026). Recorded crime is 42.5 per 1,000 people (2024), and safety comes out average.
Figures for Terrassa itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Terrassa data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Digital is above average: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homes that can get gigabit internet: 99.6% — better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 69 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Homes that can get gigabit internetTerrassa · 2025 | 99.6% | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorTerrassa · 2025 | 99.4% | better than 73% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageTerrassa · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 43% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
House prices, change in a year: 9.94% — better than 80% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 62 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Terrassa · 2024 | 8.90 €/m² a month | better than 36% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearTerrassa · 2024 | 3.00% | better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Terrassa · 2026-Q2 | 2,272 €/m² | better than 52% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsTerrassa · 2024 | 4.17% | better than 76% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearTerrassa · 2026-Q2 | 9.94% | better than 80% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is around the middle: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 83.6 years — better than 60% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 60 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyTerrassa · 2023 | 83.6 years | better than 60% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is around the middle: in the top quarter of major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 111 days a year — better than 88% of major European cities
Average: 57 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)Terrassa · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 111 days a year | better than 88% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CTerrassa · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 3.20 days a year | better than 39% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CTerrassa · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 53.3 nights a year | better than 12% of major European cities |
Jobs is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 9.88% — better than 58% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 56 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentTerrassa · 2025 | 9.88% | better than 58% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearTerrassa · 2025 | -1.12 points | better than 52% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 16,051 € a year per person — better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 56 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Household income per personTerrassa · 2024 | 16,051 € a year per person | better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Thefts: 875 per 100k people — better than 74% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 48 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesTerrassa · 2025 | 1.29 per 100k people | better than 27% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeTerrassa · 2024 | 42.5 per 1,000 people | better than 72% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesTerrassa · 2025 | 134 per 100k people | better than 28% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesTerrassa · 2025 | 120 per 100k people | better than 47% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesTerrassa · 2024 | 0.53 per 1,000 people | better than 28% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsTerrassa · 2025 | 875 per 100k people | better than 74% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsTerrassa · 2025 | 78.4 per 100k people | better than 38% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Transport is below average: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Average commute (one way): 47.4 minutes — worse than 88% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 40 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Average commute (one way)Terrassa · 2021 | 47.4 minutes | better than 12% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carTerrassa · 2021 | 61.7% | better than 45% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportTerrassa · 2021 | 16.8% | better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 31.5 km — worse than 97% of major European cities
Weak: 3 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to the main airportTerrassa · 2026-10-21 | 31.5 km | better than 3% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Terrassa yet
Highs around 31° in July, lows around 4° in January. 111 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 53 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.1°C | 4.1°C | 37 mm |
| February | 14.8°C | 5.3°C | 28 mm |
| March | 16.8°C | 6.8°C | 49 mm |
| April | 19.2°C | 9.1°C | 59 mm |
| May | 23.3°C | 12.8°C | 44 mm |
| June | 27.5°C | 17.6°C | 40 mm |
| July | 31.1°C | 20.8°C | 28 mm |
| August | 30.8°C | 21.0°C | 40 mm |
| September | 26.5°C | 17.6°C | 63 mm |
| October | 22.4°C | 13.9°C | 77 mm |
| November | 17.3°C | 8.7°C | 68 mm |
| December | 14.5°C | 6.0°C | 32 mm |
Terrassa has a Mediterranean climate with a more continental edge than Barcelona, because it sits inland and in a basin. Summers are warm, with some hot afternoons and muggy nights, and winters are cool, with occasional frost and fog. Rain falls mostly in short, heavy bursts in autumn and spring.
Very hot days: 3 a year (2015–2024). Tropical nights are 53 a year (2015–2024). Frost days are 4 a year (2015–2024). Rainfall is 566 mm a year (2015–2024).
Pleasant days, mild and dry, number 111 a year (2015–2024). It is a year-round city, with the best weather in spring and autumn. Summer is a matter of fans or air conditioning, shade and evenings outside, and many flats in older blocks do not have cooling.
Lines start with Spain; switch the others on to compare.
59/100 · average · 51st of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
9.9% in 2025
9.9% in Q2 2026
€8.9 per m² a month in 2024
€2,273 per m² in Q2 2026
83.6 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Terrassa. Shown as context only: none of this changes a score.
Guides for the practical side of moving to Spain: residency, housing, healthcare, tax and schools. Where the rules or prices depend on where you live, the guide says so.
Is Spain right for you, when to go, and how to try it before you commit.
Visas, residence permits, the route that fits you, and keeping your status.
Budgeting the first year, banking, tax residency, income and social security.
Employment, remote work, self-employment, running a business and your rights at work.
Choosing where to live, renting safely, buying, and settling into a home.
Public and private care, health cover, and insurance for your life in Spain.
Family, children, and education
Partners, children, schools, childcare and studying in Spain.
Paperwork, identity numbers, belongings, pets, utilities and the first weeks.
Learning Spanish, understanding local life and building a social circle.
Routines, food, local customs, holidays, transport and getting around.
Scams, disputes, emergencies, your rights and where to get help.
Long-term settlement and leaving
Staying for good, long-term residence and citizenship, retiring, or returning home.
You will know where Spanish rentals are found, what they cost, how to time and run a search, and how to judge a flat before you commit.
You will know whether you need an NIE, which route to take and how to handle its paperwork.
Finding your public healthcare route
You will know which route applies to your situation and what, if anything, you have to do to start it.
Becoming a Spanish tax resident
You will know whether and from when Spain taxes you as a resident, and how to keep the evidence to back your position.
School types and choosing a school
You will know which stage your child is in, what each school type means in Spain, and how to shortlist schools that fit your family's stay and goals.
You will have a step-by-step way to pick a barrio in Spain and the tools to test it before signing.
Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
A solid cultural life for a city its size, with industrial heritage, a long-running jazz festival and local theatre, though Barcelona is where the big venues are.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
Jobs in engineering, health, logistics and services, with Barcelona's wider market on the train line. Social life is lower-key than in the capital.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Pleasant houses with gardens on the hillside, away from the centre, but few luxury services and no international school scene to speak of.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
The Terrassa campus of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia trains engineers and sits in the city, which is cheaper than Barcelona but still not inexpensive for rooms.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
A real city with hospitals and services, close to family in Barcelona, but a plain urban landscape, cold winter mornings and no sea.
Better nearby for retirees: Granollers (67), Sant Cugat del Vallès (63), Santa Coloma de Gramenet (61)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Good value for a three-bedroom flat, a wide choice of schools and parks, and a short train to Barcelona. Commutes and rising rents are the pressure points.
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Gigabit fibre almost everywhere, quieter streets than Barcelona and a city centre with places to work, with the capital an easy train ride away.
Better nearby for remote workers: Reus (70), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (67), Cornellà de Llobregat (66)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
A strong industrial, engineering and logistics base with business parks and a skilled workforce, and a short drive to the capital's clients and investors.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for founders and self-employed: Barcelona (68), Cornellà de Llobregat (67), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (67)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Cheaper than Barcelona, but not cheap: rents have risen and many jobs are modestly paid.
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Lleida (72), Reus (58)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
The Sant Llorenç del Munt park is a short drive away, with good walking and climbing, and the ravine park runs through the city. The sea is further.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Vilanova i la Geltrú (70), Mollet del Vallès (64), Granollers (63)
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Terrassa as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Terrassa; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €766 a month
Compare with Terrassa70 m²: €794 a month
Compare with Terrassa70 m²: €958 a month
Compare with Terrassa70 m²: €703 a month
Compare with Terrassa70 m²: €896 a month
Compare with Terrassa70 m²: €712 a month
Compare with TerrassaGuide written 2026-10-22. Figures are refreshed as new official data is published; the period beside each number says what it covers. “Our read” cards are our inferences from those figures. How we score
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.