City · Comunidad de Madrid · All places
A large, safe, fast-grown commuter city east of Madrid, built around an air base and a huge Christmas show.
Torrejón de Ardoz is a city of the Madrid commuter belt, about twenty kilometres east of the capital, on the plain of the Henares valley. For most of its history it was a farming village. It was transformed in the second half of the twentieth century by a large air base and by the wave of people leaving the countryside for Madrid.
Today it is a large, young, practical city of apartment blocks, parks and motorways, with the Spanish air force still on the base and Barajas airport close by. It is not a destination. It is a very good base for families and workers who want space, safety and a quick link to Madrid.
The city has 143,526 residents (2025), and residents born abroad make up 25.7% (2025). It suits families, commuters and small-business owners, and suits people who want nightlife and culture much less.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Torrejón de Ardoz stands out for healthcare, digital and jobs. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €645 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Torrejón de Ardoz’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
A large international and graduate population means English is common at work, in cafés and among neighbours. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
Frosty nights are common. Many older Spanish flats are poorly insulated: ask about heating and the winter energy bill.
Almost every home can get gigabit fibre, so working from home is not a gamble on the flat you pick.
Residents are younger than in most of Spain: more students, young families and evening life.
Bars with raciones and set lunches, and a wide mix of Latin American, Moroccan and Romanian places.
Early and practical, with the day organised around the train, school and the commute.
Most nights out happen in Madrid, with local terraces and a modest bar scene in the old centre.
A small old centre and large planned districts like Soto del Henares, mostly apartment blocks and parks.
Spanish throughout, with a multilingual street from the large foreign-born community.
Fiestas in August, and a Christmas programme big enough to draw crowds from across Madrid.
Families, commuters, air-force and defence staff, and a large community from Latin America and eastern Europe.
Torrejón is a city that gets up early. In the morning the station and the bus stops fill, in the afternoon the parks fill with children, and in the evening the terraces of the old centre take over for an hour or two. The Plaza Mayor and the streets around the church are the social centre, but most people with a night out in mind take the train into Madrid.
Parque Europa is the one thing visitors know about. It is a large park with scaled replicas of European landmarks, a lake, and a lot of space for children, runners and picnics. In winter the city turns its streets into a very large Christmas show with lights, a fair and a skating rink, and it draws crowds from all over Madrid.
The population is young for a Spanish city and mixed: families from Madrid's older suburbs, people from Latin America, Morocco and Romania, and a good number of defence workers. Food is practical. Set lunches, raciones and neighbourhood bars are the rule, with many small restaurants run by newcomers that are worth finding. Culture is municipal rather than grand, with a theatre, libraries and a calendar of local fiestas.
Torrejón grew because of a decision in the 1950s to host a United States air base, which brought jobs, services and an influx of workers. The Americans left in 1992, and the base now serves the Spanish air force and as a military and logistics site. The city kept growing as Madrid's housing prices pushed families east along the Henares corridor, and new districts such as Soto del Henares were laid out in a single generation.
That explains the shape of the city. Streets are wide, blocks are modern, parks are large, and the old centre is small. It also explains the safety numbers: recorded crime is 37.1 per 1,000 people (2024), one of the lower rates among Spanish cities of this size, and the city comes out above average on safety. Most of what happens is petty theft.
Housing is cheaper than in the capital but not cheap. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €645 a month (2024), and buying costs €3,043 per square metre (Q2 2026). Household income per person is €15,331 a year (2024), which is on the modest side, so rents bite harder than they do in the north of Madrid.
Work is the story of Madrid. The jobs score is above average, with unemployment at 8.7% (2025), because so many residents work across the region. The commute averages 46 min one way (2021). The city comes out strong on healthcare, thanks to a large hospital that sits in the city itself, although beds per person are modest.
Figures for Torrejón de Ardoz itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Torrejón de Ardoz data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Healthcare is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 84.5 years — better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 85 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyTorrejón de Ardoz · 2023 | 84.5 years | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homes with fibre to the door: 99.7% — better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 77 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 internetTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 99.4% | better than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 99.7% | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 66% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 8.65% — better than 72% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 70 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 8.65% | better than 72% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | -1.39 points | better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Burglaries: 48.1 per 100k people — better than 95% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 0.70 per 100k people | better than 45% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeTorrejón de Ardoz · 2024 | 37.1 per 1,000 people | better than 89% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 73.2 per 100k people | better than 59% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 48.1 per 100k people | better than 95% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesTorrejón de Ardoz · 2024 | 0.34 per 1,000 people | better than 70% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 1,237 per 100k people | better than 43% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsTorrejón de Ardoz · 2025 | 62.7 per 100k people | better than 49% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is around the middle: better than most major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 9.80 km — better than 59% of major European cities
Average: 60 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 airportTorrejón de Ardoz · 2026-10-21 | 9.80 km | better than 59% of major European cities |
Housing is around the middle: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Rents, change in a year: 3.00% — better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 46 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Torrejón de Ardoz · 2024 | 9.21 €/m² a month | better than 28% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearTorrejón de Ardoz · 2024 | 3.00% | better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Torrejón de Ardoz · 2026-Q2 | 3,043 €/m² | better than 26% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsTorrejón de Ardoz · 2024 | 4.34% | better than 66% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearTorrejón de Ardoz · 2026-Q2 | 16.2% | better than 36% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 15,331 € a year per person — worse than 56% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 44 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 personTorrejón de Ardoz · 2024 | 15,331 € a year per person | better than 44% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is around the middle: behind most major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 84.2 days a year — better than 61% of major European cities
Average: 43 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)Torrejón de Ardoz · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 84.2 days a year | better than 61% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CTorrejón de Ardoz · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 32.6 days a year | better than 7% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CTorrejón de Ardoz · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 11.3 nights a year | better than 42% of major European cities |
Transport is around the middle: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Commute by public transport: 19.4% — better than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 41 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)Torrejón de Ardoz · 2021 | 46.5 minutes | better than 14% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carTorrejón de Ardoz · 2021 | 63.1% | better than 36% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportTorrejón de Ardoz · 2021 | 19.4% | better than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
What we cannot score for Torrejón de Ardoz yet
Highs around 35° in July, lows around -0° in January. 84 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C).
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.9°C | -0.1°C | 40 mm |
| February | 12.2°C | 0.9°C | 32 mm |
| March | 14.9°C | 2.7°C | 57 mm |
| April | 18.2°C | 5.1°C | 59 mm |
| May | 23.6°C | 9.1°C | 33 mm |
| June | 29.2°C | 14.1°C | 28 mm |
| July | 34.7°C | 17.7°C | 10 mm |
| August | 33.9°C | 17.5°C | 19 mm |
| September | 27.1°C | 13.1°C | 41 mm |
| October | 21.7°C | 9.3°C | 70 mm |
| November | 14.5°C | 4.2°C | 49 mm |
| December | 11.4°C | 1.8°C | 43 mm |
Torrejón shares the dry continental climate of the Madrid plain. Summers are hot, with 33 a year very hot days a year (2015–2024), although tropical nights are limited to 11 a year (2015–2024), so evenings cool down. Winters are cold and dry, with frost on 46 a year (2015–2024), and rain is light at 480 mm a year (2015–2024).
The pleasant days are the ones in between: 84 a year a year (2015–2024), which is few. Spring and autumn are short, and the newer districts have fewer trees than the old centre, so afternoons in July can be hard. Air conditioning is worth having, and heating costs are real in January. August is quiet because many residents leave.
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67/100 · above average · 34th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
8.7% in 2025
16.2% in Q2 2026
€9.2 per m² a month in 2024
€3,043 per m² in Q2 2026
84.5 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Torrejón de Ardoz. Shown as context only: none of this changes a score.
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Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
Spacious flats and safe streets with Barajas minutes away, but not a prestige address.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Madrid's theatres and museums are a train ride away, while the city's own culture is local and municipal.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
A strong family city: safe, green, modern and affordable by Madrid standards, with a lot of schools and playgrounds.
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Logistics, light industry and services thrive near the airport and the motorways, at costs below Madrid.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Good transport links to Madrid jobs and fewer commuting headaches than the far south, but a small social life of its own.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Fast fibre, a station and a short ride to Barajas make it practical, though it has little remote-work culture.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
Safe and flat with a local hospital, but hot summers, cold winters and little to do beyond the shopping centres.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
No big campus in the city, so most students commute to Alcalá or Madrid.
Better nearby for students: Madrid (57), Rivas-Vaciamadrid (57), Parla (56)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Cheaper than inland Madrid but not cheap, and the commute eats some of the saving.
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Aranjuez (55)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
A flat plain with parks and the Henares river corridor, and the mountains an hour's drive away.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Madrid (44), Aranjuez (38), Pinto (38)
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 Torrejón de Ardoz as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Torrejón de Ardoz; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €829 a month
Compare with Torrejón de Ardoz70 m²: €713 a month
Compare with Torrejón de Ardoz70 m²: €659 a month
Compare with Torrejón de Ardoz70 m²: €553 a month
Compare with Torrejón de Ardoz70 m²: €569 a month
Compare with Torrejón de Ardoz70 m²: €885 a month
Compare with Torrejón de ArdozGuide 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
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