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Article · 3 November 2026 · Municipalities

Sogndal tops Norway's youth ranking, while Bærum and Oslo dominate classrooms

The municipality that scores best for children and young people is not one of the big, wealthy suburbs, but Sogndal in Western Norway. Across nine measures from kindergarten to unemployment, the picture shifts depending on what you count, and a few names turn up at both ends of the table.

Morning Analytics. The text is AI-assisted and checked: every figure is checked automatically against the database before publication. How it is calculated

The ten best municipalities

Overall score from 0 to 100: how well the municipality does against the others of its size, on average across all the figures. 100 means best on everything.

SogndalSogndal80HoleHole79SolaSola77BærumBærum76GiskeGiske74MoldeMolde72SunnfjordSunnfjord71Herøy (Møre og Ro…Herøy (Møre og Romsdal)71KongsbergKongsberg71LillehammerLillehammer70
The ten best municipalities
#MunicipalityCounty Childhood and schoolUpper secondary and onwardsHealth and well-beingWork and housingScore
1Sogndal Vestland78891006080
2Hole Buskerud7797995179
3Sola Rogaland9588764377
4Bærum Akershus8998932776
5Giske Møre og Romsdal8884118274
6Molde Møre og Romsdal8377904272
7Sunnfjord Vestland8180565771
8Herøy (Møre og Romsdal) Møre og Romsdal7247948171
9Kongsberg Buskerud8889454571
10Lillehammer Innlandet7667875670
11Stange Innlandet8070636070
12Nittedal Akershus7685982769
13Alstahaug Nordland5861798769
14Tynset Innlandet8248776769
15Haugesund Rogaland8164834769
16Nord-Aurdal Innlandet5758997769
17Asker Akershus8090623568
18Ulstein Møre og Romsdal7280227868
19Gjesdal Rogaland6957876468
20Trondheim Trøndelag8276763367
See all 183 municipalities
  1. Midtre Gauldal 67
  2. Time 67
  3. Stad 66
  4. Lier 66
  5. Frogn 66
  6. Ålesund 66
  7. Nordre Follo 66
  8. Oppdal 66
  9. Tromsø 65
  10. Harstad 65
  11. Oslo 65
  12. Ørsta 65
  13. Røros 64
  14. Stavanger 64
  15. Gausdal 63
  16. Bergen 63
  17. Lørenskog 62
  18. Gran 62
  19. Ås 62
  20. Hamar 62
  21. Bodø 61
  22. Stord 61
  23. Luster 61
  24. Levanger 61
  25. Randaberg 60
  26. Vindafjord 60
  27. Kvam 60
  28. Lillesand 60
  29. Færder 59
  30. Skaun 59
  31. Sveio 59
  32. Brønnøy 58
  33. Rauma 58
  34. Kristiansand 58
  35. Lyngdal 58
  36. Nesodden 57
  37. Gjerdrum 57
  38. Sandnes 56
  39. Askøy 56
  40. Flekkefjord 56
  41. Sula 56
  42. Lunner 55
  43. Farsund 55
  44. Alver 55
  45. Sykkylven 55
  46. Klepp 54
  47. Averøy 54
  48. Rælingen 54
  49. Ål 54
  50. Malvik 54
  51. Ullensvang 54
  52. Eigersund 54
  53. Surnadal 53
  54. Hustadvika 53
  55. Trysil 53
  56. Namsos 53
  57. Sør-Varanger 53
  58. Vestby 53
  59. Hå 52
  60. Tysvær 52
  61. Elverum 52
  62. Kvinesdal 52
  63. Kristiansund 52
  64. Volda 52
  65. Kongsvinger 52
  66. Lindesnes 52
  67. Tinn 52
  68. Stjørdal 51
  69. Grimstad 51
  70. Kvinnherad 51
  71. Råde 51
  72. Nord-Fron 51
  73. Stryn 51
  74. Gloppen 50
  75. Haram 50
  76. Vennesla 50
  77. Nome 50
  78. Moss 50
  79. Melhus 50
  80. Voss 50
  81. Austevoll 50
  82. Karmøy 49
  83. Tønsberg 49
  84. Østre Toten 49
  85. Bjørnafjorden 49
  86. Arendal 48
  87. Bømlo 48
  88. Hareid 48
  89. Rana 48
  90. Årdal 48
  91. Øvre Eiker 48
  92. Vestre Toten 47
  93. Larvik 47
  94. Verdal 47
  95. Indre Fosen 47
  96. Narvik 46
  97. Porsgrunn 46
  98. Ringsaker 46
  99. Strand 46
  100. Hadsel 46
  101. Midt-Telemark 46
  102. Sel 45
  103. Fredrikstad 45
  104. Bamble 44
  105. Fauske 44
  106. Tvedestrand 43
  107. Lillestrøm 43
  108. Gjøvik 42
  109. Risør 42
  110. Hitra 42
  111. Vefsn 42
  112. Holmestrand 42
  113. Skien 42
  114. Jevnaker 42
  115. Ringerike 42
  116. Nordre Land 41
  117. Vadsø 41
  118. Kinn 41
  119. Osterøy 40
  120. Birkenes 40
  121. Enebakk 40
  122. Senja 40
  123. Drammen 40
  124. Rakkestad 39
  125. Froland 39
  126. Målselv 38
  127. Horten 38
  128. Åsnes 38
  129. Meløy 38
  130. Heim 38
  131. Sortland 37
  132. Sør-Odal 36
  133. Steinkjer 36
  134. Eidskog 36
  135. Øygarden 36
  136. Orkland 36
  137. Vågan 36
  138. Sandefjord 36
  139. Våler (Østfold) 35
  140. Inderøy 35
  141. Øyer 34
  142. Kragerø 34
  143. Hammerfest 33
  144. Vestvågøy 33
  145. Sunndal 33
  146. Notodden 32
  147. Løten 32
  148. Modum 31
  149. Alta 31
  150. Halden 29
  151. Ørland 28
  152. Sarpsborg 27
  153. Aurskog-Høland 27
  154. Indre Østfold 26
  155. Nes 26
  156. Eidsvoll 26
  157. Ullensaker 25
  158. Søndre Land 22
  159. Nærøysund 22
  160. Balsfjord 20
  161. Frøya 18
  162. Vestnes 16
  163. Nannestad 15

Children aged 1–5 in kindergarten

Kindergarten coverage is the one measure where a municipality can pass 100%. Råde reaches 102.3% and Oppdal 102.0% of children aged 1–5, according to SSB, table 13502, 2025. The figure can exceed 100 because it compares children attending with the number of children registered as living there, so it is not a literal share.

The median municipality sits at 94.7%. At the other end, Eidskog stands at 84.5% and Lyngdal at 84.7%, so the gap between top and bottom is well over ten points.

Best 10
RådeRåde102.3%OppdalOppdal102.0%SortlandSortland101.0%SulaSula100.5%StordStord99.7%SolaSola99.7%HaugesundHaugesund99.6%StangeStange99.3%AverøyAverøy99.3%SveioSveio98.8%
Weakest 10
EidskogEidskog84.5%LyngdalLyngdal84.7%KvinesdalKvinesdal86.8%HåHå87.3%Søndre LandSøndre Land87.3%FrolandFroland88.7%FrøyaFrøya88.7%NannestadNannestad89.2%LillestrømLillestrøm89.9%BirkenesBirkenes89.9%

Source: 13502, 2025. 183 compared. The share can exceed 100 % when children from other municipalities attend kindergarten there. Nearly every municipality is above 90 %, so the differences are small.

Average lower secondary school points

In lower secondary school, pupils in Trysil collect the highest average points at 44.8, just ahead of Hole and Bærum at 44.5 (SSB, table 12255, 2025). Oslo follows at 44.3. A mountain municipality and the capital's suburbs sit side by side.

The median is 41.5. Årdal comes last at 37.1, with Vestnes and Røros at 37.8. Røros will return in the next section with a very different result.

Best 10
TrysilTrysil44.8HoleHole44.5BærumBærum44.5OsloOslo44.3RælingenRælingen43.8SolaSola43.8AlverAlver43.7MossMoss43.6GiskeGiske43.6AskerAsker43.5
Weakest 10
ÅrdalÅrdal37.1VestnesVestnes37.8RørosRøros37.8Våler (Østfold)Våler (Østfold)38.1LøtenLøten38.4HeimHeim38.4KongsvingerKongsvinger38.6NærøysundNærøysund38.6SteinkjerSteinkjer38.7KragerøKragerø38.8

Source: 12255, 2025. 183 compared.

Pupils at mastery levels 3–5, national reading test, year 8

Røros is the standout on the year 8 reading test, where 86.0% of pupils reach mastery levels 3–5, against a median of 62.0% (SSB, table 12255, 2025). Årdal follows at 77.8%, so the lead is large. In a small municipality a single class can move such a figure.

Søndre Land is at the bottom with 30.4%, and Kvinesdal is next at 41.8%. The spread from Røros to Søndre Land is the widest of any school measure here.

Best 10
RørosRøros86.0%ÅrdalÅrdal77.8%LørenskogLørenskog77.7%TynsetTynset77.6%BærumBærum76.9%OsloOslo75.7%RakkestadRakkestad74.7%ÅsÅs74.0%HoleHole73.3%Nordre FolloNordre Follo73.3%
Weakest 10
Søndre LandSøndre Land30.4%KvinesdalKvinesdal41.8%VestnesVestnes44.0%SunndalSunndal45.8%TvedestrandTvedestrand46.6%ØyerØyer46.9%FrøyaFrøya46.9%Midt-TelemarkMidt-Telemark48.0%HadselHadsel48.2%LyngdalLyngdal48.4%

Source: 12255, 2025. 183 compared.

Pupils at mastery levels 3–5, national numeracy test, year 8

Numeracy offers a similar pattern with different leaders. Årdal tops the list at 87.5% of pupils at levels 3–5, and Bærum is next at 80.3% (SSB, table 12255, 2025). The median is 62.2%.

Sør-Odal has the lowest share at 39.7%, followed by Øyer at 40.8%. Vestnes, at 41.5%, is again among the weakest, as it was on school points.

Best 10
ÅrdalÅrdal87.5%BærumBærum80.3%HoleHole78.1%LørenskogLørenskog76.3%OsloOslo76.1%KleppKlepp75.4%RådeRåde75.3%NesoddenNesodden74.9%GjesdalGjesdal74.6%FarsundFarsund74.1%
Weakest 10
Sør-OdalSør-Odal39.7%ØyerØyer40.8%VestnesVestnes41.5%NotoddenNotodden43.0%EidskogEidskog43.1%HeimHeim45.1%Søndre LandSøndre Land45.7%FrøyaFrøya45.8%Midt-TelemarkMidt-Telemark46.0%ØrlandØrland46.5%

Source: 12255, 2025. 183 compared.

Completed upper secondary education (standardised)

Finishing upper secondary school is where Vindafjord and Hole meet at the top, both with 94.2%, in the standardised figures from FHI, table 623, 2025. Frogn follows at 92.2%. The median is 81.4%.

Vestnes has 65.5% and Vadsø 65.8%, the lowest in the comparison. A young person's chances of finishing school look rather different in the two groups, though the figures cannot say what lies behind it.

Best 10
VindafjordVindafjord94.2%HoleHole94.2%FrognFrogn92.2%RørosRøros91.4%GiskeGiske90.8%BærumBærum89.6%LusterLuster89.2%HeimHeim89.0%RandabergRandaberg88.7%SurnadalSurnadal88.4%
Weakest 10
VestnesVestnes65.5%VadsøVadsø65.8%FauskeFauske70.0%ModumModum70.9%VossVoss71.0%ØrlandØrland71.0%SortlandSortland71.5%Øvre EikerØvre Eiker71.6%VåganVågan72.8%OsterøyOsterøy73.5%

Source: fhi:623, 2025. 183 compared.

Share with university or college education (16 and over)

Higher education marks the sharpest divide between city and countryside. Bærum and Oslo both have 56.4% of residents aged 16 and over with a university or college education, as reported by SSB, table 09429, 2025. The median municipality has 29.9%.

At the bottom, Eidskog has 19.6% and Nordre Land 21.1%. The measure covers all adults, not only parents, so it tells us about the local population more than about any school.

Best 10
BærumBærum56.4%OsloOslo56.4%NesoddenNesodden51.0%AskerAsker48.7%ÅsÅs48.4%TrondheimTrondheim48.0%TromsøTromsø46.9%StavangerStavanger46.9%BergenBergen46.8%Nordre FolloNordre Follo44.9%
Weakest 10
EidskogEidskog19.6%Nordre LandNordre Land21.1%Midtre GauldalMidtre Gauldal21.5%BalsfjordBalsfjord21.5%MeløyMeløy22.0%ÅsnesÅsnes22.5%RakkestadRakkestad22.6%Aurskog-HølandAurskog-Høland22.6%HeimHeim22.8%NærøysundNærøysund23.2%

Source: 09429, 2025. 183 compared.

Young people satisfied with their health (Ungdata, latest survey)

Young people's own sense of their health is gathered through Ungdata. Sogndal comes out highest, with 76.9% satisfied, and Hole and Nord-Aurdal share 75.4% (FHI, table 349, latest survey). The median is 64.5%.

Balsfjord is lowest at 49.0%, followed by Frøya at 53.4%. Both also finish near the bottom of the combined score, at 180th and 181st.

Best 10
SogndalSogndal76.9%Nord-AurdalNord-Aurdal75.4%HoleHole75.4%NittedalNittedal73.0%TimeTime72.8%OsloOslo72.4%GausdalGausdal71.4%Østre TotenØstre Toten71.2%NomeNome71.0%LyngdalLyngdal70.1%
Weakest 10
BalsfjordBalsfjord49.0%FrøyaFrøya53.4%MeløyMeløy54.8%HadselHadsel55.5%HaramHaram56.2%SveioSveio56.9%ØyerØyer57.2%VestnesVestnes57.3%EidskogEidskog57.7%NærøysundNærøysund57.9%

Source: fhi:349, 2025. 182 compared.

Registered unemployed, share of labour force

Few places have much unemployment, but the differences are still clear. Stord has 0.4% of its labour force registered as unemployed, and Senja 0.6%, against a median of 1.5% (SSB, table 13563, 2025). The highest is Trysil at 3.2%.

Trysil is a notable case: it leads the country in school points yet has the highest unemployment. Local work and school results are separate stories.

Best 10
StordStord0.4%SenjaSenja0.6%GausdalGausdal0.7%SveioSveio0.7%AustevollAustevoll0.8%Midtre GauldalMidtre Gauldal0.8%HarstadHarstad0.8%MålselvMålselv0.8%RørosRøros0.8%Nord-FronNord-Fron0.8%
Weakest 10
TrysilTrysil3.2%GloppenGloppen2.9%UllensakerUllensaker2.9%ÅsÅs2.8%SarpsborgSarpsborg2.8%LørenskogLørenskog2.7%FredrikstadFredrikstad2.5%HortenHorten2.4%HaldenHalden2.4%MossMoss2.4%

Source: 13563, 2025. 183 compared.

Share living in overcrowded homes

Oslo has the highest share living in overcrowded homes, at 20.4%, ahead of Lørenskog at 16.0% (SSB, table 14902, 2025). The median is 7.1%. Farsund has the lowest share at 3.8%.

Oslo does well on schooling and education but badly on housing space, a reminder that places can lead on one measure and lag on another.

Best 10
FarsundFarsund3.8%AverøyAverøy3.9%RaumaRauma4.0%Herøy (Møre og Ro…Herøy (Møre og Romsdal)4.3%ÅrdalÅrdal4.3%KarmøyKarmøy4.4%TrysilTrysil4.6%ÅsnesÅsnes4.7%TvedestrandTvedestrand4.7%InderøyInderøy4.7%
Weakest 10
OsloOslo20.4%LørenskogLørenskog16.0%ÅsÅs15.5%UllensakerUllensaker13.3%BergenBergen13.1%TrondheimTrondheim12.7%LillestrømLillestrøm12.3%DrammenDrammen12.1%RælingenRælingen11.7%HammerfestHammerfest11.6%

Source: 14902, 2025. 183 compared.

The student towns

Students are not part of the overall score, but show where young adults move to study. Ås has the most students, 381 per 1,000 inhabitants.

ÅsÅs381VoldaVolda341Midt-TelemarkMidt-Telemark243LillehammerLillehammer187TrondheimTrondheim184SogndalSogndal182HortenHorten163BergenBergen149TromsøTromsø144HaldenHalden140

Source: table 03814, 2025. Students by place of study, not of residence.

Municipalities under 5,000 inhabitants

152 small municipalities are ranked apart, since a few pupils or people can move the figures a lot. These are the ten with the highest score.

  1. Valle score 82 · 1,209 inhabitants
  2. Suldal score 80 · 3,891 inhabitants
  3. Folldal score 80 · 1,525 inhabitants
  4. Lesja score 79 · 1,966 inhabitants
  5. Sauda score 77 · 4,603 inhabitants
  6. Lierne score 75 · 1,302 inhabitants
  7. Bykle score 74 · 1,057 inhabitants
  8. Gulen score 74 · 2,301 inhabitants
  9. Vik score 74 · 2,532 inhabitants
  10. Høylandet score 72 · 1,230 inhabitants

What the figures do not say

These figures describe municipalities as a whole and say nothing about individual children, schools or families. They cannot show why places differ, and the combined score depends on which indicators were chosen and how they were weighted. Small municipalities can swing on a handful of pupils or survey respondents, so their positions deserve caution.