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Somma Lombardo: what to know before buying a home

A municipality in the province of Varese, Lombardia. Official data on earthquakes, population, services and transport.

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Somma Lombardo

The report looks at the exact point: landslide and flood risk, seismic zone, price per square metre for the area, services and nearby stops.

For example: Via Briante Luigi 1, Somma Lombardo.

Somma Lombardo, between the Ticino and Malpensa's runways

The river Ticino marks the western boundary of Somma Lombardo, with the woods of its regional park running down to the water; to the south, part of the municipality is taken up by Milan Malpensa airport. In between is the town itself, with a Visconti castle in the centre, and Lake Maggiore begins a little further north.

The airport is the first thing to weigh up. It brings work, and many residents are employed there or by its suppliers, but it also brings the noise of planes taking off and landing. Not every part of the municipality is equally affected: before buying, visit the house at different times of day and look at the airport noise maps, which show how exposed each area is. Towards the Ticino, by contrast, the landscape is green, with steep banks dropping to the river.

For getting about there is the railway from Gallarate towards Arona and Lake Maggiore. The published timetables give the municipality 2 stops served by 3 train lines and 2 bus lines.

In 2023 there were 17,794 residents, up 5.3% on 2011, or 889 more people. Somma is younger than the province of Varese, with an estimated average age of 45.8 against 46.5 and over-65s at 23.6%. Foreign residents account for 11.4%. Declared incomes are below the provincial average.

Earthquake hazard is among the lowest in Italy: all 136 municipalities in the province are in zone 4 of the Civil Protection Department's classification, and expected ground acceleration in the built-up area is about 0.038 g. The Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) publishes the cadastral maps, and the report finds the plot from the address. Along the Ticino and at the top of the river banks, flooding and slope stability are what count, read for the individual address.

Key points

  • Between the Ticino park and Malpensa airport.
  • 2 stops, 3 train lines and 2 bus lines.
  • Population up 5.3% since 2011; average age 45.8.
  • Aircraft noise: check the airport noise maps before buying.

Overview

Somma Lombardo is a municipality in the province of Varese, in Lombardia. At the end of 2023 it had 17,794 residents, among the most populous in the province (8 of 136).

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Somma Lombardo is in seismic zone 4, the lowest-risk zone, where strong earthquakes are very rare. All 136 municipalities in the province are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.038 g, a low value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

In zone 4 the risk is low, but for an older building it is still worth asking about the state of the structure.

Population

Compared with the 2011 census, the resident population has grown by 5.3%. The estimated average age is 46 years, in line with the province. 24% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 24%). Foreign residents make up 11.4% of the population. On average, a household has 2.2 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Somma Lombardo declared an average taxable income of 25,115 euros, below the provincial average (27,186 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Somma Lombardo is in climate zone E, with 2,938 heating degree days: heating may be switched on from 15 October to 15 April, for up to 14 hours a day. The same table puts the town hall at 282 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Somma Lombardo has 11 schools and 7 pharmacies. The Overture Maps data also lists 11 grocery shops and supermarkets, 11 healthcare facilities, 23 sports facilities and 5 parks and green areas.

There are 0.6 grocery shops and supermarkets per 1,000 residents, more than the province average (0.4).

Public transport

Within the municipality there are 2 public transport stops, served by 3 train lines, 2 bus lines. That is about 0.1 stops per 1,000 residents.

How built-up it is

Buildings, roads, car parks and other sealed surfaces cover 24.6% of the land in Somma Lombardo, compared with 21.1% in the province and 12.2% in the region. In 2024 built-up land grew by 0.6 hectares.

Radon and contaminated sites

Somma Lombardo is not among the radon priority areas designated by the Regione Lombardia in 2023. Radon varies from building to building and can only be known by measuring it, especially on ground floors and in basements.

Official databases list 2 contaminated sites, or sites still under investigation, in Somma Lombardo, and 2 more have been cleaned up or closed. The report tells you whether one is close to the address.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Somma Lombardo: the report checks the address against the ISPRA maps.

House prices

The Revenue Agency's price ranges per square metre (OMI) apply to zones, not to whole municipalities: the report gives the range for the address's zone.

Land registry

The cadastral maps for Somma Lombardo are public: from the address the report finds the sheet and parcel number.

Liveability area by area

The Vicinalia liveability index runs from 0 to 100 and looks at the place, not the people who live there: services within walking distance, transport, green space, natural hazards, air, quiet, buildings and connection. Here it is worked out at the centre of each of the 57 inhabited census areas in Somma Lombardo. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 65 or more.

Residents by band

  • modest 1.4%
  • fair 47.7%
  • good 50.9%

Vicinalia index by census area, licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Data: IdroGEO ISPRA (2026), Istat, INGV, EEA, AGCOM, Overture Maps and OpenStreetMap.

The colour is the value at the centre of the area. For an exact address, search for it above: the free check looks at that exact point. How the index is worked out

Data sources

ISTAT code 012123. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.