Skip to content
Vicinalia
Italiano Sign up

Varallo Pombia: what to know before buying a home

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

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Varallo Pombia

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 Selvigia 1, Varallo Pombia.

Varallo Pombia, the Ticino valley opposite Malpensa

Varallo Pombia sits on the eastern edge of the province of Novara, on the terraces sloping down to the river Ticino. The river marks the border with Lombardy, and on the far bank, a few kilometres away as the crow flies, is Milan Malpensa airport. Along the river the land is part of the Ticino valley nature park, with woodland, heath and fields.

For buyers the airport cuts both ways. It brings jobs and is handy for frequent travellers, but in some parts of the town aircraft noise can be heard, varying with flight paths and seasons, so visit at different times of day before deciding. The town borders Pombia, and Arona on Lake Maggiore is a short way north; Novara and Milan are within driving distance. The market is mostly detached houses and villas, with a few farmhouses in the countryside.

The population is almost flat: 4,971 residents in 2023, down 0.7% on 2011, or 33 fewer people. The average age is 46.5, in line with the province (46.7); people over 65 make up 24.4% and foreign residents 7.2%. Declared incomes are below the provincial average.

Earthquakes are not a significant factor. All 87 municipalities in the province of Novara are in seismic zone 4, the lowest, and the expected ground acceleration here is about 0.038 g. In a house from the 1960s or 1970s, insulation, services and the roof matter most.

The low-lying areas near the Ticino and the canals that draw water from it are the ones to check for flooding, while up on the terraces this is not an issue. The report checks flood and landslide risk at the exact address and uses the cadastral maps of the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate), which are published for the municipality.

Key points

  • On the Ticino, with Malpensa on the other side of the river.
  • 4,971 residents, down 0.7% since 2011.
  • The whole province in seismic zone 4.
  • Aircraft noise: check with a visit.

Overview

Varallo Pombia is a municipality in the province of Novara, in Piemonte. At the end of 2023 it had 4,971 residents, ranked 15 of 87 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Varallo Pombia is in seismic zone 4, the lowest-risk zone, where strong earthquakes are very rare. All 87 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 number of residents is nearly unchanged. The estimated average age is 47 years, in line with the province. 24% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 27%). Foreign residents make up 7.2% of the population. On average, a household has 2.3 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Varallo Pombia declared an average taxable income of 24,427 euros, below the provincial average (26,949 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Varallo Pombia is in climate zone E, with 2,694 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 300 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Varallo Pombia has 3 schools and 2 pharmacies. The Overture Maps data also lists 2 grocery shops and supermarkets, 3 healthcare facilities and 5 sports facilities.

There are 0.6 schools per 1,000 residents, fewer than the province average (0.9).

Public transport

We do not yet have open public transport timetables for this municipality: the report says so explicitly, without inventing distances.

How built-up it is

Buildings, roads, car parks and other sealed surfaces cover 15.3% of the land in Varallo Pombia, compared with 11.2% in the province and 6.7% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.

Radon and contaminated sites

Varallo Pombia is not among the radon priority areas designated by the Regione Piemonte 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 no open contaminated sites in Varallo Pombia; one has been cleaned up or closed.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Varallo Pombia: 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 Varallo Pombia 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 28 inhabited census areas in Varallo Pombia. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 60 or more.

Residents by band

  • modest 0.6%
  • fair 59.2%
  • good 40.2%

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 003154. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.