The Geography of Residential Demand in Lombardy: Overall Balance and Summary of Floor Areas (2023–2025)
Official data, Italian Revenue Agency
The residential property market of Lombardy is confirmed as the main economic and social barometer of the country. The analysis of the official data of the Italian Revenue Agency (Normalised Number of Transactions - NTN) for 2023, 2024 and 2025 offers a complete picture of the changes under way in the eleven provinces of the region, highlighting a solid restart that brought total sales to 162,189.39 transactions in 2025.
After a 2023 of 150,722.67 NTN and a 2024 of substantial consolidation (151,558.71 NTN, +0.55%), 2025 recorded a decisive acceleration (+7.01% year on year and +7.61% over three years), adding over 10,630 net sales in twelve months.
Behind the aggregate figure lies a highly articulated geography of demand, in which the size of the property is the key to understanding the different dynamics between provincial capitals, the metropolitan belt, the pre-Alpine industrial areas, the agricultural plain and the tourist areas.
1. The Floor Area Pyramid in Lombardy
The breakdown of sales by floor area class shows how Lombardy demand is strongly anchored to primary housing functionality, with marked local peculiarities.
Regional distribution of sales by floor area band (Year 2025)
| Up to 50 sqm (Micro-homes, studios and small one-bedroom flats) They record three-year growth of **+6.98%** (from 15,462.29 NTN in 2023). This band is characterised by extreme geographic concentration: over a third of the entire regional volume takes place in the municipality of Milan alone. | 16,540.85 NTN (10.20% of the regional total) |
| From 50 to 85 sqm (Large one-bedroom and compact two-bedroom flats) Confirmed as the **queen floor area of Lombardy**, covering over 1 sale in 3. Over the three years the increase was **+5.65%** (+3,018.18 NTN). | 56,476.93 NTN (34.82% of the regional total) |
| From 85 to 115 sqm (Large two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats) The pillar of demand for families with children, with a three-year increase of **+8.31%** (from 40,468.89 NTN in 2023). | 43,833.76 NTN (27.03% of the regional total) |
| From 115 to 145 sqm (Large three-bedroom and four-bedroom flats) They show steady growth of **+8.93%** on 2023, supported by the supply in the provinces and the hinterland. | 21,479.47 NTN (13.24% of the regional total) |
| Over 145 sqm (Detached homes, villas and large apartments) They record the highest percentage increase of the three years (**+10.39%** compared with 21,613.39 NTN in 2023), demonstrating the strong appeal of the provincial and pre-Alpine markets. | 23,858.38 NTN (14.71% of the regional total) |
Source: official data, Italian Revenue Agency
2. The 5 Territorial Models of Residential Demand
Crossing geographic data with floor area bands, five distinct property models emerge within Lombardy:
1. The Dense Metropolitan Model (Milan City)
Characterised by very high density of demand, unit prices above the average and a strong share of rental investment. Sizes up to 50 sqm reach the regional peak of 22.71% here (5,715.99 NTN), while large floor areas (>115 sqm) are heavily compressed at 14.95%.
2. The Belt / Hinterland Model (Outer Metropolitan City)
The residential outlet of the metropolis. Small sizes fall to 8.57%, while demand for 50–85 sqm (39.14%) and 85–115 sqm (30.02%) surges, capturing families leaving the city in search of extra space.
3. The Pre-Alpine and Polycentric Model (Brescia, Bergamo, Varese, Como, Lecco)
Large provinces characterised by medium-sized provincial capitals and a dense network of industrial and craft centres. The market is balanced between the 50–85 sqm band (29–33%) and 85–115 sqm (26–29%), with a significant contribution from floor areas over 115 sqm (29–37%), driven by homes with gardens and hill areas.
4. The Agricultural and Po Plain Model (Mantua, Cremona, Pavia, Lodi)
Territories where the share of detached and single-family homes reaches the highest levels. In Mantua and Cremona, homes above 85 sqm exceed 70% of the provincial market (with the over 145 sqm band alone covering 32.88% in Mantua). Micro-homes are marginal (2–7%).
5. The Mountain and Tourist Model (Sondrio / Valtellina)
A market driven by specific dynamics, in which the presence of ski resorts and holiday destinations brings micro-homes (<50 sqm) to 18.58% of sales, alongside a prevailing share of one-bedroom flats (37.04%).
3. Regional Summary Table (Three-Year Comparison 2023–2025)
| Floor area band | Sales 2023 | Sales 2024 | Sales 2025 | Share 2025 | Three-year change (2023–2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 sqm | 15,462.29 | 15,675.92 | 16,540.85 | 10.20% | +6.98% |
| 50 – 85 sqm | 53,458.75 | 53,593.02 | 56,476.93 | 34.82% | +5.65% |
| 85 – 115 sqm | 40,468.89 | 40,643.23 | 43,833.76 | 27.03% | +8.31% |
| 115 – 145 sqm | 19,719.35 | 19,913.85 | 21,479.47 | 13.24% | +8.93% |
| Over 145 sqm | 21,613.39 | 21,732.69 | 23,858.38 | 14.71% | +10.39% |
| TOTAL LOMBARDY | 150,722.67 | 151,558.71 | 162,189.39 | 100.00% | +7.61% |
Source: official data, Italian Revenue Agency
4. Final Descriptive Considerations
- For those analysing market trends: The 2023-2025 data confirm the recovery capacity of the Lombardy residential sector. The resilience in 2024 and the subsequent acceleration in 2025 demonstrate the solidity of demand, supported both by primary housing needs and by the search for larger properties outside the large urban centres.
- For those assessing the distribution of floor areas: The size between 50 and 115 sqm makes up over 61.85% of the entire regional market (100,310.69 NTN in 2025), confirming itself as the absolute reference band for buyers, operators and residential developers.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions on the Floor Area Overview in Lombardy
* In the official data of the Italian Revenue Agency, the municipalities of the province of Monza and Brianza are included in the province of Milan: the figures for the province of Milan and the Milan Hinterland therefore also include Monza and Brianza.
How many residential sales were made in Lombardy in 2025?
In 2025 162,189.39 residential sales (NTN) were recorded across Lombardy, growth of +7.01% on 2024 and +7.61% on 2023.
What is the most traded floor area in Lombardy?
The best-selling floor area is the 50–85 sqm band, which in 2025 totalled 56,476.93 sales, equal to 34.82% of the entire regional market.
In which provinces do large homes (>115 sqm) prevail?
Large floor areas record the highest share in the provinces of the Po Plain and Southern Lombardy: Mantua (48.98% of sales above 115 sqm) and Cremona (43.94%), followed by Brescia (36.88%) and Pavia (34.01%).
Informative article based on the official data of the Italian Revenue Agency (NTN 2023-2025).