Wilhelmshaven as an investment location for real estate
Population base, demographics and demand profile
The city reports 78,871 inhabitants with primary residence as at 31.12.2024, a slight decline compared to the beginning of the year; however, the demographic base remains stable, driven by positive net migration and a surplus of deaths due to births and age structure. External series place Wilhelmshaven between around 75,700-76,000 inhabitants for 2023/2024, depending on the method used, which confirms the size of the tenant base and reflects methodological differences between register, state and estimated statistics. The average age is 46.1 years, 26.4% of the population is aged 45-65, 25.5% aged 65 and over and 15% under 18, suggesting a balanced but slightly ageing demand with potential for low-barrier as well as service and utility-oriented forms of housing.
Accessibility and public transport: RS corridor as a structural demand lever
Wilhelmshaven is connected to Oldenburg and Bremen via the Regio-S-Bahn; since the timetable change in December 2024, several RS3 trains have been running continuously between Bremen and Wilhelmshaven, supplemented by RS30/RS3 frequencies and connecting hubs in Oldenburg - a plus for micro-locations close to the main station and in corresponding districts. Operator and network information shows an active construction site and replacement concept (e.g. replacement timetables May 2025; temporarily changed travel times at the beginning of August 2025), which ensures network resilience and planning reliability for tenants despite temporary restrictions. The combination of direct connections and frequency stability increases visibility and re-lettability in station and public transport-related properties along the Wilhelmshaven-Oldenburg-Bremen RS axis.
Port, energy and urban development: JadeWeserPort as an anchor for growth
JadeWeserPort and the associated logistics/industrial network act as a central economic and employment anchor; planning documents and the port handbook emphasize the expansion perspective (JadeWeserPort II), areas in the GVZ and integration into new shipping networks (including the Gemini cooperation Hapag-Lloyd/Maersk from 2025) with a northern hub function, which supports the location image, supply chains and demand close to the workplace. The city is flanking this with development models for waterfront and port locations (including the south side, Wiesbaden Bridge) that bring housing, services and tourism closer to the water - relevant for ESG-driven repositioning and mixed-use concepts in center- and water-related micro-locations. There are three clear paths for investment theses: core in refurbished properties close to the railroad station/central area with RS connectivity; value-add via energy modernization, floor plan optimization and ground floor activation in districts close to the waterfront and city centre; and logistics/workplace-related residential offers that benefit from port and energy projects as a demand stimulus.
Standard land values for Wilhelmshaven
The standard land values for Wilhelmshaven can be found in the standard land values for Lower Saxony here.