Ilmenau as an investment location for real estate
38,805 main residences (31.12.2024) - university town with 41,185 total registrations and a strong district structure
As of 31.12.2024, Ilmenau has a total of 38,805 residents with a main residence and 41,185 people including secondary residences, providing a reliable 39k demand base in the university town and an operational market size of over 41k notifications. The city center accounts for 21,544 main residences, while incorporated districts such as Gehren (3,019), Langewiesen (2,950), Gräfinau-Angstedt (1,803) and Stützerbach (1,259) form significant submarkets - relevant for differentiated product strategies between city center, campus/technology axes and quiet residential areas. State-wide, Ilmenau is listed among the largest cities in Thuringia with 38,834 inhabitants (official update), confirming its size in the upper 30k segment. The city's age and structural documents (age pyramid) ensure the detailed analysis for concepts suitable for shared flats, family-friendly and low-barrier concepts in portfolio planning.
Accessibility and public transport: IOV city/regional bus with network maintenance 2025, new 311 corridor to Kranichfeld and ongoing construction management
On 15.12.2024, the regional bus route 311 was extended from Ilmenau via Stadtilm to Kranichfeld and runs every two hours with coordinated connections to the RB26 to Bad Berka/Weimar and to bus route 155 towards Erfurt - a clear commuter and visibility boost for locations close to the axis and station corridors. The Ilm district will introduce a new bus timetable in 2025 that takes up the wishes from the update of the local transport plan - a signal for frequency maintenance, connection quality and network stability in the urban-rural network. Transparent construction management (e.g. construction and SEV-related adjustments on lines 301/364 from 12.05.2025 and relocated city bus stops) ensures reliable accessibility during construction phases and supports exposé communication and tenant comfort.
Urban development and ESG framework: ISEK Ilmenau 2035 (resolution 10.11.2022) as a funding and exit anchor
The Integrated Urban Development Concept (ISEK) Ilmenau 2035 was adopted on 10.11.2022 as an update of the SEK 2010 and forms the strategic orientation framework until 2035 as a basis for funding access, prioritized measures and integrated neighbourhood developments in the entire city with 16 districts. The ISEK documents a strong track record (including the "Green Belt", open space/legacy projects) and continues new guiding principles, district-specific measures and projects such as the development of potential at the Heyda dam - a robust framework for repositioning, first floor activation and energy modernization in prime/1B locations. Investment theses: Core in refurbished stock close to public transport in the city/campus/railway station corridor for low fluctuation and predictable cash flows; value-add via insulation, windows, efficient heating/PV and ground floor occupation in ISEK-prioritized spaces, flanked by the 39k main residence base, the expanded 311 axis and documented network maintenance in the Ilm district.
Standard land values for Ilmenau
The standard land values for Ilmenau can be found in the standard land values for Thuringia here.