Valldemossa in front — Per-capita income 2023 and the darker side of the numbers

Valldemossa in front — numbers that gleam in the morning mist

On a cool morning in Valldemossa, when the plaça still smells of wet stone, the bus quietly rolls into the village and the espresso cups clink, the statistic reads like another life: in 2023 the average net income per capita in the municipality was around €22,100, as reported in Valldemossa Tops the List: What Does the High Average Income Really Mean?. On paper that's impressive — in the alleys a different picture often emerges.

Key question: What does per-capita income really measure?

An average is convenient, but it can be misleading. In small places like Valldemossa a few wealthy owners or second-home holders can pull the result upward. The central question is therefore: does this figure measure local prosperity — or does it obscure the everyday experiences of the people who live and work here?

The raw number and its limits

Average values conceal distributions. A luxury holiday home, a highly paid freelancer or a handful of entrepreneurs can brighten the picture. Median values — the middle of the income distribution — would show more honestly how most people live. Equally important is seasonality. Many service jobs pay only during the tourist high season, and between October and April incomes thin out.

What you hear on the markets — Palma, Ibiza, Inca

Comparing across the Balearics reveals differences in structural types: Palma with around €16,181, Ibiza about €17,500, Inca just under €13,500. Palma pulses with many jobs and high prices, as discussed in More Visitors, More Money — But How Long Can Mallorca Sustain It?. Inca needs stable, well-paid jobs so young people stay. And Valldemossa? A picturesque village with high peak values, but also bakers whose staff complain about rising rents.

Aspects too rarely discussed

Behind the numbers lie issues that are easily drowned out in the noise of the summer months: the effect of seasonal work on annual salaries; vacant second homes next to people looking for housing; flows of money from abroad that spruce up property but rarely generate local wages, a dynamic explored in Eleven Mallorcans in Spain's Top 100: What the Ranking Really Reveals About the Island. High averages also influence municipal decisions — on investment, housing and planning — often favoring a statistical picture rather than necessarily benefiting residents.

Everyday life: espresso, delivery vans, worries

For the baker on the plaça this means more customers in summer, but higher wage costs and scarce skilled workers in winter. For young families in Palma: job opportunities, but hardly any affordable housing. In the countryside you see delivery vans on cobblestones, the ringing of goat bells and craftsmen weighing up whether to stay on the island or work elsewhere. The pretty facade remains, but the kiosk owner counts the bills.

Concrete opportunities and approaches

Staring at figures is not enough. Politics and administrations should complement the statistics with meaningful indicators and take measures that have an effect locally. Some pragmatic proposals:

Report median and distribution: In addition to the average, median and income distributions should be published. That gives a more realistic picture of living conditions.

Regulate vacancy and second homes: Stronger controls, reporting requirements and sanctions for permanently vacant apartments as well as targeted use of tourist levies for housing construction could create real living space.

Promote year-round jobs: Tax incentives or subsidies for companies that offer year-round jobs with social insurance — especially in hospitality, trades and care.

Strengthen training and craftsmanship: Invest in vocational training and continuing education for local professions. Those who combine good craftsmanship with digital skills secure income beyond the season.

Manage tourism sustainably: Put more value on quality rather than sheer visitor numbers. Fee models that finance infrastructure and social projects would increase local value creation.

Municipal housing models: Community land trusts, municipal cooperatives or occupancy rights for workers can secure housing for locals in the long term.

A sober outlook

Valldemossa may lead on paper — and that is a good starting point for conversations. The more important lesson for the island is: statistics are starting points, not destinations. If municipalities publish median values, if tourist money is used purposefully and if policies promote year-round jobs, then a pretty number can grow into real quality of life. Until then it remains a piece of living theatre: the espresso is more expensive, the view remains free — but who will sit at the counter in the long run?

Those who acknowledge the double face — the ringing of the bells and the clatter of the delivery vans — can also find ways to turn the numbers into tangible improvements.