What is the cost-effectiveness index?
Unlike the quadrant page that divides municipalities into four groups, this index provides a composite scoring system. Each municipality receives a score combining:
- SALSA deviation — how much better or worse the municipality's schools perform compared to expectations (higher = better)
- Cost per student — the home municipality's total cost for compulsory school years 1–9 (lower = better)
Both dimensions are normalised to z-scores (mean = 0, standard deviation = 1). The index is then computed as: score = z(SALSA) − z(cost). Higher score = better efficiency.
Tier classification
The municipalities are divided into five equally sized groups (quintiles):
A: Very high efficiencyB: High efficiencyC: AverageD: Low efficiencyE: Very low efficiency
Full ranking
134 municipalities with at least 3 compulsory schools that have SALSA data. Municipalities with too few schools are excluded because individual school results would then have a disproportionate impact.
| # | Municipality | Tier | Score | SALSA | Cost/student | z(SALSA) | z(cost) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nacka | A | 3.88 | +14.9 | 119,529 SEK | 1.81 | -2.08 |
| 2 | Landskrona | A | 3.24 | +13.3 | 124,989 SEK | 1.64 | -1.60 |
| 3 | Lidingö | A | 2.95 | +14.4 | 129,633 SEK | 1.75 | -1.19 |
| 4 | Danderyd | A | 2.89 | +18.7 | 135,411 SEK | 2.20 | -0.69 |
| 5 | Vallentuna | A | 2.59 | +6.0 | 123,817 SEK | 0.89 | -1.70 |
| 6 | Sollentuna | A | 2.42 | +18.4 | 140,494 SEK | 2.17 | -0.25 |
| 7 | Täby | A | 2.33 | +3.0 | 123,225 SEK | 0.58 | -1.75 |
| 8 | Sundbyberg | A | 2.26 | +12.0 | 134,674 SEK | 1.51 | -0.75 |
| 9 | Lomma | A | 2.22 | +9.2 | 131,768 SEK | 1.22 | -1.01 |
| 10 | Ystad | A | 2.19 | +7.0 | 129,550 SEK | 0.99 | -1.20 |
| 11 | Tyresö | A | 2.18 | +6.6 | 129,171 SEK | 0.95 | -1.23 |
| 12 | Upplands-Bro | A | 2.17 | +13.6 | 137,621 SEK | 1.67 | -0.50 |
| 13 | Upplands Väsby | A | 2.15 | +16.4 | 141,118 SEK | 1.96 | -0.19 |
| 14 | Helsingborg | A | 2.14 | +3.4 | 125,859 SEK | 0.62 | -1.52 |
| 15 | Uppsala | A | 2.06 | +6.0 | 129,893 SEK | 0.89 | -1.17 |
| 16 | Vellinge | A | 1.98 | +8.4 | 133,602 SEK | 1.13 | -0.85 |
| 17 | Botkyrka | A | 1.92 | +18.9 | 146,747 SEK | 2.22 | 0.30 |
| 18 | Kävlinge | A | 1.81 | +7.0 | 133,938 SEK | 0.99 | -0.82 |
| 19 | Malmö | A | 1.81 | +12.8 | 140,833 SEK | 1.59 | -0.22 |
| 20 | Nynäshamn | A | 1.77 | +9.3 | 137,099 SEK | 1.23 | -0.54 |
| 21 | Värmdö | A | 1.77 | +12.0 | 140,313 SEK | 1.51 | -0.26 |
| 22 | Ekerö | A | 1.66 | +10.8 | 140,193 SEK | 1.38 | -0.27 |
| 23 | Järfälla | A | 1.60 | +3.0 | 131,532 SEK | 0.58 | -1.03 |
| 24 | Södertälje | A | 1.51 | +18.4 | 150,870 SEK | 2.17 | 0.66 |
| 25 | Nyköping | A | 1.46 | +0.3 | 129,947 SEK | 0.30 | -1.17 |
| 26 | Staffanstorp | A | 1.46 | +6.0 | 136,784 SEK | 0.89 | -0.57 |
| 27 | Huddinge | A | 1.38 | +10.3 | 142,754 SEK | 1.33 | -0.05 |
| 28 | Norrköping | B | 1.32 | +4.2 | 136,164 SEK | 0.70 | -0.62 |
| 29 | Härryda | B | 1.22 | -2.7 | 129,230 SEK | -0.01 | -1.23 |
| 30 | Trelleborg | B | 1.21 | +6.9 | 140,634 SEK | 0.98 | -0.23 |
| 31 | Kalmar | B | 1.13 | +1.0 | 134,601 SEK | 0.37 | -0.76 |
| 32 | Sigtuna | B | 1.10 | +9.5 | 145,023 SEK | 1.25 | 0.15 |
| 33 | Trollhättan | B | 0.96 | +4.0 | 140,120 SEK | 0.68 | -0.28 |
| 34 | Söderhamn | B | 0.88 | +5.0 | 142,212 SEK | 0.78 | -0.10 |
| 35 | Partille | B | 0.81 | -5.3 | 130,750 SEK | -0.28 | -1.10 |
| 36 | Höganäs | B | 0.77 | -0.9 | 136,486 SEK | 0.17 | -0.60 |
| 37 | Eskilstuna | B | 0.75 | +4.5 | 143,059 SEK | 0.73 | -0.02 |
| 38 | Kungsbacka | B | 0.74 | -3.0 | 134,283 SEK | -0.05 | -0.79 |
| 39 | Solna | B | 0.65 | -5.9 | 131,887 SEK | -0.35 | -1.00 |
| 40 | Varberg | B | 0.64 | -5.1 | 132,984 SEK | -0.26 | -0.90 |
| 41 | Svedala | B | 0.61 | -3.0 | 135,843 SEK | -0.05 | -0.65 |
| 42 | Enköping | B | 0.59 | -5.4 | 133,166 SEK | -0.29 | -0.89 |
| 43 | Hultsfred | B | 0.57 | 0.0 | 139,833 SEK | 0.26 | -0.30 |
| 44 | Örebro | B | 0.57 | -3.3 | 135,959 SEK | -0.08 | -0.64 |
| 45 | Haninge | B | 0.57 | -0.8 | 138,924 SEK | 0.18 | -0.38 |
| 46 | Österåker | B | 0.56 | -10.4 | 127,624 SEK | -0.81 | -1.37 |
| 47 | Mölndal | B | 0.53 | -3.8 | 135,724 SEK | -0.13 | -0.66 |
| 48 | Värnamo | B | 0.52 | +2.8 | 143,744 SEK | 0.55 | 0.04 |
| 49 | Borås | B | 0.40 | -2.6 | 138,648 SEK | -0.00 | -0.41 |
| 50 | Kristianstad | B | 0.40 | -1.2 | 140,349 SEK | 0.14 | -0.26 |
| 51 | Eslöv | B | 0.40 | -1.2 | 140,361 SEK | 0.14 | -0.26 |
| 52 | Flen | B | 0.40 | +19.3 | 164,672 SEK | 2.26 | 1.86 |
| 53 | Salem | B | 0.38 | +3.8 | 146,539 SEK | 0.66 | 0.28 |
| 54 | Falkenberg | B | 0.37 | -3.2 | 138,270 SEK | -0.07 | -0.44 |
| 55 | Håbo | C | 0.36 | +1.0 | 143,452 SEK | 0.37 | 0.01 |
| 56 | Västerås | C | 0.34 | -4.9 | 136,647 SEK | -0.24 | -0.58 |
| 57 | Jönköping | C | 0.32 | -10.9 | 129,807 SEK | -0.86 | -1.18 |
| 58 | Höör | C | 0.29 | -10.7 | 130,329 SEK | -0.84 | -1.13 |
| 59 | Strängnäs | C | 0.28 | -0.7 | 142,309 SEK | 0.19 | -0.09 |
| 60 | Simrishamn | C | 0.24 | +7.3 | 152,220 SEK | 1.02 | 0.78 |
| 61 | Gävle | C | 0.21 | -4.5 | 138,638 SEK | -0.20 | -0.41 |
| 62 | Gislaved | C | 0.19 | +0.8 | 145,173 SEK | 0.35 | 0.16 |
| 63 | Falun | C | 0.10 | -7.0 | 136,881 SEK | -0.46 | -0.56 |
| 64 | Karlstad | C | 0.09 | -3.5 | 141,174 SEK | -0.10 | -0.19 |
| 65 | Halmstad | C | 0.06 | -6.7 | 137,744 SEK | -0.43 | -0.49 |
| 66 | Kungälv | C | 0.05 | -8.7 | 135,457 SEK | -0.64 | -0.69 |
| 67 | Uddevalla | C | 0.04 | -2.1 | 143,370 SEK | 0.05 | 0.00 |
| 68 | Kumla | C | 0.02 | -8.3 | 136,301 SEK | -0.59 | -0.61 |
| 69 | Stockholm | C | -0.03 | +11.8 | 160,660 SEK | 1.49 | 1.51 |
| 70 | Karlskoga | C | -0.11 | -0.7 | 146,813 SEK | 0.19 | 0.30 |
| 71 | Piteå | C | -0.12 | -10.2 | 135,599 SEK | -0.79 | -0.67 |
| 72 | Hörby | C | -0.14 | -10.7 | 135,277 SEK | -0.84 | -0.70 |
| 73 | Köping | C | -0.17 | -3.0 | 144,780 SEK | -0.05 | 0.13 |
| 74 | Boden | C | -0.20 | -9.2 | 137,700 SEK | -0.69 | -0.49 |
| 75 | Östersund | C | -0.24 | -6.2 | 141,733 SEK | -0.38 | -0.14 |
| 76 | Hudiksvall | C | -0.26 | -8.2 | 139,643 SEK | -0.58 | -0.32 |
| 77 | Lerum | C | -0.30 | -14.2 | 132,950 SEK | -1.20 | -0.91 |
| 78 | Bollnäs | C | -0.36 | -7.5 | 141,589 SEK | -0.51 | -0.15 |
| 79 | Ale | C | -0.36 | -5.2 | 144,373 SEK | -0.27 | 0.09 |
| 80 | Lund | C | -0.41 | -1.2 | 149,650 SEK | 0.14 | 0.55 |
| 81 | Linköping | D | -0.41 | -4.2 | 146,110 SEK | -0.17 | 0.24 |
| 82 | Alingsås | D | -0.42 | -13.8 | 134,813 SEK | -1.16 | -0.74 |
| 83 | Skövde | D | -0.47 | -15.8 | 132,999 SEK | -1.37 | -0.90 |
| 84 | Lidköping | D | -0.48 | -9.8 | 140,266 SEK | -0.75 | -0.27 |
| 85 | Oskarshamn | D | -0.53 | -11.7 | 138,616 SEK | -0.95 | -0.41 |
| 86 | Göteborg | D | -0.66 | +1.7 | 155,918 SEK | 0.44 | 1.10 |
| 87 | Umeå | D | -0.66 | -18.8 | 131,657 SEK | -1.68 | -1.02 |
| 88 | Karlshamn | D | -0.69 | -6.2 | 146,915 SEK | -0.38 | 0.31 |
| 89 | Mjölby | D | -0.69 | -15.5 | 135,897 SEK | -1.34 | -0.65 |
| 90 | Sundsvall | D | -0.69 | -8.2 | 144,566 SEK | -0.58 | 0.11 |
| 91 | Alvesta | D | -0.73 | -10.7 | 142,053 SEK | -0.84 | -0.11 |
| 92 | Örnsköldsvik | D | -0.74 | -14.0 | 138,234 SEK | -1.18 | -0.44 |
| 93 | Växjö | D | -0.75 | -2.3 | 152,207 SEK | 0.03 | 0.78 |
| 94 | Mörbylånga | D | -0.76 | -5.5 | 148,496 SEK | -0.30 | 0.45 |
| 95 | Motala | D | -0.84 | -14.5 | 138,762 SEK | -1.24 | -0.40 |
| 96 | Falköping | D | -0.86 | -9.0 | 145,513 SEK | -0.67 | 0.19 |
| 97 | Karlskrona | D | -0.88 | -11.9 | 142,346 SEK | -0.97 | -0.09 |
| 98 | Laholm | D | -0.89 | -4.7 | 151,021 SEK | -0.22 | 0.67 |
| 99 | Skellefteå | D | -0.99 | -5.3 | 151,467 SEK | -0.28 | 0.71 |
| 100 | Ljungby | D | -1.00 | -8.3 | 147,975 SEK | -0.59 | 0.41 |
| 101 | Norrtälje | D | -1.00 | +1.1 | 159,150 SEK | 0.38 | 1.38 |
| 102 | Avesta | D | -1.00 | -4.7 | 152,291 SEK | -0.22 | 0.78 |
| 103 | Borlänge | D | -1.07 | -5.5 | 152,109 SEK | -0.30 | 0.77 |
| 104 | Luleå | D | -1.09 | -12.3 | 144,252 SEK | -1.01 | 0.08 |
| 105 | Hässleholm | D | -1.11 | -4.4 | 153,917 SEK | -0.19 | 0.92 |
| 106 | Nybro | D | -1.24 | -11.7 | 146,756 SEK | -0.95 | 0.30 |
| 107 | Tierp | D | -1.25 | -4.7 | 155,090 SEK | -0.22 | 1.03 |
| 108 | Nässjö | E | -1.26 | -3.0 | 157,288 SEK | -0.05 | 1.22 |
| 109 | Sandviken | E | -1.37 | -5.2 | 155,854 SEK | -0.27 | 1.09 |
| 110 | Ängelholm | E | -1.37 | -13.1 | 146,528 SEK | -1.09 | 0.28 |
| 111 | Gällivare | E | -1.38 | +8.3 | 171,982 SEK | 1.12 | 2.50 |
| 112 | Östhammar | E | -1.38 | -5.2 | 156,004 SEK | -0.27 | 1.11 |
| 113 | Vänersborg | E | -1.38 | -10.0 | 150,321 SEK | -0.77 | 0.61 |
| 114 | Mariestad | E | -1.54 | -18.0 | 142,655 SEK | -1.60 | -0.06 |
| 115 | Västervik | E | -1.56 | -11.8 | 150,291 SEK | -0.96 | 0.61 |
| 116 | Vetlanda | E | -1.64 | -12.0 | 150,872 SEK | -0.98 | 0.66 |
| 117 | Härnösand | E | -1.65 | -8.3 | 155,409 SEK | -0.59 | 1.05 |
| 118 | Bjuv | E | -1.66 | -13.3 | 149,595 SEK | -1.11 | 0.55 |
| 119 | Knivsta | E | -1.72 | -10.0 | 154,167 SEK | -0.77 | 0.95 |
| 120 | Kristinehamn | E | -1.73 | -19.7 | 142,811 SEK | -1.77 | -0.04 |
| 121 | Öckerö | E | -1.77 | -11.3 | 153,262 SEK | -0.90 | 0.87 |
| 122 | Åre | E | -1.84 | +2.0 | 169,803 SEK | 0.47 | 2.31 |
| 123 | Ljusdal | E | -1.90 | -10.0 | 156,313 SEK | -0.77 | 1.13 |
| 124 | Eksjö | E | -1.95 | -10.0 | 156,828 SEK | -0.77 | 1.18 |
| 125 | Gotland | E | -2.02 | -13.6 | 153,331 SEK | -1.14 | 0.87 |
| 126 | Stenungsund | E | -2.19 | -14.5 | 154,227 SEK | -1.24 | 0.95 |
| 127 | Hammarö | E | -2.32 | -18.7 | 150,726 SEK | -1.67 | 0.65 |
| 128 | Krokom | E | -2.37 | -10.5 | 161,082 SEK | -0.82 | 1.55 |
| 129 | Sollefteå | E | -2.76 | -10.7 | 165,324 SEK | -0.84 | 1.92 |
| 130 | Mark | E | -2.92 | -16.5 | 160,232 SEK | -1.44 | 1.48 |
| 131 | Härjedalen | E | -2.96 | +8.3 | 190,149 SEK | 1.12 | 4.09 |
| 132 | Kiruna | E | -3.19 | +5.8 | 189,849 SEK | 0.86 | 4.06 |
| 133 | Lindesberg | E | -3.35 | -26.7 | 153,131 SEK | -2.50 | 0.86 |
| 134 | Ronneby | E | -3.67 | -24.7 | 159,173 SEK | -2.29 | 1.38 |
Average by county
County averages of the cost-effectiveness index:
| # | County | Avg score | Municipalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockholm county | 1.65 | 24 |
| 2 | Skåne county | 0.80 | 20 |
| 3 | Södermanland county | 0.72 | 4 |
| 4 | Halland county | 0.18 | 5 |
| 5 | Västmanland county | 0.08 | 2 |
| 6 | Östergötland county | -0.15 | 4 |
| 7 | Uppsala county | -0.22 | 6 |
| 8 | Kalmar county | -0.40 | 6 |
| 9 | Gävleborg county | -0.47 | 6 |
| 10 | Västra Götaland county | -0.49 | 19 |
| 11 | Jönköping county | -0.64 | 6 |
| 12 | Dalarna county | -0.66 | 3 |
| 13 | Örebro county | -0.72 | 4 |
| 14 | Kronoberg county | -0.83 | 3 |
| 15 | Västerbotten county | -0.83 | 2 |
| 16 | Norrbotten county | -1.19 | 5 |
| 17 | Värmland county | -1.32 | 3 |
| 18 | Västernorrland county | -1.46 | 4 |
| 19 | Blekinge county | -1.75 | 3 |
| 20 | Jämtland county | -1.85 | 4 |
| 21 | Gotland county | -2.02 | 1 |
Method and normalisation
Step by step:
- Data collection: Cost per student is sourced from Kolada (KPI N15006, year 2025). SALSA score is sourced from the Swedish National Agency for Education's SALSA (2024/25). Only compulsory school is included.
- Filter: Municipalities with fewer than 3 compulsory schools with SALSA data are excluded. This yields 134 municipalities.
- Z-normalisation: Each dimension is transformed to a z-score:
z = (x − μ) / σ.
• Cost: μ = 143,323 SEK, σ = 11,461 SEK
• SALSA: μ = -2.6, σ = 9.7 - Index:
score = z(SALSA) − z(cost). Positive SALSA-z contributes positively, high cost-z contributes negatively. Both dimensions are weighted equally. - Tier: Percentile-based quintiles (every 20th percentile).
Difference from the quadrant page
The quadrant page divides municipalities into four groups based on the median, without providing an exact ranking. This index instead provides a continuous score that makes it possible to compare municipalities directly. The methods complement each other:
- Quadrant page quick overview of four categories
- Index exact ranking and comparability
Important caveats
- The index is based on the municipality's total cost per student, which includes structural factors (rurality, size, demographics). A small rural municipality naturally has higher costs per student without necessarily being inefficient.
- The SALSA deviation refers to a single school year. Individual strong or weak cohorts can cause temporary fluctuations, particularly in small municipalities.
- The index weights SALSA and cost equally. Whether this is reasonable depends on perspective — a municipality with extremely low costs and average results may rank highly in the index.
- Municipalities with fewer than 3 compulsory schools are excluded entirely. With only 1–2 schools, individual deviations become too dominant.
Source: Kolada (KPI N15006) ·Swedish National Agency for Education SALSA. See also: Cost-effectiveness (quadrant chart) ·All statistics pages