Bamisparimעברית

City · Southern District · founded 1955

Ofakim by the numbers

Ofakim has 43,514 residents (CBS estimate, September 2026). Compared with the 100 other cities with 20,000+ residents, it is cheaper than 74% of them, with more car-free households than 80% of them and has fewer graduates than 74% of them.

Population
43,514
#51 by size of 82 cities
Average home price
₪1.3M
38% lower than the national average
Average monthly salary
₪12,965
14% lower than the national average
Crime
37.3 per 1,000
Above the national average (33.9)

How does Ofakim compare with other cities?

Ofakim Another of the 101 cities with 20,000+ residents

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Can you live without a car?

36%More car-free households than 80% of cities
Households without a car, 2022
LowHigh

How much does an apartment cost?

₪1,253,700Cheaper than 74% of cities
Average apartment price, 2026
LowHigh

How educated?

14%Fewer graduates than 74% of cities
Residents with an academic degree, 2022
LowHigh

How much is rent?

₪3,575Like most (slightly below)
Average monthly rent, 2026
LowHigh
5 more comparisons

Young or old?

9%Like most (slightly below)
Residents aged 65+, 2026
LowHigh

Big families?

3.4Like most (slightly above)
People per household, average, 2022
LowHigh

How much crime?

37.3Like most (slightly above)
Criminal cases per 1,000 residents, 2025
LowHigh

Do people rent or own?

29%Like most (slightly below)
Households renting, 2022
LowHigh

How much do people earn?

₪12,965Like most (slightly below)
Average monthly wage per employee, 2025
LowHigh

Sources: wages: National Insurance 2025; housing: Tax Authority (Nadlan) 2026; age: National Insurance 2026; crime: Israel Police 2025; education, renting, cars and household size: the 2022 census, the only source at town level. Compared with the 101 cities with 20,000+ residents.

Ofakim in national rankings

7 more rankings

How much does it cost to live in Ofakim?

Average home ₪1.3M, 38% lower than the national average; rent ₪3,575 a month

Tax Authority sales data · to June 2026

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Average home price
₪1.3Mover the last 12 months
▲ 2.7% a year38% below the national average
3 rooms
₪1M
4 rooms
₪1.3M
5+ rooms
₪1.9M
Average rent
₪3,575a month
▲ 21.2% a year29% below the national average
3 rooms
₪2,800
4 rooms
₪3,200
5+ rooms
₪4,600
8.1years of the average local salary
buy an average home (before costs)
28%of the average salary
goes on average rent

Average home price by quarterOfakimIsrael

₪1.2MQ2 21Q2 22Q2 23Q2 24Q2 25Q2 26

Source: Israel Tax Authority, Nadlan.gov.il. Averages of reported sales; with too few sales no average is shown. Years of salary use the National Insurance average wage.

Housing and construction

Ofakim home prices by neighbourhood

▲ Kiryat Menachem ₪1.6M▲ Shapira ₪1.3M▲ HaRif ₪1.2M▼ HaArazim ₪836,000▼ Yaakov Masika ₪785,000

7,144 housing units in approved plans · 4 open land tenders

All 8 neighbourhoods, plans and urban renewal →

What is the average salary in Ofakim?

₪12,965 a month for the average employee, 14% lower than the national average; socio-economic cluster 3 of 10; a 18% income tax credit

Wages 2025

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₪12,965average monthly salary

14% below the national average.

Ofakim
₪12,965
Israel
₪15,140
26.7%earn up to minimum wageIsrael: 26.6%
0.6%earn 4x the average or moreIsrael: 2.6%
₪11,301self-employed monthly incomeIsrael: ₪11,928
Tax benefit town 2026
Residents of Ofakim get an income tax credit of
18%
on income up to ₪259,920 a year. Worth up to about ₪3,899 a month.
Socio-economic cluster
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 · lowesthighest · 10

Ranked 63 of 255 local authorities (1 is the lowest).

Wages: National Insurance Institute, 2025. Tax benefit: Israel Tax Authority list of eligible towns for 2026. Cluster: CBS socio-economic index 2021, the latest (published in 2024).

Schools and kindergartens in Ofakim

35 schools, 138 kindergartens and 26 daycare centres

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35Schools
138Kindergartens
26Daycare centres

Schools by stream: Haredi 18, State (secular) 11, State-religious 6.

Schools35 schoolsThe full list, by stage and streamKindergartens138 kindergartensPublic and recognised, searchable by name

Source: Ministry of Education, list of active institutions

Parks, transport and health care in Ofakim

57 parks and gardens, 26 sports facilities, 28 public transport lines

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Parks and playgrounds57 parks, gardens and playgroundsBig parks, dog parks and beachesSports facilities26 sports facilitiesCourts, halls and pools by neighbourhoodPublic transport28 linesBus and train lines and where they goHealth4 clinics and pharmaciesHospitals, health fund clinics and pharmacies

Crime in Ofakim: is Ofakim safe?

37.3 cases per 1,000 residents, above the national average (33.9)

Israel Police · 2025

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37.3criminal cases per 1,000 residents in 2025

Nationwide: 33.9. Up 6% from 2024. Violent offences are 15% of cases, against 16% nationwide.

Source: Israel Police, cases opened in 2025 (1,565 cases).

Road accidents536 injury accidentsHow many, who was hurt and whereCell antennas17 antennasWhere they are and which company runs them

Who lives in Ofakim?

39% are under 18 (more than the national share); the largest health fund is Clalit

As of October 2026

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Age groups

Ofakim
39%
53%
Israel
32%
55%
13%

Under 18Working age (18–65)65+

Health funds (kupot holim)

Ofakim
66%
27%
Israel
50%
28%
14%

ClalitMaccabiMeuhedetLeumit

13.1%self-employed among the insuredIsrael: 16.9%
1%get unemployment benefitIsrael: 1%
2.4%get pension income supplementIsrael: 2%
0.5%get income supportIsrael: 0.4%
4.5%get disability benefitIsrael: 3.8%
3.5%get long-term care benefitIsrael: 4.1%

Source: National Insurance Institute, statistics by town (ages as of October 2026). Benefit rates are shares of all residents.

How does Ofakim vote?

Largest list: Likud (33%). Turnout 75%

Election for the 26th Knesset

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In the 2026 election, Ofakim voted Likud more than the country as a whole (‎+13 points) and Yashar less (‎-11).

Turnout
Here, 202675%
Israel, 202678%
Here, 202269%

In 2022 the largest list here was Likud (32%).

Likud
33.4%
Shas
14.7%
United Torah Judaism
14.7%
Otzma Yehudit
13.9%
Yisrael Beiteinu
5%
Yashar
4.9%

Ofakim All Israel

Source: Central Elections Committee, 26th Knesset election (2026), via the Kaplan Open Source mirror (official results by locality). Compared with the 25th Knesset (2022)

How much is arnona (property tax) in Ofakim?

About ₪323 a month for a 90 m² apartment, more than most local authorities

Audited accounts 2024

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A 90 m² apartment in Ofakim pays about ₪323 a month in arnona on average (₪3,879 a year).

Residential arnona, average per m² a year₪43.1
Median authority: ₪41.5
Spending per resident a year₪8,138
Median authority: ₪8,818
Arnona collected of the amount billed91.3%
Median authority: 90%
Own revenue as a share of all revenue39.8%
Median authority: 45.9%

Of every shekel the authority spends, 39 agorot go to education and 17 agorot to welfare. The authority ended 2024 with a deficit of ₪2 thousand.

Source: Ministry of the Interior, audited financial reports of local authorities for 2024. Actual arnona depends on the zone and type of property.

Budget and arnona2024 reportWhere the money goes and where it comes from

Towns like Ofakim, and nearby

Most similar: Kiryat Malakhi, Safed (Tzfat), Lod

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Similar in wages, education, age, renting, car ownership, household size and population mix.

Kiryat Malakhi30,046 residents · wage ₪11,351Safed (Tzfat)38,578 residents · wage ₪10,420Lod100,174 residents · wage ₪12,088Netivot61,212 residents · wage ₪11,957

Closest on the map

Ofakim: common questions

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What is the population of Ofakim?

Ofakim has 43,514 residents, according to the CBS estimate for September 2026. It is the 51st largest city in Israel, out of 82 cities.

Is Ofakim safe?

In 2025, police opened 37.3 criminal cases per 1,000 residents in Ofakim, above the national average (33.9). It ranks 33 of 82 cities for crime rate (1 = the most).

How many schools are there in Ofakim?

Ofakim has 35 schools, 138 kindergartens and 26 daycare centres, according to the Ministry of Education.

How much does an apartment cost in Ofakim?

The average apartment in Ofakim sells for ₪1,253,700, based on deals in the 12 months to June 2026, against ₪2,034,550 nationwide. It ranks 53 of 70 cities (1 = the most expensive).

How much is rent in Ofakim?

Average rent in Ofakim: ₪3,575 a month, against ₪5,006 nationwide.

What is the average salary in Ofakim?

The average monthly wage per employee in Ofakim is ₪12,965, against ₪15,140 nationwide (National Insurance, 2025).

Is there a tax benefit for living in Ofakim?

Yes. In 2026, residents of Ofakim get an income tax credit of 18% on personal-exertion income of up to ₪259,920 a year.

What share of Ofakim's residents are Arab?

1% of Ofakim's residents are Arab, according to the CBS localities file.

Which district is Ofakim in?

Ofakim is in the Southern District, Be'er Sheva subdistrict.

Data sources

CBS locality code: 31