Szczecin, Lublin, and Bydgoszcz Lead the Way for New Industrial Investments – Accolade Publishes Mid-Sized Cities Ranking
Warszawa, 20 maja 2025
Szczecin, Lublin, and Bydgoszcz Lead the Way for New Industrial Investments – Accolade Publishes Mid-Sized Cities Ranking
Szczecin, Lublin, and Bydgoszcz are currently the best locations for industrial and logistics investments, according to the first edition of Accolade’s report “Mid-Sized Cities – Great Investment Potential.” This is the first ranking in Poland focused on mid-sized cities - those with 100,000 to 400,000 residents - offering the greatest investment potential from the perspective of commercial real estate, such as warehouses and logistics centers. Rzeszów emerges as a rising “logistics star,” while Częstochowa and Gliwice benefit from Silesia’s automotive industry, and Zielona Góra as well as Gorzów Wielkopolski stand out for their proximity to the border.
The Accolade ranking covers 10 cities selected from over 30 mid-sized urban centers in Poland. The evaluation was based on nine criteria: demographics, labor market, wages, housing construction, private sector activity, academic facilities, road infrastructure, and warehouse supply and demand indicators. Cities could also earn bonus points for location advantages, such as proximity to a border or a port.
“Mid-sized cities are now fully-fledged players in the industrial investment market. They boast an increasingly strong infrastructure, access to skilled professionals, a growing private sector, and clear locational advantages. The trend of moving beyond the largest urban areas in the warehouse sector is deepening year by year, and Accolade is a market maker in this shift. Since we began operating in Poland, we’ve invested outside major agglomerations - in cities like Bydgoszcz, Zielona Góra, Białystok, and Lublin - and this strategy is proving successful. More companies are choosing to locate their operations in these cities, which offer undeniable benefits such as cost efficiency.” says Joanna Sinkiewicz, Head of Leasing at Accolade Group.
She adds: “However, to achieve the best balance between cost and quality, each organization should assess locations through the lens of their specific business needs. Large cities increasingly compete for business attention by offering incentives, grants, or infrastructure support. That’s why we believed it was time for a deeper look at the potential of mid-sized cities. Our report complements existing analyses of the largest cities but sheds light on a very dynamic part of Poland.”
No. 1: Szczecin
Scoring 77 out of a possible 93 points, Szczecin leads the Accolade ranking “Mid-Sized Cities – Great Investment Potential.” The city received top marks for road and warehouse infrastructure as well as strategic location advantages, including proximity to the German border and a seaport. Szczecin leads the ranking in terms of warehouse market demand and supply indicators and is among the top performers in road infrastructure. Its excellent location makes Szczecin one of the most strategic industrial hubs in Poland.
No. 2: Lublin
Lublin takes second place with 73 points. It stands out as the largest academic center in the ranking, earning top scores for the number of students and high marks for its number of universities and newly built housing. Lublin combines strong academic resources with active residential development and a dynamic private sector, making it a natural choice for investments in services, warehousing, and light industry.
No. 3: Bydgoszcz
With 60 points, Bydgoszcz ranks third thanks to high private sector activity, strong residential construction figures, and a thriving warehouse market. The city is steadily reinforcing its position as a logistics and industrial hub in north-central Poland. Its location, infrastructure development, and access to skilled labor make it highly attractive for entrepreneurs.
No. 4: Rzeszów
Just behind the podium, Rzeszów scores 59 points and earns high marks for low unemployment, private sector activity, and new housing. The city is growing rapidly, and its importance as an industrial and logistics hub is increasing regionally and geopolitically. In recent years, Rzeszów has become a key destination for investors looking to establish a presence in eastern Poland.
“The top three cities - Szczecin, Lublin, and Bydgoszcz - are places where Accolade has already completed numerous investments and has ambitious plans for the future. These locations work not only on paper but also in practice. Rzeszów, on the other hand, is a fast-growing 'rising star',” comments Joanna Sinkiewicz.
No. 5: Częstochowa
Scoring 58 points, Częstochowa ranks high thanks to a strong labor market, growing number of businesses, and solid academic infrastructure. The city leverages both its internal strengths and proximity to the Silesian agglomeration, building a competitive position in the commercial real estate market.
No. 6: Białystok
Białystok earned 57 points, receiving high scores for student population and new residential buildings. The capital of Podlasie is gaining attention as an educational center with increasing infrastructure potential. Improving transportation access enhances the city’s attractiveness to investors.
No. 7: Kielce
Kielce received 43 points and scored well in unemployment, number of businesses, and road infrastructure. It is an appealing location that effectively attracts production and logistics tenants.
No. 8: Gliwice
With 41 points, Gliwice stands out for its strong academic base, led by the Silesian University of Technology. A well-developed road network and technically skilled workforce make the city appealing for industrial and high-tech companies.
No. 9: Zielona Góra
Zielona Góra, with 26 points, earned high marks for location advantages - close to the German border and with improving road infrastructure. The city is successfully attracting investments in modern warehouses and distribution centers, especially for westward exports.
No. 10: Gorzów Wielkopolski
Gorzów Wielkopolski closes the first edition of the ranking with 20 points, still placing it among the 10 most promising mid-sized cities in Poland. Its investment appeal is growing thanks to available land, improving infrastructure, and a strategic location near the western border.
“Cities like Białystok, Zielona Góra, and Gorzów Wielkopolski are already established destinations on the commercial real estate map. Each offers unique strengths - proximity to Germany, a strong automotive sector, or well-developed infrastructure. These locations have a bright future and are likely to move up in future editions of the ranking,” concludes Joanna Sinkiewicz from Accolade.
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Metodyka rankingu
Ranking ”Średnie Miasta – wielki potencjał inwestycyjny” powstał z inicjatywy firmy Accolade, międzynarodowego inwestora działającego na rynku nieruchomości przemysłowych. Celem było wyłonienie 10 średnich miast o największym potencjale inwestycyjnym z punktu widzenia lokalizacji nieruchomości komercyjnych, takich jak magazyny, hale przemysłowe czy centra logistyczne. Do zestawienia wybrano miasta o liczbie mieszkańców w przedziale od 100 tys. do 400 tys., które jednocześnie znajdują się w kręgu zainteresowań inwestorów i deweloperów nieruchomości komercyjnych.
Każde z miast zostało ocenione w dziewięciu kategoriach o kluczowym znaczeniu dla rozwoju sektora nieruchomości: liczba ludności, stopa bezrobocia, przeciętne miesięczne wynagrodzenie brutto w sektorze przedsiębiorstw, liczba mieszkań oddanych do użytkowania, liczba podmiotów w sektorze prywatnym, liczba studentów, liczba uczelni wyższych, infrastruktura drogowa (dostęp do dróg ekspresowych i autostrad), dane magazynowe (wskaźnik popyt/podaż powierzchni magazynowej). W każdej kategorii miasta mogły uzyskać od 1 do 10 punktów. Dodatkowo przyznawano maksymalnie 3 punkty za tzw. atuty lokalizacyjne – m.in. bliskość granicy państwowej, portów morskich czy dostępność transportu multimodalnego. Maksymalna liczba punktów możliwa do uzyskania przez jedno miasto to 93. Uzyskany wynik odzwierciedla ogólną atrakcyjność inwestycyjną miasta z perspektywy sektora nieruchomości magazynowych.
Dane wykorzystane w analizie pochodzą z ogólnodostępnych i wiarygodnych źródeł, takich jak Główny Urząd Statystyczny (GUS), raporty branżowe firm doradczych, rejestry uczelni oraz informacje o inwestycjach drogowych.