Diest is a municipality covering 58.7 km² with a population of 23,998 people. The average age here is 43 years, and residents tend to own their homes, with 70% home ownership. The average net income per person is 20,145€ annually. The population mainly consists of Belgian nationals (94.3%), with small percentages from the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, and others. The housing stock in Diest is mostly houses, making up 75.5% of all buildings, with the rest being apartment buildings. Of the different types of houses, 38.6% are open type houses, farms, or castles; 17.4% are closed type houses; and 16.2% are semi-closed types. Houses for sale here number 8 currently, with prices averaging 474,000€. The most expensive listed house is priced at 635,000€, and the cheapest at 275,000€.
The homes mostly date back to around 1960, and they typically have 5.9 rooms on average, which is slightly below the national average of 6 rooms. For those who drive, Diest provides quick access to major roads like the N2, N10, R26, N29, and N127. The A2/E314 motorway entrance is just about a 4-minute drive from the town center, connecting Leuven, Diest, Genk, and Maasmechelen. The A13/E313 motorway can also be reached in about 14 minutes by car.
Public transportation includes 20 bus lines serving the area—lines such as the 299 between Hasselt and Geel via Diest, and the 370 connecting Leuven and Tielt to Diest, among others. Nearby train stations include Diest itself along with Zichem, Testelt, Schulen, and Langdorp. Families will find educational options including 7 nurseries like Het Honingbeertje and Kinderopvang Tingelinge, 12 nursery schools including Vrije Kleuterschool - De Notelaar and Gemeentelijke Basisschool De Buitenkans, plus 10 primary schools and 29 secondary schools such as Vrij Technisch Instituut Mariëndaal.
Shopping needs can be met locally with several supermarkets including 2 SPAR stores, 2 Delhaize locations, an Aldi, a Carrefour, and a Colruyt. Soft mobility options are available with one Blue-bike station for bicycle rentals and three Cambio car-sharing stations. Electric vehicle owners have access to two charging stations within Diest. For longer trips, Brussels Airport is reachable within approximately 34 minutes by car or about 74 minutes using public transport.