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Quality of Life in Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Population
52,323
Municipalities
20
Largest municipality
Herisau

Canton Appenzell A.Rh. includes 20 communes evaluated by VivaMap. With an average score of 6.0/10, it stands out for Noise (9.4/10) and Nature & Green Spaces (9.3/10). The Public Transport criterion (2/10) is its main area for improvement. Living in Canton Appenzell A.Rh. is particularly suited for those seeking a quiet environment, ideal for rest and focus.

Canton Average Scores

Noise
9.4
Air Quality
6.8
Public Transport
2.0
Education & Culture
6.5
Nightlife & Dining
6.0
Nature & Green Spaces
9.3
Healthcare
7.9
Taxation
3.3
Annual Sunshine
3.0
National average

Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden's national strengths

#3 in Switzerland · Nightlife & Dining ↗#3 in Switzerland · Healthcare ↗
Per our methodology ↗

Top Communes

  1. #1Teufen (AR)6.7
  2. #2Speicher6.7
  3. #3Heiden6.7
  4. #4Herisau6.6
  5. #5Lutzenberg6.5

Lowest-Ranked Communes

  1. Urnäsch4.8
  2. Hundwil5.1
  3. Schönengrund5.1
  4. Trogen5.7
  5. Wolfhalden5.7

Best Communes by Profile

  • Family: Herisau (7.1/10) — ideal for families thanks to strong Education & Culture scores.
  • Young Professional: Heiden (6.2/10) — ideal for young professionals thanks to strong Public Transport scores.
  • Retirement: Teufen (AR) (6.9/10) — ideal for retirees thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.
  • Nature: Schwellbrunn (7.2/10) — ideal for nature lovers thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.

Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

SchützenmuseumMuseum
Henry-Dunant-MuseumMuseum
Museum HerisauMuseum
Appenzeller Volkskunde-MuseumMuseum
Museum am Dorfplatz GaisMuseum
VelomuseumMuseum
Appenzeller Brauchtumsmuseum UrnäschMuseum
Museum WolfhaldenMuseum

Public Transport

GaisTrain Station
HerisauTrain Station
WilenTrain Station
SchachenTrain Station
UrnäschTrain Station
ZürchersmühleTrain Station
WaldstattTrain Station
BühlerTrain Station

Healthcare Facilities

Medizinisches AmbulatoriumHospital
Spital HerisauHospital
Hirslanden Klinik am RosenbergClinic
Klinik GaisClinic
Augenklinik BellavistaClinic
Rheinburg-Klinik WalzenhausenMedical Centre
Psychiatrisches Zentrum ARMedical Centre
Alpstein Clinic AGMedical Centre

Frequently Asked Questions

Which commune in Canton Appenzell A.Rh. is best for families?
In Canton Appenzell A.Rh., Herisau (7.1/10 on the family profile) leads the ranking. Its strongest scores are in Noise and Nature & Green Spaces — two criteria that the family profile weights heavily.
Where is taxation lowest in Canton Appenzell A.Rh.?
Teufen (AR) offers the lowest tax burden in Canton Appenzell A.Rh. (score 4.6/10), computed for a reference household (married couple, 1 child, CHF 125,000 gross, tax year 2025) via the official ESTV calculator.
Which communes in Canton Appenzell A.Rh. have the best public transport?
The best-served communes for public transport in Canton Appenzell A.Rh. are Herisau (6.1/10), Heiden (5.3/10) and Speicher (4.5/10), based on ARE service-quality classes.
Which is the quietest commune in Canton Appenzell A.Rh.?
Schönengrund (10.0/10) is the quietest commune in Canton Appenzell A.Rh., per the FOEN SonBase model that aggregates road, rail and air noise.
Does Canton Appenzell A.Rh. rank above the Swiss average for quality of life?
With an overall average score of 6.0/10, Canton Appenzell A.Rh. sits above the Swiss national average (5.7/10). Its strongest dimension is Noise (9.4/10); its weakest is Public Transport (2.0/10).

Guides to read for this area

Four guides by lifestyle profile and three analyses of this area's strongest criteria.

By lifestyle profile

Family
Where to Live in St. Gallen as a Family
Young Professional
Where to Live in St. Gallen as a Young Professional
Retirement
Where to Live in St. Gallen in Retirement
Nature
Where to Live in St. Gallen Close to Nature

All Communes

Teufen (AR)SpeicherHeidenHerisauLutzenbergWaldstattRehetobelReute (AR)Stein (AR)Grub (AR)WalzenhausenWald (AR)GaisBühlerSchwellbrunnWolfhaldenTrogenSchönengrundHundwilUrnäsch

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 20.2 %20–64 years 59.9 %65 and over 19.9 %
Density
228 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+4.7 %
Vacant housing
1.6 %
New dwellings
4.5 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
2.4 %
Tertiary employment
65.2 %

Land use

Built-up area 13.8 %Agricultural land 54.2 %Forest 31.1 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Last updated: 29 June 2026

Data: FSO, geo.admin.ch, OSM — Scores normalised 0-10

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