Quality of life in Thun (Bern) — scores, review and neighborhoods

6.6/ 10
Top 10% in SwitzerlandExcellent
Population
45,339
Commune type
City

Living in Thun, a commune of 45339 inhabitants in Canton Bern — with an overall score of 6.6/10, this commune is attractive for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Healthcare (9.4/10) and Education & Culture (8.7/10). Its score is above the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
6.9
Air Quality
5.3
Public Transport
7.0
Education & Culture
8.7
Nightlife & Dining
7.7
Nature & Green Spaces
7.3
Healthcare
9.4
Taxation
1.4
Annual Sunshine
6.0
Cantonal average

Recommended Profiles

Young Professional
ExcellentTop 10% in Switzerland
mediantop
Family
Very goodTop 25% in Switzerland
mediantop
Retirement
Very goodTop 25% in Switzerland
mediantop
Nature
Average
mediantop

For families looking to settle in Switzerland, Thun achieves a compatibility score of 6.8/10. Key strengths for this profile include Education & Culture and Noise. The Nature profile (6.4/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Thun excels in Healthcare (9.4/10) — excellent access to doctors, clinics, and hospitals, Education & Culture (8.7/10) — excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues, Nightlife & Dining (7.7/10) — a rich selection of restaurants, bars, and entertainment.

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Taxation (1.4/10) — a higher tax burden than average.

Thun neighbourhoods

VivaMap goes well below commune level: in Thun, scores are available per neighbourhood (H3 hexagons of ~0.1 km²) and even per rooftop. Within-commune contrasts are often as sharp as the differences between neighbouring communes.

Explore Thun neighbourhoods →

Considering buying property in Thun or moving to Canton Bern? Our interactive map lets you explore quality of life at the neighborhood level and compare with nearby communes.

Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Thun PanoramaMuseum
Kunstmuseum ThunMuseum
Panzermuseum ThunMuseum
FlechtmuseumMuseum
Schlossmuseum ThunMuseum
Stadtbibliothek ThunLibrary
BibliothekLibrary
Kino RexCinema / Theatre

Public Transport

ThunTrain Station
Thun, Berntorplatz- Bicke-ShutleBus Stop
TellstrasseBus Stop
HohmadBus Stop
DürrenastBus Stop
JungfraustrasseBus Stop
SträttligenplatzBus Stop
ProgymatteBus Stop

Healthcare Facilities

Spital ThunHospital
Notfallzentrum Spital ThunHospital
Hohmad PrivatklinikClinic
Röntgeninstitut ThunMedical Centre
Zahnartzpraxis almedina FiessingerDoctor
Hausarztpraxis LuisenwegDoctor
Apotheke Drogerie SträttligenDoctor
DropaDoctor

Guides to read for this area

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

Frequently asked questions about Thun

What's it like to live in Thun? Resident impressions and quality of life
Thun stands apart from neighbors like Hilterfingen, Heiligenschwendi, and Amsoldingen primarily through its urban scale and services. For a city of 45,339, quality of life is anchored by strong healthcare at 8.1 and notably robust nature access at 7.3, reflecting the lakeside setting. Transport scores 5.6, a relative weakness for its size, suggesting public systems exist but may not rival larger agglomerations. Air quality remains solid at 6.7, though dining options lag at 4.3. The main tradeoff: Thun offers excellent health infrastructure and natural amenities within a moderately walkable urban environment, yet fiscal burden—at 1.4—remains notably steep for residents seeking tax efficiency.
How sunny and clean is the air in Thun?
Thun performs comparably to neighbors like Hilterfingen and Heiligenschwendi on environmental quality, though air clarity stands as its weakest dimension. The air quality score reaches 6.7, reflecting moderate conditions typical of larger urban centers. By contrast, sunshine exposure scores 6.0, indicating adequate but not exceptional daylight hours for the Bernese region. Meanwhile, nature access emerges notably stronger at 7.3, suggesting that despite modest air and sun metrics, residents benefit from nearby natural spaces. The tradeoff reflects Thun's character as an established town: urban convenience comes with slightly compromised atmospheric clarity and moderate solar exposure, yet proximity to forests and water compensates.
How well-connected is Thun? Transport, schools, dining
Thun's connectivity differs noticeably from its smaller neighbors Hilterfingen, Heiligenschwendi, and Amsoldingen. Transport infrastructure presents the most modest dimension, scoring 5.6, indicating moderate public transit access typical of regional centers. Education performs slightly better at 5.9, reflecting adequate school availability for a city of 45,000 residents. Dining options lag considerably at 4.3, suggesting limited restaurant diversity compared to larger urban centers. The commune's main tradeoff reflects a mismatch between its population size and service density: sufficient educational and transport infrastructure for local needs, yet underdeveloped food-service amenities that may require residents to seek alternatives elsewhere.
What are the neighboring communes of Thun and how big is it?
Thun, with a population of 45,339, is notably larger than its neighbors Hilterfingen, Heiligenschwendi, and Amsoldingen. As a mid-sized Bernese commune, Thun balances competing strengths and weaknesses. Its fiscal environment presents the most significant challenge, with a fiscal score of 1.4. By contrast, healthcare stands as its strongest dimension at 8.1, while nature access scores well at 7.3. Transport connectivity at 5.6 and education at 5.9 offer moderate support for residents. The core tradeoff reflects a commune excelling in public health outcomes yet constrained by fiscal pressures that may limit service expansion.
Is Thun a tax-friendly municipality?
Compared to its neighbors Hilterfingen, Heiligenschwendi, and Amsoldingen, Thun presents a notably different tax profile. With a fiscal score of 1.4, Thun ranks as a relatively tax-unfriendly municipality. This represents the commune's weakest dimension by far. By contrast, Thun excels in healthcare, scoring 8.1, and benefits from strong environmental conditions with a nature score of 7.3. The municipality also maintains solid air quality at 6.7. The main tradeoff is clear: those seeking lower tax burdens should look elsewhere, though Thun compensates with excellent health services and natural surroundings that appeal to families and nature-oriented residents.

Neighboring communes of Thun

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 16.8 %20–64 years 59.1 %65 and over 24.1 %
Density
2,023 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+2.4 %
Vacant housing
0.2 %
New dwellings
2.6 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
4 %
Tertiary employment
79.8 %

Land use

Built-up area 49.9 %Agricultural land 28 %Forest 20.1 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Bern (BE)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
46.7461, 7.6303
BFS Number
942
Last updated
29 June 2026

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