The 9 Quality-of-Life Criteria

VivaMap scores every Swiss commune on 9 criteria, drawing on more than 40 official open datasets. Each criterion gives you a national ranking of all 2,134 communes — from the quietest to the lowest taxes. Pick a criterion to see the full ranking and the per-agglomeration analysis.

Noise

Measures exposure to road, rail and air traffic noise against WHO thresholds. Source: SonBase noise model from FOEN (geo.admin.ch) and FOCA aircraft-noise cadastre. A high score means a quiet environment.

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Air Quality

Evaluates air quality by combining three pollutants — NO₂, PM10 and PM2.5 — against WHO and Swiss limits. Source: FOEN immission maps (geo.admin.ch). A high score means cleaner air.

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Public Transport

Evaluates access to public transport: train stations, bus, tram and metro stops, weighted by frequency and distance. Source: ARE public-transport quality classes (geo.admin.ch). A high score means better service.

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Education & Culture

Measures proximity to schools, libraries, museums, theatres and playgrounds. Source: OpenStreetMap. A high score means more educational and cultural amenities nearby.

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Nightlife & Dining

Evaluates the density of restaurants, bars, cafés and pubs in the neighbourhood. Source: OpenStreetMap. A high score means a richer dining and nightlife offering.

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Nature & Green Spaces

Evaluates vegetation cover (parks, forests, meadows) and openness of the built environment. Sources: Arealstatistik FSO, OSM building footprints. A high score means more nature and a more open setting.

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Healthcare

Evaluates access to doctors, clinics and hospitals, weighted by facility type and distance. Source: OpenStreetMap. A high score means better access to healthcare.

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Taxation

Total tax burden for a married couple (70/30 income split, CHF 125,000 gross, 1 child, no religion). Source: FTA tax calculator 2025. A high score means lower taxes.

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Annual Sunshine

Measures average annual global solar radiation, accounting for terrain and horizon. Source: SFOE solar atlas (geo.admin.ch), 50 m grid. A high score means more sunshine.

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