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

7.3/ 10
Top 1% in Switzerland#1 in the cantonExceptional
Population
36,836
Commune type
City

Living in Fribourg, a commune of 36836 inhabitants in Canton Fribourg — with an overall score of 7.3/10, this commune is attractive for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Education & Culture (9.9/10) and Healthcare (9.9/10). Its score is above the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
8.0
Air Quality
5.1
Public Transport
8.9
Education & Culture
9.9
Nightlife & Dining
9.6
Nature & Green Spaces
6.7
Healthcare
9.9
Taxation
2.4
Annual Sunshine
5.5
Cantonal average

Fribourg's national strengths

#5 in Switzerland · Public Transport ↗Top 25 · Nightlife & Dining ↗Top 25 · Education & Culture ↗Top 50 · Healthcare ↗
Per our methodology ↗

Recommended Profiles

Young Professional
ExceptionalTop 1% in Switzerland
mediantop
Family
ExceptionalTop 1% in Switzerland
mediantop
Retirement
ExcellentTop 5% in Switzerland
mediantop
Nature
Fair
mediantop

For families looking to settle in Switzerland, Fribourg achieves a compatibility score of 7.4/10. Key strengths for this profile include Education & Culture and Noise. The Nature profile (6.6/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Fribourg excels in Education & Culture (9.9/10) — excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues, Healthcare (9.9/10) — excellent access to doctors, clinics, and hospitals, Nightlife & Dining (9.6/10) — a rich selection of restaurants, bars, and entertainment.

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Taxation (2.4/10) — a higher tax burden than average.

Fribourg neighbourhoods

VivaMap goes well below commune level: in Fribourg, 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 Fribourg neighbourhoods →
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Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Université de FribourgUniversity
HES-SOUniversity
Institut für Föderalismus (IFF)University
Haute école d'ingénierie et d'architecture de FribourgUniversity
Centre suisse de compétences en matière d'exécution des sanctions pénalesUniversity
RMO 02University
Beauregard 01University
Haute école d'ingénierie et d'architecture de FribourgUniversity

Public Transport

Fribourg/FreiburgTrain Station
Fribourg/Freiburg PoyaTrain Station
Neuveville/NeustadtTrain Station
Saint-Pierre/Sankt PeterTrain Station
Neuveville/Court-CheminBus Stop
Neuveville/MottaBus Stop
Tilleul/CathédraleBus Stop
Eglise-St-JeanBus Stop

Healthcare Facilities

Hôpital DalerHospital
Clinique Générale Ste-AnneClinic
Pharmacie du BourgDoctor
BenuDoctor
Sun StoreDoctor
Pharmacie Dr.HagendorfDoctor
Pharmacie Dr A MarcaDoctor
pharmacieplusDoctor

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 Fribourg as a Family
Young Professional
Where to Live in Fribourg as a Young Professional
Retirement
Where to Live in Fribourg in Retirement
Nature
Where to Live in Fribourg Close to Nature
Explore the map for more details →

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

Frequently asked questions about Fribourg

What's it like to live in Fribourg? Resident impressions and quality of life
Fribourg offers strong healthcare services with a score of 8.5, complemented by excellent public transport connectivity at 8.4 and notably quiet surroundings at 8. Education facilities score well at 7.8, supporting families in the area. However, fiscal conditions present a considerable challenge, scoring just 2.4, which may impact household finances. The commune also scores moderately on air quality at 6.4 and dining options at 6, while nature access and sunshine levels are adequate at 6.7 and 5.5 respectively. Overall, Fribourg balances professional infrastructure and tranquility against fiscal pressures. Explore the detailed dimension scores on the map to understand what matters most for your lifestyle preferences.
How sunny and clean is the air in Fribourg?
Fribourg excels in healthcare, scoring 8.5, alongside strong performance in noise control at 8 and transport accessibility at 8.4. Air quality registers at 6.4, reflecting moderate conditions, yet sunshine remains more limited at 5.5, suggesting the canton's climate brings cloudier periods. While these environmental factors present mixed results, the commune's robust healthcare and transport infrastructure provide substantial practical benefits. Explore the detailed environmental and lifestyle profiles on the map to understand how Fribourg's conditions compare with neighbors like Granges-Paccot, Pierrafortscha, and Villars-sur-Glâne.
How well-connected is Fribourg? Transport, schools, dining
Fribourg demonstrates strong connectivity with a transport score of 8.4, reflecting excellent public transit and road access. Education facilities are also well-developed, scoring 7.8, supporting families and learners across the commune. Dining options, however, score lower at 6, indicating moderate restaurant availability. The commune's neighboring communities—Granges-Paccot, Pierrafortscha, and Villars-sur-Glâne—further extend regional connectivity. Overall, Fribourg excels in mobility and educational infrastructure, yet dining diversity remains more limited. Explore the detailed map to discover specific transport routes, schools, and restaurants available in your area of interest.
What are the neighboring communes of Fribourg and how big is it?
Fribourg stands out for its healthcare infrastructure, with a health score of 8.5, alongside strong noise management at 8 and excellent public transport connectivity at 8.4. The commune has a population of 36,836 residents and borders three neighboring communes: Granges-Paccot, Pierrafortscha, and Villars-sur-Glâne. Nonetheless, fiscal conditions remain a challenge, scoring just 2.4. The area offers solid educational services and reasonable air quality, yet sunshine exposure is comparatively lower. Explore the interactive map to discover how these dimensions shape daily life in this canton capital.
Is Fribourg a tax-friendly municipality?
Fribourg scores 2.4 on fiscal favorability, indicating it is not particularly tax-friendly compared to other Swiss communes. While the municipality excels in health services with a score of 8.5 and transport accessibility at 8.4, its fiscal burden remains notably high. Air quality and dining options also lag somewhat, scoring 6.4 and 6 respectively. If tax efficiency is a priority in your relocation or residency decision, you may want to compare Fribourg with neighboring municipalities such as Granges-Paccot, Pierrafortscha, and Villars-sur-Glâne. Explore the full profile on the map to weigh fiscal considerations against other quality-of-life factors.

Neighboring communes of Fribourg

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 19.1 %20–64 years 64.1 %65 and over 16.8 %
Density
4,116 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+9.5 %
Vacant housing
1.8 %
New dwellings
0.2 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
4.5 %
Tertiary employment
93.1 %

Land use

Built-up area 63.5 %Agricultural land 13.2 %Forest 16.9 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Fribourg (FR)
Language region
French-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
46.8044, 7.1622
BFS Number
2196
Last updated
29 June 2026

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

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