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Quality of Life in Canton Glarus

Population
38,844
Municipalities
3
Largest municipality
Glarus Nord

Canton Glarus includes 3 communes evaluated by VivaMap. With an average score of 5.6/10, it stands out for Noise (9.7/10) and Nature & Green Spaces (9.5/10). The Nightlife & Dining criterion (2.5/10) is its main area for improvement. Living in Canton Glarus is particularly suited for those seeking a quiet environment, ideal for rest and focus.

Canton Average Scores

Noise
9.7
Air Quality
8.7
Public Transport
5.1
Education & Culture
2.9
Nightlife & Dining
2.5
Nature & Green Spaces
9.5
Healthcare
4.7
Taxation
4.0
Annual Sunshine
3.4
National average

Canton Glarus's national strengths

#3 in Switzerland · Air Quality ↗Top 5 · Noise ↗Top 5 · Nature & Green Spaces ↗
Per our methodology ↗

Top Communes

  1. #1Glarus6.0
  2. #2Glarus Nord5.6
  3. #3Glarus Süd5.3

Lowest-Ranked Communes

  1. Glarus Süd5.3
  2. Glarus Nord5.6
  3. Glarus6.0

Best Communes by Profile

  • Family: Glarus (6.4/10) — ideal for families thanks to strong Education & Culture scores.
  • Young Professional: Glarus (5.3/10) — ideal for young professionals thanks to strong Public Transport scores.
  • Retirement: Glarus (6.7/10) — ideal for retirees thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.
  • Nature: Glarus (7.6/10) — ideal for nature lovers thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.

Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Museum des Landes GlarusMuseum
GrünhornhütteMuseum
KunsthausMuseum
Schiefertafelfabrik ElmMuseum
Linth-Escher-AuditoriumMuseum
Dorfmuseum SoolMuseum
AlpinmuseumMuseum
Fischereimuseum MettlenMuseum

Public Transport

WeesenTrain Station
LinthalTrain Station
Näfels-MollisTrain Station
Nieder- und OberurnenTrain Station
BiltenTrain Station
MühlehornTrain Station
Luchsingen-HätzingenTrain Station
Diesbach-BetschwandenTrain Station

Healthcare Facilities

Kantonsspital GlarusHospital
RehaClinic BraunwaldMedical Centre
Praxis im SonnenzentrumDoctor
Hausärzte OberurnenDoctor
Pill Apotheke & Drogerie St. FridolinDoctor
Dr. med. dent. Adrian PlatzDoctor
Dr. André BeelerDoctor
Dr. Renato KammDoctor

Frequently Asked Questions

Which commune in Canton Glarus is best for families?
In Canton Glarus, Glarus (6.4/10 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 Glarus?
Glarus offers the lowest tax burden in Canton Glarus (score 4.3/10), 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 Glarus have the best public transport?
The best-served communes for public transport in Canton Glarus are Glarus Nord (5.3/10), Glarus Süd (5.0/10) and Glarus (5.0/10), based on ARE service-quality classes.
Which is the quietest commune in Canton Glarus?
Glarus Süd (9.9/10) is the quietest commune in Canton Glarus, per the FOEN SonBase model that aggregates road, rail and air noise.
Does Canton Glarus rank above the Swiss average for quality of life?
With an overall average score of 5.6/10, Canton Glarus sits near the Swiss national average (5.7/10). Its strongest dimension is Noise (9.7/10); its weakest is Nightlife & Dining (2.5/10).

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 Glarus as a Family
Young Professional
Where to Live in Glarus as a Young Professional
Retirement
Where to Live in Glarus in Retirement
Nature
Where to Live in Glarus Close to Nature

All Communes

GlarusGlarus NordGlarus Süd

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 19.2 %20–64 years 60.5 %65 and over 20.4 %
Density
60 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+5.6 %
Vacant housing
1.9 %
New dwellings
6.7 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
2 %
Tertiary employment
58.1 %

Land use

Built-up area 4.4 %Agricultural land 31.9 %Forest 35.5 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Last updated: 17 July 2026

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

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