Nature & Green Spaces in St. Gallen: best neighborhoods and areas

Nature & Green Spaces combines vegetation cover (60%) and built-environment openness (40%). It measures both the presence of parks and forests and the airiness of the built fabric. A high score denotes a green, breathable setting.

On this criterion, the St. Gallen area shows average results. The average score of 8.8/10, computed across 36 communes, sits on par with the national average (9.1/10). Scores span from 5.6/10 to 9.7/10 across the communes analysed.

The standard deviation of 0.9 signals moderate variation between communes, enough to warrant a careful comparison.

Geographic Patterns and Contrasts

The spread between the top-ranked commune (9.7/10) and the weakest (5.6/10) reaches 4.1 points. The agglomeration offers contrasting profiles without marked homogeneity.

Top-ranked communes typically benefit from several convergent factors (location, long-standing infrastructure, geographic exposure); the weakest often compound structural disadvantages. The interactive map makes these spatial clusters visible at a glance.

Who Weighs This Criterion Most

Among the four VivaMap profiles, the Nature profile weights this criterion most heavily (weight 100 out of 100). The other profiles apply the following weights: Retirement (weight 95), Family (weight 80), Young Professional (weight 30).

Practically, a high Nature & Green Spaces score carries significant impact on the ranking for the Nature profile, whereas it matters less for a profile that de-emphasises this criterion. This explains why the same commune can lead one ranking and fall mid-pack in another.

Comparison Across Swiss Agglomerations

Among the 21 major Swiss agglomerations analysed by VivaMap, St. Gallen lands in last place for Nature & Green Spaces — rank 16/21 (ahead of 29% of the agglomerations).

Its immediate neighbours in the ranking are Sion (rank 15) and Zurich (rank 17). This context helps calibrate absolute scores: an agglomeration that looks average in isolation can sit well among its peers, and vice versa.

Key Takeaway

To prioritise Nature & Green Spaces in the St. Gallen area, Gonten (AI) leads with 9.7/10. Explore the interactive map to compare communes in real time, adjust weights to your profile, and see variation at the neighbourhood scale. See the national Nature & Green Spaces page for the full ranking and methodology.