Annual Sunshine in Winterthur: best neighborhoods and areas

By VivaMap · find the best place to live in Switzerland, from canton to exact address · Last updated 26 July 2026

Map of Annual Sunshine scores across the Winterthur area — top-ranked communes in green, weakest in red, per VivaMap methodology

Annual Sunshine measures global solar energy received at ground level, accounting for terrain and local horizon. Data come from the SFOE solar atlas and the swissALTI3D model. A high score means a sunnier location.

On this criterion, the Winterthur area underperforms. The average score of 3.4/10, computed across 40 communes, sits below the national average (4.7/10). Scores span from 1.4/10 to 4.1/10 across the communes analysed.

The standard deviation of 0.7 signals relative homogeneity; results are comparable from one commune to the next.

Top 5 Communes

1. Kloten (ZH) 4.1/10

modest performance, below the national average
2. Thalheim an der Thur (ZH) 4.0/10

modest performance, below the national average
3. Volken (ZH) 4.0/10

modest performance, below the national average
4. Bassersdorf (ZH) 4.0/10

modest performance, below the national average
5. Dietlikon (ZH) 4.0/10

modest performance, below the national average

Bottom 5 Communes

1. Brütten (ZH) 1.4/10

very low score, worth considering carefully
2. Freienstein-Teufen (ZH) 1.5/10

very low score, worth considering carefully
3. Oberembrach (ZH) 1.7/10

very low score, worth considering carefully
4. Berg am Irchel (ZH) 1.9/10

very low score, worth considering carefully
5. Elsau (ZH) 2.1/10

very low score, worth considering carefully

Kloten Thalheim an der Thur Volken Bassersdorf Dietlikon

Geographic Patterns and Contrasts

With a spread of only 2.7 points between extremes (4.1/10 to 1.4/10), the Winterthur communes offer relatively uniform conditions on this criterion.

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 Retirement profile weights this criterion most heavily (weight 80 out of 100). The other profiles apply the following weights: Nature (weight 70), Family (weight 50), Young Professional (weight 30).

Practically, a high Annual Sunshine score carries significant impact on the ranking for the Retirement 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, Winterthur lands in last place for Annual Sunshine — rank 17/21 (ahead of 24% of the agglomerations).

Its immediate neighbours in the ranking are Frauenfeld (rank 16) and Lucerne (rank 18). 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 Annual Sunshine in the Winterthur area, Kloten (ZH) leads with 4.1/10. 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 Annual Sunshine page for the full ranking and methodology.

Explore on the map →

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