Where to Live in Neuchâtel Close to Nature

By VivaMap · find the best place to live in Switzerland, from canton to exact address · Last updated 9 October 2026

Quality-of-life map for the Nature profile in the Neuchâtel area: communes weighted by that profile's priorities

The Neuchâtel metropolitan area shows mixed results for the Nature profile. Our analysis covers 12 communes in the Neuchâtel area.

With an average score of 6.3/10, the area is on par with the national average (6.5/10). Individual scores range from 5.8 to 6.8/10, offering a real span of options. A standard deviation of 0.33 signals relative homogeneity for this profile.

Top 5 Communes

  1. 1. Delley-Portalban (FR) 6.8/10
    strong score, above the local average
  2. 2. Gletterens (FR) 6.7/10
    strong score, above the local average
  3. 3. Cudrefin (VD) 6.7/10
    strong score, above the local average
  4. 4. Gampelen (BE) 6.6/10
    strong score, above the local average
  5. 5. Vully-les-Lacs (VD) 6.5/10
    strong score, above the local average

Bottom 5 Communes

  1. 1. Neuchâtel (NE) 5.8/10
    solid score for this profile, without marked excellence
  2. 2. Cornaux (NE) 5.9/10
    solid score for this profile, without marked excellence
  3. 3. Milvignes (NE) 6.0/10
    solid score for this profile, without marked excellence
  4. 4. Boudry (NE) 6.0/10
    solid score for this profile, without marked excellence
  5. 5. Laténa (NE) 6.1/10
    solid score for this profile, without marked excellence

Why These Communes Stand Out

Nature & Green Spaces (weight: 100%)

Excellent average of 7.8/10. Gletterens leads the ranking (9.2/10), while Neuchâtel comes last (5.8/10).

Noise (weight: 95%)

Excellent average of 9/10. Delley-Portalban leads the ranking (9.9/10), while Neuchâtel comes last (8.3/10).

Air Quality (weight: 95%)

Moderate average of 4.9/10. Gampelen leads the ranking (5.5/10), while Neuchâtel comes last (3.8/10).

Strengths and Tradeoffs of the Agglomeration

Relative to the Swiss average, the Neuchâtel area stands out on Nightlife & Dining (7.7/10, above the national average of 6.5/10, deviation +1.2) and shows weakness on Taxation (1.5/10, well below the national average of 3.5/10, deviation -2).

Top-ranked communes limit the compromise on Taxation without sacrificing higher-priority profile criteria. Each criterion's scores are independently normalised at national scale; direct comparison between different criteria should be interpreted with caution.

Advice for the Nature profile

For a nature-oriented profile, prioritise the combined scores of Nature, Noise, and Air quality first: that trio truly protects the experience you seek. Mind accessibility: a wonderfully green commune 45 minutes from the nearest station will weigh on every other activity. Also consider Sunshine: winters can differ drastically between Central Valais and the Plateau. If you work from home, check fibre-optic coverage: some rural communes still rely on ADSL. For families, combine this profile with education criteria: the tradeoff is often worth making.

Methodology

The profile overall score combines the 9 VivaMap criteria weighted by the profile's declared priorities. Each criterion score is normalised on a national 0-10 scale to keep agglomerations comparable. Visit the criteria pages to learn how each dimension is measured.

Related Guides

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