By VivaMap · find the best place to live in Switzerland, from canton to exact address · Last updated 14 September 2026

The Sion metropolitan area is particularly well-suited for the Retirement profile. Our analysis covers 17 communes in the Sion area.
With an average score of 6.7/10, the area sits above the national average (6.1/10). Individual scores range from 5.1 to 7.7/10, offering a real span of options. A standard deviation of 0.69 signals relative homogeneity for this profile.
Excellent average of 9/10. Saint-Martin (VS) leads the ranking (9.6/10), while Sion comes last (7.8/10). Note: Sion appears in the global top 5 for the Retirement profile despite a low score here — its advantage comes from other criteria.
Moderate average of 6.3/10. Grimisuat leads the ranking (9.6/10), while Isérables comes last (3.7/10).
Excellent average of 9.1/10. Ayent leads the ranking (10/10), while Saint-Léonard comes last (5.1/10).
Relative to the Swiss average, the Sion area stands out on Annual Sunshine (6.7/10, well above the national average of 4.7/10, deviation +2.1) and shows weakness on Education & Culture (4.4/10, below the national average of 5.4/10, deviation -1).
Top-ranked communes limit the compromise on Education & Culture 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.
For retirees, proximity to care — GP, pharmacy, reference hospital — becomes central, as does walking access to shops and administrative services. A high score on Healthcare, Noise, and Public transport (even without commuting) preserves autonomy over time. Taxation also weighs heavily at retirement, when income drops. Avoid very steep communes if mobility declines: proximity is not enough without a reasonable gradient. A mid-sized commune (3,000–10,000 residents) often strikes the best balance between calm and services.
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.
Data: FSO, geo.admin.ch, OSM — Scores normalised 0-10