Where to Live in Zurich Close to Nature

The Zurich metropolitan area is particularly well-suited for the Nature profile. Our analysis covers 138 communes in the Zurich area.

With an average score of 6.5/10, the area is on par with the national average (6.8/10). Individual scores range from 5.1 to 7.1/10, offering a real span of options. A standard deviation of 0.44 signals relative homogeneity for this profile.

Why These Communes Stand Out

Strengths and Tradeoffs of the Agglomeration

Relative to the Swiss average, the Zurich area stands out on Taxation (5.5/10, well above the national average of 3.5/10, deviation +2) and shows weakness on Noise (7.8/10, below the national average of 8.9/10, deviation -1.1).

Top-ranked communes limit the compromise on Noise 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.