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Quality of Life in Canton Nidwalden

Population
42,097
Municipalities
11
Largest municipality
Stans

Canton Nidwalden includes 11 communes evaluated by VivaMap. With an average score of 5.9/10, it stands out for Nature & Green Spaces (9.4/10) and Noise (9.3/10). The Public Transport criterion (1.5/10) is its main area for improvement. Living in Canton Nidwalden is particularly suited for those seeking a green environment with many accessible green spaces.

Canton Average Scores

Noise
9.3
Air Quality
7.3
Public Transport
1.5
Education & Culture
5.1
Nightlife & Dining
4.9
Nature & Green Spaces
9.4
Healthcare
6.5
Taxation
5.2
Annual Sunshine
3.9
National average

Top Communes

  1. #1Stans6.5
  2. #2Stansstad6.4
  3. #3Ennetbürgen6.2
  4. #4Dallenwil6.1
  5. #5Oberdorf (NW)6.0

Lowest-Ranked Communes

  1. Buochs5.4
  2. Emmetten5.6
  3. Wolfenschiessen5.6
  4. Ennetmoos5.6
  5. Beckenried5.7

Best Communes by Profile

  • Family: Stans (6.9/10) — ideal for families thanks to strong Education & Culture scores.
  • Young Professional: Stans (6.2/10) — ideal for young professionals thanks to strong Public Transport scores.
  • Retirement: Stansstad (6.8/10) — ideal for retirees thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.
  • Nature: Dallenwil (7.6/10) — ideal for nature lovers thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.

Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Glasi HergiswilMuseum
Festung FürigenMuseum
SalzmagazinMuseum
WinkelriedhausMuseum
Ermitage Isabelle KaiserMuseum
Frey Näpfli StiftungMuseum
Isabella KaiserMuseum
SustMuseum

Public Transport

Hergiswil NWTrain Station
StansTrain Station
StansstadTrain Station
Niederrickenbach StationTrain Station
DallenwilTrain Station
Hergiswil MattTrain Station
DörfliTrain Station
WolfenschiessenTrain Station

Healthcare Facilities

Spital NidwaldenHospital
DexaLifeDoctor
Zahnarztpraxis Gander + PlessDoctor
ZelgerDoctor
HNO-Praxis NidwaldenDoctor
Dentalhygiene-PraxisDoctor
Praxis ZahnmedizinDoctor
Apotheke Drogerie Durrer & NäpflinDoctor

Frequently Asked Questions

Which commune in Canton Nidwalden is best for families?
In Canton Nidwalden, Stans (6.9/10 on the family profile) leads the ranking. Its strongest scores are in Healthcare and Nature & Green Spaces — two criteria that the family profile weights heavily.
Where is taxation lowest in Canton Nidwalden?
Hergiswil (NW) offers the lowest tax burden in Canton Nidwalden (score 6.0/10), computed for a reference household (married couple, 1 child, CHF 125,000 gross, tax year 2025) via the official ESTV calculator.
Which communes in Canton Nidwalden have the best public transport?
The best-served communes for public transport in Canton Nidwalden are Stans (5.3/10), Wolfenschiessen (5.0/10) and Ennetmoos (1.7/10), based on ARE service-quality classes.
Which is the quietest commune in Canton Nidwalden?
Dallenwil (10.0/10) is the quietest commune in Canton Nidwalden, per the FOEN SonBase model that aggregates road, rail and air noise.
Does Canton Nidwalden rank above the Swiss average for quality of life?
With an overall average score of 5.9/10, Canton Nidwalden sits above the Swiss national average (5.7/10). Its strongest dimension is Nature & Green Spaces (9.4/10); its weakest is Public Transport (1.5/10).

Guides to read for this area

Four guides by lifestyle profile and three analyses of this area's strongest criteria.

By lifestyle profile

Family
Where to Live in Lucerne as a Family
Young Professional
Where to Live in Lucerne as a Young Professional
Retirement
Where to Live in Lucerne in Retirement
Nature
Where to Live in Lucerne Close to Nature

All Communes

StansStansstadEnnetbürgenDallenwilOberdorf (NW)Hergiswil (NW)BeckenriedEnnetmoosWolfenschiessenEmmettenBuochs

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 18.1 %20–64 years 61 %65 and over 20.9 %
Density
179 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+5.2 %
Vacant housing
1.8 %
New dwellings
3.5 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
0.9 %
Tertiary employment
65.9 %

Land use

Built-up area 12.8 %Agricultural land 42.2 %Forest 39.4 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Last updated: 17 July 2026

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

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