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Quality of Life in Canton Obwalden

Population
35,695
Municipalities
7
Largest municipality
Sarnen

Canton Obwalden includes 7 communes evaluated by VivaMap. With an average score of 5.3/10, it stands out for Noise (9.8/10) and Nature & Green Spaces (9.6/10). The Public Transport criterion (1.8/10) is its main area for improvement. Living in Canton Obwalden is particularly suited for those seeking a quiet environment, ideal for rest and focus.

Canton Average Scores

Noise
9.8
Air Quality
8.4
Public Transport
1.8
Education & Culture
2.3
Nightlife & Dining
2.4
Nature & Green Spaces
9.6
Healthcare
4.7
Taxation
3.5
Annual Sunshine
4.8
National average

Canton Obwalden's national strengths

#2 in Switzerland · Noise ↗#2 in Switzerland · Nature & Green Spaces ↗Top 5 · Air Quality ↗
Per our methodology ↗

Top Communes

  1. #1Sachseln5.8
  2. #2Giswil5.5
  3. #3Engelberg5.4
  4. #4Sarnen5.2
  5. #5Alpnach5.1

Lowest-Ranked Communes

  1. Kerns4.9
  2. Lungern4.9
  3. Alpnach5.1
  4. Sarnen5.2
  5. Engelberg5.4

Best Communes by Profile

  • Family: Sachseln (6.3/10) — ideal for families thanks to strong Education & Culture scores.
  • Young Professional: Sachseln (5/10) — ideal for young professionals thanks to strong Public Transport scores.
  • Retirement: Sachseln (6.6/10) — ideal for retirees thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.
  • Nature: Giswil (7.7/10) — ideal for nature lovers thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.

Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Talmuseum EngelbergMuseum
Museum Bruder KlausMuseum
Historisches Museum ObwaldenMuseum
Fürenbär im BärennestMuseum
Kantonsbibliothek ObwaldenLibrary
Bibliothek KernsLibrary
Schul- und Gemeindebibliothek EngelbergLibrary
Winnetou-FreilichtspielplatzCinema / Theatre

Public Transport

SachselnTrain Station
Pilatus KulmTrain Station
ÄmsigenTrain Station
Alpnach DorfTrain Station
Alpnachstad (Pilatus-Bahn)Train Station
AlpnachstadTrain Station
EngelbergTrain Station
GrafenortTrain Station

Healthcare Facilities

Kantonsspital ObwaldenHospital
Luzerner Psychiatrie SarnenHospital
Dr. Andreas C. MarheineDoctor
Zahnpraxis SachselnDoctor
Kinesiologie RaffaelaDoctor
Hausarztpraxis DorfplatzDoctor
TopPharmDoctor
zahnarztDoctor

Frequently Asked Questions

Which commune in Canton Obwalden is best for families?
In Canton Obwalden, Sachseln (6.3/10 on the family profile) leads the ranking. Its strongest scores are in Noise and Nature & Green Spaces — two criteria that the family profile weights heavily.
Where is taxation lowest in Canton Obwalden?
Sarnen offers the lowest tax burden in Canton Obwalden (score 4.3/10), 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 Obwalden have the best public transport?
The best-served communes for public transport in Canton Obwalden are Giswil (5.0/10), Sachseln (5.0/10) and Lungern (1.2/10), based on ARE service-quality classes.
Which is the quietest commune in Canton Obwalden?
Sachseln (10.0/10) is the quietest commune in Canton Obwalden, per the FOEN SonBase model that aggregates road, rail and air noise.
Does Canton Obwalden rank above the Swiss average for quality of life?
With an overall average score of 5.3/10, Canton Obwalden sits below the Swiss national average (5.7/10). Its strongest dimension is Noise (9.8/10); its weakest is Public Transport (1.8/10).

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

SachselnGiswilEngelbergSarnenAlpnachLungernKerns

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 20 %20–64 years 60.7 %65 and over 19.3 %
Density
79 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+6.7 %
Vacant housing
1 %
New dwellings
5.5 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
1.1 %
Tertiary employment
58 %

Land use

Built-up area 4.4 %Agricultural land 38 %Forest 43.4 %

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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