Quality of life in Kestenholz (Solothurn): scores, review and neighborhoods

5.2/ 10
Average
Population
1,805
Commune type
Village

Living in Kestenholz, a commune of 1805 inhabitants in Canton Solothurn. With an overall score of 5.2/10, this commune is average for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Nature & Green Spaces (8.9/10) and Noise (8.6/10). Its score is below the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
8.6
Air Quality
5.8
Public Transport
2.6
Education & Culture
3.3
Nightlife & Dining
5.9
Nature & Green Spaces
8.9
Healthcare
5.2
Taxation
2.0
Annual Sunshine
4.2
Cantonal average

These scores summarise the living environment where residents actually live, not across the whole municipal territory. The map, by contrast, colours the territory: a highly rated commune can still show large, often uninhabited areas with weaker values.

Recommended Profiles

Nature
Fair
mediantop
Young Professional
Fair
mediantop
Retirement
Average
mediantop
Family
Average
mediantop

For nature lovers looking to settle in Switzerland, Kestenholz achieves a compatibility score of 6.3/10. Key strengths for this profile include Nature & Green Spaces and Noise. The Young Professional profile (4.7/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Kestenholz excels in Nature & Green Spaces (8.9/10, a green environment with many accessible green spaces), Noise (8.6/10, a quiet environment, ideal for rest and focus).

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Taxation (2/10, a higher tax burden than average), Public Transport (2.6/10, limited public transport connections), Education & Culture (3.3/10, limited educational and cultural infrastructure).

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Key Infrastructure

Public Transport

Kestenholz DörfliBus Stop
KastanienbaumBus Stop
SchweissackerBus Stop

Guides to read for this area

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

Considering buying property in Kestenholz or moving to Canton Solothurn? Our interactive map lets you explore quality of life at the neighborhood level and compare with nearby communes.

Frequently asked questions about Kestenholz

What's it like to live in Kestenholz? Resident impressions and quality of life
Compared with Niederbuchsiten, Oensingen and Schwarzhäusern, Kestenholz trades urban convenience for calm and green surroundings. Its weakest dimension is fiscal pressure, with a taxation score of just 2, followed by transport at 2.6 and education at 3.3, so car dependence and limited local schooling options are real considerations. Meanwhile, nature scores 8.9 and noise 8.6, reflecting quiet streets and easy access to open countryside. Air quality sits at 5.8, restaurants at 5.9 and healthcare at 5.2, all mid-range. Notably, the low transport and fiscal scores mean commuters should weigh costs carefully. Overall, Kestenholz best suits nature lovers and retirees seeking tranquillity rather than young professionals or families needing strong services.
How sunny and clean is the air in Kestenholz?
Compared with Niederbuchsiten, Oensingen and Schwarzhäusern, Kestenholz stands out for its quiet and green setting rather than its sunshine or air purity. Its weakest environmental score is sunshine at just 4.2, while air quality reaches a moderate 5.8. By contrast, noise sits at a very favourable 8.6 and nature at 8.9, making the commune feel calm and rural despite modest sunlight and only average air cleanliness. Notably, transport (2.6) and fiscalité (2.0) score far lower, so the appeal here is environmental rather than practical. Overall, Kestenholz best suits nature lovers and retirees seeking tranquillity, not families or young professionals prioritising sun, air or connectivity.
How well-connected is Kestenholz? Transport, schools, dining
Kestenholz is less connected than its neighbours Niederbuchsiten, Oensingen and Schwarzhäusern, with transport scoring just 2.6 and education 3.3. Notably, fiscal pressure is also high at 2.0, so commuters and families should weigh these weak points carefully. By contrast, the commune performs far better on nature at 8.9 and noise at 8.6, while dining sits at a moderate 5.9. Meanwhile, air quality reaches 5.8 and healthcare 5.2, with sunshine a modest 4.2. Overall, Kestenholz suits nature lovers and retirees seeking quiet surroundings over daily convenience, rather than young professionals or families dependent on strong transit links and nearby schooling.
What are the neighboring communes of Kestenholz and how big is it?
Compared with its neighbours Niederbuchsiten, Oensingen and Schwarzhäusern, Kestenholz is a small commune of 1,805 residents in the Solothurn canton, within the Aarau-Olten agglomeration. Its weakest dimension is fiscal pressure, with a taxation score of just 2, followed by transport at 2.6 and education at 3.3. By contrast, nature stands out at 8.9, alongside low noise exposure at 8.6. Air quality reaches 5.8, restaurants 5.9, healthcare 5.2 and sunshine 4.2. Notably, the three neighbouring communes sit close by, making Kestenholz part of a small, interconnected cluster. Given this profile, the commune best suits nature lovers seeking quiet surroundings rather than residents prioritising low taxes or frequent public transport.
Is Kestenholz a tax-friendly municipality?
Compared with neighbors such as Niederbuchsiten, Oensingen, and Schwarzhäusern, Kestenholz stands out less for tax appeal than for its quiet, green setting. Its weakest dimension is fiscalité, scoring just 2, which indicates a comparatively low tax-friendliness. Transport is also modest at 2.6, and education sits at 3.3. By contrast, nature reaches 8.9 and noise scores 8.6, reflecting a calm, rural environment. Air quality is moderate at 5.8. Overall, Kestenholz best suits nature lovers and retirees seeking tranquility rather than young professionals or families prioritizing tax advantages and connectivity.

Neighboring communes of Kestenholz

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 21.2 %20–64 years 60.4 %65 and over 18.4 %
Density
213 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+10.1 %
Vacant housing
2.1 %
New dwellings
8.3 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
1.2 %
Tertiary employment
62.6 %

Land use

Built-up area 9.4 %Agricultural land 52.4 %Forest 38 %

Source: FSO, Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Solothurn (SO)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.2785, 7.7502
BFS Number
2403
Last updated
7 October 2026

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