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Quality of life in Rapperswil-Jona (St. Gallen) — scores, review and neighborhoods

6.6/ 10
Top 10% in SwitzerlandExcellent
Population
26,998
Commune type
Town

Living in Rapperswil-Jona, a commune of 26998 inhabitants in Canton St. Gallen — with an overall score of 6.6/10, this commune is attractive for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Education & Culture (8.6/10) and Nature & Green Spaces (8.2/10). Its score is above the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
8.1
Air Quality
5.4
Public Transport
4.6
Education & Culture
8.6
Nightlife & Dining
6.9
Nature & Green Spaces
8.2
Healthcare
8.2
Taxation
5.4
Annual Sunshine
4.1
Cantonal average

Recommended Profiles

Young Professional
ExcellentTop 10% in Switzerland
mediantop
Family
ExcellentTop 10% in Switzerland
mediantop
Retirement
Very goodTop 25% in Switzerland
mediantop
Nature
Fair
mediantop

For families looking to settle in Switzerland, Rapperswil-Jona achieves a compatibility score of 6.9/10. Key strengths for this profile include Education & Culture and Noise. The Young Professional profile (6.2/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Rapperswil-Jona excels in Education & Culture (8.6/10) — excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues, Nature & Green Spaces (8.2/10) — a green environment with many accessible green spaces, Healthcare (8.2/10) — excellent access to doctors, clinics, and hospitals.

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Annual Sunshine (4.1/10), Public Transport (4.6/10) — limited public transport connections.

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Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Ostschweizer Fachhochschule Campus Rapperswil JonaUniversity
Container 2University
Kunst(Zeug)HausMuseum
Stadtmuseum Rapperswil-JonaMuseum
PolenmuseumMuseum
enea BaummuseumMuseum
StadtbibliothekLibrary
Bibliothek des PolenmuseumsLibrary

Public Transport

BlumenauTrain Station
Rapperswil SGTrain Station
JonaTrain Station
KempratenTrain Station
BollingenTrain Station
Kindergarten HummelbergBus Stop
St. DionysBus Stop
HummelwaldstrasseBus Stop

Healthcare Facilities

RODIAG Diagnostic Centers RöntgeninstitutMedical Centre
RODIAG Diagnostic Centers RöntgeninstitutMedical Centre
RosenklinikMedical Centre
uroclinic RapperswilMedical Centre
Psychiatriezentrum Linthgebiet, Standort RapperswilMedical Centre
arztpraxis rapperswilMedical Centre
Medbase Apotheke JonaDoctor
RappJMedDoctor

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 St. Gallen as a Family
Young Professional
Where to Live in St. Gallen as a Young Professional
Retirement
Where to Live in St. Gallen in Retirement
Nature
Where to Live in St. Gallen Close to Nature
Explore the map for more details →

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

Frequently asked questions about Rapperswil-Jona

What's it like to live in Rapperswil-Jona? Resident impressions and quality of life
Rapperswil-Jona ranks above its neighbors Rüti, Dürnten, and Lachen in environmental quality, yet faces notable challenges in urban amenities. The commune's weakest dimension is transport connectivity, scoring 3.1, alongside limited dining and leisure options at 3.3. Conversely, nature access stands at 8.2, complemented by low noise pollution at 8.1, making it an appealing destination for those prioritizing natural surroundings and tranquility. Healthcare services score 6.9, supporting daily wellbeing. This 26,998-resident community embodies a fundamental tradeoff: exceptional proximity to nature and peaceful living come at the cost of restricted public transportation and fewer restaurants nearby, suiting those who value countryside living over urban convenience.
How sunny and clean is the air in Rapperswil-Jona?
Rapperswil-Jona shares the St. Gallen agglomeration with neighbors like Rüti, Dürnten, and Lachen, yet presents a more modest profile regarding sunshine and air quality. Sunlight is the commune's weakest dimension at 4.1, suggesting limited annual sunshine hours compared to sunnier Swiss regions. Air quality performs better at 6.3, indicating acceptable but not exceptional conditions. However, nature emerges as the commune's strongest asset at 8.2, alongside solid noise levels at 8.1. The main tradeoff here reflects a lakeside Alpine setting: while natural surroundings are excellent and noise pollution minimal, the geographic position limits solar exposure, and air quality remains moderate rather than pristine.
How well-connected is Rapperswil-Jona? Transport, schools, dining
Rapperswil-Jona offers moderate connectivity compared to neighbors like Rüti, Dürnten, and Lachen, yet its profile reveals distinct strengths and weaknesses. Public transport scores notably low at 3.1, presenting the commune's primary limitation for mobility. Dining and restaurant options similarly lag at 3.3, offering limited gastronomic variety. Education performs better at 6.0, providing reasonable school and training facilities for families. Overall, Rapperswil-Jona trades robust transportation and dining infrastructure for adequate educational services—a pattern suggesting it functions primarily as a residential hub within the St. Gallen agglomeration rather than a destination for dining or transit convenience.
What are the neighboring communes of Rapperswil-Jona and how big is it?
Rapperswil-Jona, with a population of 26,998, sits larger than its neighboring communes Rüti, Dürnten, and Lachen. Located in the St. Gallen agglomeration, this sizeable municipality balances diverse strengths and weaknesses. Its transport connectivity scores only 3.1, representing its most significant challenge, while dining and restaurant amenities similarly lag at 3.3. Conversely, the commune excels in nature access with 8.2 and noise management at 8.1, reflecting its lakeside and suburban character. The tradeoff is clear: Rapperswil-Jona offers excellent environmental quality and natural settings, yet it requires improvement in urban mobility and food service infrastructure relative to its size.
Is Rapperswil-Jona a tax-friendly municipality?
Compared to neighbors like Rüti, Dürnten, and Lachen, Rapperswil-Jona presents a moderate tax profile. With a fiscal score of 5.4, the commune falls into a middle range—neither particularly advantageous nor restrictive for tax considerations. This represents its weakest dimension alongside restaurant offerings and public transport. Yet Rapperswil-Jona compensates with notable strengths in environmental quality, scoring 8.2 for nature access and 8.1 for noise levels. Healthcare services also rank respectably at 6.9. Residents should weigh the moderate tax burden against the commune's strong environmental amenities and good health infrastructure—a tradeoff favoring those prioritizing quality of life over tax savings.

Neighboring communes of Rapperswil-Jona

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 19 %20–64 years 59.9 %65 and over 21.2 %
Density
1,225 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+4.1 %
Vacant housing
2.7 %
New dwellings
1.8 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
1.7 %
Tertiary employment
79.4 %

Land use

Built-up area 31.7 %Agricultural land 35.3 %Forest 29.7 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
St. Gallen (SG)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.2377, 8.8597
BFS Number
3340
Last updated
29 June 2026

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

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