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Quality of Life in Canton Zurich

Population
1,444,030
Municipalities
160
Largest municipality
Zürich

Canton Zurich includes 160 communes evaluated by VivaMap. With an average score of 6.2/10, it stands out for Nature & Green Spaces (8.7/10) and Noise (8/10). The Public Transport criterion (2.9/10) is its main area for improvement. Living in Canton Zurich is particularly suited for those seeking a green environment with many accessible green spaces.

Canton Average Scores

Noise
8.0
Air Quality
5.8
Public Transport
2.9
Education & Culture
7.7
Nightlife & Dining
5.9
Nature & Green Spaces
8.7
Healthcare
7.8
Taxation
5.6
Annual Sunshine
3.5
National average

Canton Zurich's national strengths

#3 in Switzerland · Public Transport ↗#3 in Switzerland · Education & Culture ↗Top 5 · Nightlife & Dining ↗Top 5 · Healthcare ↗Top 5 · Taxation ↗
Per our methodology ↗

Top Communes

  1. #1Zürich7.3
  2. #2Winterthur7.1
  3. #3Männedorf7.1
  4. #4Adliswil7.1
  5. #5Schwerzenbach7.1

Lowest-Ranked Communes

  1. Fischenthal5.2
  2. Altikon5.3
  3. Kleinandelfingen5.4
  4. Hagenbuch5.4
  5. Wasterkingen5.4

Best Communes by Profile

  • Family: Männedorf (7.4/10) — ideal for families thanks to strong Education & Culture scores.
  • Young Professional: Zürich (7.5/10) — ideal for young professionals thanks to strong Public Transport scores.
  • Retirement: Männedorf (7.1/10) — ideal for retirees thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.
  • Nature: Bäretswil (7.3/10) — ideal for nature lovers thanks to strong Nature & Green Spaces scores.

Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

ZHAWUniversity
Universität ZürichUniversity
ETH ZürichUniversity
Gottlieb-Duttweiler-InstitutUniversity
Sammlungszentrum UZHUniversity
Physik-InstitutUniversity
Zentrum für WeiterbildungUniversity
PH ZürichUniversity

Public Transport

WinterthurTrain Station
MarthalenTrain Station
BassersdorfTrain Station
DietlikonTrain Station
EglisauTrain Station
KlotenTrain Station
Kloten BalsbergTrain Station
GlattbruggTrain Station

Healthcare Facilities

Universitätsspital ZürichHospital
Spital MännedorfHospital
Stadtspital TriemliHospital
Spital BülachHospital
GZO Spital WetzikonHospital
Spital ZollikerbergHospital
Spital UsterHospital
Kantonsspital WinterthurHospital

Frequently Asked Questions

Which commune in Canton Zurich is best for families?
In Canton Zurich, Männedorf (7.4/10 on the family profile) leads the ranking. Its strongest scores are in Healthcare and Education & Culture — two criteria that the family profile weights heavily.
Where is taxation lowest in Canton Zurich?
Kilchberg (ZH) offers the lowest tax burden in Canton Zurich (score 6.5/10), 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 Zurich have the best public transport?
The best-served communes for public transport in Canton Zurich are Winterthur (8.8/10), Zürich (8.6/10) and Uster (7.9/10), based on ARE service-quality classes.
Which is the quietest commune in Canton Zurich?
Thalheim an der Thur (10.0/10) is the quietest commune in Canton Zurich, per the FOEN SonBase model that aggregates road, rail and air noise.
Does Canton Zurich rank above the Swiss average for quality of life?
With an overall average score of 6.2/10, Canton Zurich sits above the Swiss national average (5.7/10). Its strongest dimension is Nature & Green Spaces (8.7/10); its weakest is Public Transport (2.9/10).

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

All Communes

ZürichWinterthurMännedorfAdliswilSchwerzenbachUsterWetzikon (ZH)ZollikonDübendorfSchlierenGeroldswilHombrechtikonUitikonOberengstringenZumikonBachenbülachKilchberg (ZH)RüschlikonUetikon am SeeGossau (ZH)NiederglattStäfaThalwilGreifenseeFeuerthalenFehraltorfOetwil am SeeWettswil am AlbisAffoltern am AlbisFällandenErlenbach (ZH)DietikonDürntenRichterswilBülachUnterengstringenDietlikonRüti (ZH)BonstettenMönchaltorfRegensdorfPfäffikonOttenbachBirmensdorf (ZH)WallisellenSeuzachUrdorfGrüningenHinwilDielsdorfEggRegensbergFlurlingenBubikonLaufen-UhwiesenWangen-BrüttisellenHedingenLangnau am AlbisHerrlibergHorgenOpfikonRorbasWeiningen (ZH)VolketswilObfeldenEmbrachKüsnacht (ZH)BoppelsenMeilenAesch (ZH)MaurHausen am AlbisHittnauAeugst am AlbisBassersdorfBuchs (ZH)HettlingenBäretswilGlattfeldenSeegräbenKlotenSteinmaurOetwil an der LimmatStallikonPfungenRickenbach (ZH)MettmenstettenSchleinikonElsauWädenswilDänikonHüttikonBrüttenDachsenDällikonIllnau-EffretikonNiederweningenRifferswilSchöfflisdorfLindauDättlikonDinhardBenken (ZH)RümlangStammheimRafzWinkelWeisslingenFlaachEllikon an der ThurKappel am AlbisWald (ZH)NeerachZell (ZH)NürensdorfOberglattRussikonVolkenHenggartNiederhasliBaumaLufingenHochfeldenNeftenbachOssingenOtelfingenWiesendangenKnonauFreienstein-TeufenStadelTurbenthalElggWilaDorfWildbergHöriTruttikonHüntwangenMaschwandenBuch am IrchelRheinauDägerlenThalheim an der ThurTrüllikonMarthalenWeiachOberweningenEglisauSchlatt (ZH)OberriedenAndelfingenBerg am IrchelWil (ZH)BachsOberembrachWasterkingenHagenbuchKleinandelfingenAltikonFischenthal

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 19.8 %20–64 years 63.2 %65 and over 17.1 %
Density
934 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+12.4 %
Vacant housing
0.9 %
New dwellings
6.6 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
3.2 %
Tertiary employment
80.3 %

Land use

Built-up area 39.4 %Agricultural land 30.5 %Forest 27.9 %

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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