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Quality of life in Affoltern am Albis (Zurich) — scores, review and neighborhoods

6.7/ 10
Top 10% in SwitzerlandExcellent
Population
11,609
Commune type
Town

Living in Affoltern am Albis, a commune of 11609 inhabitants in Canton Zurich — with an overall score of 6.7/10, this commune is attractive for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Healthcare (9/10) and Education & Culture (8.9/10). Its score is in line with the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
8.0
Air Quality
5.1
Public Transport
4.8
Education & Culture
8.9
Nightlife & Dining
7.3
Nature & Green Spaces
8.4
Healthcare
9.0
Taxation
5.2
Annual Sunshine
4.0
Cantonal average

Recommended Profiles

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

For families looking to settle in Switzerland, Affoltern am Albis achieves a compatibility score of 7/10. Key strengths for this profile include Education & Culture and Noise. The Young Professional profile (6.3/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Affoltern am Albis excels in Healthcare (9/10) — excellent access to doctors, clinics, and hospitals, Education & Culture (8.9/10) — excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues, Nature & Green Spaces (8.4/10) — a green environment with many accessible green spaces.

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Annual Sunshine (4/10), Public Transport (4.8/10) — limited public transport connections.

Transaction prices in Affoltern am Albis

Rolling median of sales from 2021 to 2025

Detached house

1’547’500 CHF

middle half of sales: 1’245’000 – 2’100’000 · 88 sales

Owner-occupied flat

1’144’000 CHF

middle half of sales: 867’750 – 1’425’000 · 236 sales

Source: property transfer statistics, Canton of Zurich (land registries and notaries). Actual sale prices, not an estimate.

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Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum SammlungszentrumMuseum
Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum SammlungszentrumMuseum
Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum SammlungszentrumMuseum
Ortsmuseum Affoltern am AlbisMuseum
Regionalbibliothek Affoltern am AlbisLibrary
La MarotteCinema / Theatre
Schulhaus EnnetgrabenSchool
Oberstufenschule EnnetgrabenSchool

Public Transport

Affoltern am AlbisTrain Station
BlitzgbachBus Stop
BezirksspitalBus Stop
Affoltern a.A. BahnhofBus Stop
StigeliBus Stop
FehrenbachBus Stop
LindenmoosBus Stop
MoosbachBus Stop

Healthcare Facilities

Spital Affoltern am AlbisHospital
Kinder-Reha SchweizHospital
Zahnärzte Kalt & Willi AGDoctor
Arztpraxis AG Zentrum OberdorfDoctor
Medbase Apotheke Affoltern a.A.Doctor
AmavitaDoctor
Augenarztpraxis BlumenhofDoctor
VitalisDoctor

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
Explore the map for more details →

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

Frequently asked questions about Affoltern am Albis

What's it like to live in Affoltern am Albis? Resident impressions and quality of life
Affoltern am Albis compares favorably to neighbors like Hedingen, Obfelden, and Aeugst am Albis in environmental quality. The commune's greatest strengths are its natural surroundings, with a nature score of 8.4, and notably low noise pollution at 8, making it an appealing choice for those seeking peaceful, green living. Health services score well at 7.5. It is worth noting that public transport connectivity is considerably weaker at 3.3, and dining options are similarly limited at 3.6, reflecting its suburban character. Air quality and education both register moderate marks around 6–6.4. The fundamental tradeoff here is between environmental tranquility and rural convenience: residents gain access to clean air and natural space but sacrifice easy mobility and urban amenities typical of larger agglomerations.
How sunny and clean is the air in Affoltern am Albis?
Compared to neighbors like Hedingen, Obfelden, and Aeugst am Albis, Affoltern am Albis presents a mixed environmental profile. The commune stands out for exceptional noise levels (8.0), suggesting a peaceful residential setting, and strong air quality at 6.4, which supports a relatively healthy living environment. Sunshine exposure, however, is notably weaker at 4.0, indicating limited annual daylight hours—a consideration for those prioritizing bright conditions. It is worth noting that while air cleanliness here is respectable, the modest sunshine score reflects typical Zurich-region cloud cover patterns. The main tradeoff is between enjoying clean, quiet surroundings and accepting below-average solar exposure.
How well-connected is Affoltern am Albis? Transport, schools, dining
Affoltern am Albis lags behind neighbors like Hedingen, Obfelden, and Aeugst am Albis on transport connectivity, scoring just 3.3—a notable gap for a Zurich agglomeration commune. Education is its relative strength at 6.1, supported by solid healthcare access at 7.5. Dining and restaurant options remain modest at 3.6. It is worth noting that the commune compensates for transport constraints through excellent environmental quality, with nature scoring 8.4 and noise levels at 8. The main tradeoff is clear: Affoltern prioritizes countryside living and education over urban convenience and gastronomy.
What are the neighboring communes of Affoltern am Albis and how big is it?
Affoltern am Albis is a moderately sized commune in Zurich's agglomeration with 11,609 residents, comparable in scale to its neighbors Hedingen, Obfelden, and Aeugst am Albis. The commune's strongest dimension is its natural environment, scoring 8.4 for nature, complemented by excellent noise levels at 8. Healthcare also performs well with a score of 7.5. It is worth noting that transport connectivity remains underdeveloped at 3.3, reflecting the trade-off between preserving its quiet, green character and providing robust urban mobility links to the broader agglomeration.
Is Affoltern am Albis a tax-friendly municipality?
Compared to its neighbors Hedingen, Obfelden, and Aeugst am Albis, Affoltern am Albis presents a moderate fiscal profile with a tax score of 5.2. The commune excels in environmental quality, with noise levels scoring 8 and nature access at 8.4, alongside solid health infrastructure rated 7.5. However, the fiscal dimension represents a relative weakness. It is worth noting that tax friendliness here sits in the middle range rather than at the lower end, suggesting Affoltern am Albis trades moderate tax burden for strong environmental amenities and public health services. Residents should weigh whether these quality-of-life benefits justify the fiscal position when considering relocation.

Neighboring communes of Affoltern am Albis

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 20.2 %20–64 years 61.7 %65 and over 18.2 %
Density
1,162 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+10.9 %
Vacant housing
1.0 %
New dwellings
3.8 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
3 %
Tertiary employment
80.4 %

Land use

Built-up area 30.7 %Agricultural land 40.2 %Forest 28.2 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Zurich (ZH)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.2822, 8.4512
BFS Number
2
Last updated
29 June 2026

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

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