Quality of life in Hinwil (Zurich) — scores, review and neighborhoods

6.5/ 10
Top 25% in SwitzerlandVery good
Population
11,094
Commune type
Town

Living in Hinwil, a commune of 11094 inhabitants in Canton Zurich — with an overall score of 6.5/10, this commune is attractive for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Nature & Green Spaces (8.8/10) and Noise (8.7/10). Its score is in line with the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
8.7
Air Quality
6.2
Public Transport
2.5
Education & Culture
8.0
Nightlife & Dining
6.7
Nature & Green Spaces
8.8
Healthcare
8.1
Taxation
5.2
Annual Sunshine
4.3
Cantonal average

Recommended Profiles

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

For nature lovers looking to settle in Switzerland, Hinwil achieves a compatibility score of 6.9/10. Key strengths for this profile include Nature & Green Spaces and Noise. The Young Professional profile (5.8/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Hinwil excels in Nature & Green Spaces (8.8/10) — a green environment with many accessible green spaces, Noise (8.7/10) — a quiet environment, ideal for rest and focus, Healthcare (8.1/10) — excellent access to doctors, clinics, and hospitals.

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Public Transport (2.5/10) — limited public transport connections, Annual Sunshine (4.3/10).

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Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Ortsmuseum HinwilMuseum
Ortsmuseum HinwilMuseum
Atelier und SkulpturengartenMuseum
FeuerwehrmuseumMuseum
Übersetzerhaus LoorenLibrary
MediothekLibrary
Dorfbibliothek WernetshausenLibrary
Schulanlage BreiteSchool

Public Transport

HinwilTrain Station
Hinwil FriedhofBus Stop
Hinwil SportplatzBus Stop
GstaldenBus Stop
Hinwil, AlpenblickBus Stop
Hinwil DorfBus Stop
Hinwil BahnhofBus Stop
ZelgacherBus Stop

Healthcare Facilities

Ärzte Hinwil AGDoctor
APODRO ApothekeDoctor
Arztpraxis Dr. Siegrun Maas GmbHDoctor
Medbase HinwilDoctor
TopPharmDoctor
MED4HINWILDoctor
Zahnarztpraxis HuberDoctor
Drogerie FlückigerDoctor

Guides to read for this area

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

Considering buying property in Hinwil 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 Hinwil

What's it like to live in Hinwil? Resident impressions and quality of life
Hinwil offers a different lifestyle compared to its neighbors Dürnten, Wetzikon, and Bäretswil, particularly for those prioritizing natural surroundings. The commune's weakest dimension is transport, scoring just 1.5, making car dependency a significant challenge for daily mobility. However, Hinwil excels in nature and quiet living, with nature scoring 8.8 and noise pollution at 8.7. Air quality is solid at 7, supporting outdoor activities. Additionally, healthcare services score 6.8, and education reaches 4.6. The trade-off here is clear: residents gain exceptional access to natural spaces and tranquility but must accept limited public transit options and fewer dining amenities, scoring 2.9. Hinwil suits those seeking peaceful, nature-rich living over urban convenience.
How sunny and clean is the air in Hinwil?
Compared to neighbors like Dürnten, Wetzikon, and Bäretswil, Hinwil presents a mixed environmental profile. Air quality stands at 7.0, positioning it competitively for the region, though sunshine exposure lags at 4.3—a notable weakness relative to alpine and elevated areas. Conversely, noise levels are excellent at 8.7, and nature access scores an exceptional 8.8, reflecting strong green space connectivity. Furthermore, health services score 6.8, supporting overall wellness despite limited direct sunlight. Hinwil's main tradeoff centers on balancing respectable air quality and noise protection against reduced sunny days, making it suitable for those prioritizing clean air over abundant sunshine.
How well-connected is Hinwil? Transport, schools, dining
Hinwil trails its neighbors Dürnten, Wetzikon (ZH), and Bäretswil in transport accessibility, scoring a notably low 1.5. This represents the commune's primary connectivity weakness. Education services fare better at 4.6, though still below-average for the region. Dining and restaurant options are similarly limited at 2.9, suggesting fewer casual dining establishments. The commune's real strengths lie elsewhere: its exceptional nature score of 8.8 and outstanding air quality at 7 reflect its semi-rural character within the Winterthur agglomeration. Thus, Hinwil presents a clear tradeoff—those prioritizing public transit and urban amenities will face constraints, while residents valuing natural surroundings and clean air will find compelling advantages.
What are the neighboring communes of Hinwil and how big is it?
Hinwil, with a population of 11,094, is notably larger than its neighbors Dürnten, Wetzikon (ZH), and Bäretswil, positioning it as a significant regional hub in the Winterthur agglomeration. The commune's weakest dimension is transport, scoring only 1.5, reflecting limited connectivity relative to larger centers. However, Hinwil excels in natural environment quality, with a nature score of 8.8, and boasts exceptional air quality at 8.7. The main tradeoff is clear: residents gain outstanding environmental conditions and regional prominence but sacrifice convenient public transit access. Thus, Hinwil appeals primarily to those prioritizing landscape and rural character over transportation infrastructure.
Is Hinwil a tax-friendly municipality?
Hinwil's tax score of 5.2 places it in the middle range compared to neighbors like Dürnten, Wetzikon, and Bäretswil, making it neither particularly tax-friendly nor burdensome. The commune's weakest dimension is transport connectivity, scoring just 1.5, which may affect overall living costs despite moderate taxation. More positively, Hinwil excels in nature quality at 8.8 and noise levels at 8.7, delivering excellent environmental conditions. Thus, residents trade limited public transit access for peaceful surroundings and fair tax treatment—a reasonable balance for those prioritizing quality of life over urban convenience.

Neighboring communes of Hinwil

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 19.6 %20–64 years 60.6 %65 and over 19.9 %
Density
506 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+8.7 %
Vacant housing
1.3 %
New dwellings
7.2 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
2.2 %
Tertiary employment
61.6 %

Land use

Built-up area 19.7 %Agricultural land 51.9 %Forest 26.6 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Zurich (ZH)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.3016, 8.8512
BFS Number
117
Last updated
29 June 2026

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