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

5.6/ 10
Fair
Population
4,738
Commune type
Village

Living in Oberrieden, a commune of 4738 inhabitants in Canton Zurich — with an overall score of 5.6/10, this commune is average for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Healthcare (9.3/10) and Education & Culture (9.1/10). Its score is below the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
4.1
Air Quality
3.9
Public Transport
1.8
Education & Culture
9.1
Nightlife & Dining
6.8
Nature & Green Spaces
8.3
Healthcare
9.3
Taxation
6.2
Annual Sunshine
0.5
Cantonal average

Recommended Profiles

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

For families looking to settle in Switzerland, Oberrieden achieves a compatibility score of 5.8/10. Key strengths for this profile include Education & Culture and Noise. The Nature profile (5/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Oberrieden excels in Healthcare (9.3/10) — excellent access to doctors, clinics, and hospitals, Education & Culture (9.1/10) — excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues, Nature & Green Spaces (8.3/10) — a green environment with many accessible green spaces.

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Annual Sunshine (0.5/10), Public Transport (1.8/10) — limited public transport connections, Air Quality (3.9/10) — degraded air quality from traffic emissions.

Explore the map for more details →

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

Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

OrtsmuseumMuseum
LangwegSchool
PüntSchool
Sekundarschule KirchstrasseSchool

Public Transport

Oberrieden DorfTrain Station
OberriedenTrain Station
Oberrieden Dorf BahnhofBus Stop
HubstrasseBus Stop
WattenbühlwegBus Stop
Oberrieden BahnhofBus Stop
TannenbachBus Stop

Healthcare Facilities

Sternen ApothekeDoctor

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

Frequently asked questions about Oberrieden

What's it like to live in Oberrieden? Resident impressions and quality of life
Oberrieden stands out as a nature-focused lakeside commune where environmental quality heavily outweighs urban conveniences. Its weakest dimension is sunlight exposure at 0.5, while air quality scores 6.1. The commune truly excels in nature access with 8.3 and healthcare quality at 7.8, making it attractive for families prioritizing green space and medical services. Education rates reasonably at 5.5, though dining and restaurant options remain limited at 3.3. Public transport connectivity is notably sparse at 1, reflecting its quieter character. Positioned between Thalwil, Langnau am Albis, and Rüschlikon, Oberrieden represents a classic tradeoff: exceptional natural surroundings and health infrastructure offset by limited urban amenities and transit access—ideal for those seeking calm over convenience.
How sunny and clean is the air in Oberrieden?
Oberrieden faces a significant challenge with sunshine, scoring just 0.5 on sunlight exposure. Air quality presents a different picture, with a moderate score of 6.1, indicating reasonably clean air. This lakeside location near Thalwil, Langnau am Albis, and Rüschlikon benefits from proximity to natural surroundings that support acceptable air standards. However, the weak solar exposure reflects the commune's topography and weather patterns typical of the Zurich agglomeration. The main tradeoff here is between limited daylight hours and generally stable air quality—a common pattern for lakeside communities in the region.
How well-connected is Oberrieden? Transport, schools, dining
Oberrieden faces a significant connectivity challenge with transport infrastructure, scoring just 1.0. This marks the commune's weakest dimension and reflects limited public transit access relative to its neighbors Thalwil, Langnau am Albis, and Rüschlikon. Education scores more moderately at 5.5, offering adequate school options without exceptional strength. Dining and restaurants present another constraint at 3.3, with fewer culinary establishments than larger centers. The commune's main tradeoff emerges clearly: Oberrieden prioritizes natural amenities and health services over urban convenience, making it better suited for residents valuing landscape and wellness over transportation ease and dining variety.
What are the neighboring communes of Oberrieden and how big is it?
Oberrieden is a small commune in Zurich's agglomeration with a population of 4,738 residents. It borders three communes: Thalwil, Langnau am Albis, and Rüschlikon. The commune's profile reveals notable environmental strengths, particularly in nature access with a score of 8.3 and health infrastructure scoring 7.8. By contrast, sunshine exposure is exceptionally limited at 0.5, and public transport connectivity scores just 1. Air quality is moderate at 6.1. The main tradeoff reflects Oberrieden's character: a nature-rich, health-conscious settlement that sacrifices urban convenience and natural light for proximity to forest and regional amenities.
Is Oberrieden a tax-friendly municipality?
Oberrieden presents a moderate tax environment with a fiscal score of 6.2, placing it in the mid-range for Swiss communes. While this indicates reasonably competitive taxation, it is not among the most tax-advantaged municipalities in the region. The commune's fiscal position reflects typical conditions for communities within the Zurich agglomeration. Notably, its neighbors Thalwil, Langnau am Albis, and Rüschlikon may offer different fiscal profiles worth comparing. Oberrieden's trade-off centres on balancing moderate tax rates with the amenities and services expected in a prosperous suburban location near Zurich.

Neighboring communes of Oberrieden

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 19.2 %20–64 years 55.6 %65 and over 25.3 %
Density
1,793 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+1.2 %
Vacant housing
0.4 %
New dwellings
2.6 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
1 %

Land use

Built-up area 43.5 %Agricultural land 11.6 %Forest 42.4 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Zurich (ZH)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.2731, 8.5728
BFS Number
137
Last updated
29 June 2026

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

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