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Quality of life in Ottenbach (Zurich): scores, review and neighborhoods

6.6/ 10
Top 25% in SwitzerlandVery good
Population
2,621
Commune type
Village

Living in Ottenbach, a commune of 2621 inhabitants in Canton Zurich. With an overall score of 6.6/10, this commune is attractive for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Education & Culture (9.2/10) and Nightlife & Dining (8.8/10). Its score is in line with the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
7.9
Air Quality
4.1
Public Transport
4.3
Education & Culture
9.2
Nightlife & Dining
8.8
Nature & Green Spaces
8.3
Healthcare
6.9
Taxation
5.3
Annual Sunshine
4.3
Cantonal average

These scores summarise the living environment where residents actually live, not across the whole municipal territory. The map, by contrast, colours the territory: a highly rated commune can still show large, often uninhabited areas with weaker values.

Recommended Profiles

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

For families looking to settle in Switzerland, Ottenbach achieves a compatibility score of 6.7/10. Key strengths for this profile include Education & Culture and Noise. The Nature profile (6.3/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Ottenbach excels in Education & Culture (9.2/10, excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues), Nightlife & Dining (8.8/10, a rich selection of restaurants, bars, and entertainment), Nature & Green Spaces (8.3/10, a green environment with many accessible green spaces).

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Air Quality (4.1/10, degraded air quality from traffic emissions), Annual Sunshine (4.3/10), Public Transport (4.3/10, limited public transport connections).

Transaction prices in Ottenbach

Rolling median of sales from 2021 to 2025

Detached house

1’404’000 CHF

middle half of sales: 1’104’000 – 1’757’500 · 50 sales

Owner-occupied flat

930’000 CHF

middle half of sales: 795’000 – 1’063’500 · 61 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

Historisches Kleinkraftwerk OttenbachMuseum
Bibliothek OttenbachLibrary
Primarschule OttenbachSchool
ZIEL Schule AGSchool

Public Transport

UlmenhofBus Stop
EngelwieseBus Stop
Ottenbach ZentrumBus Stop
HinterdorfBus Stop
RickenbachBus Stop

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 Ottenbach 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 Ottenbach

What's it like to live in Ottenbach? Resident impressions and quality of life
Compared with Jonen, Obfelden, and Affoltern am Albis, Ottenbach trades some air quality and transport convenience for stronger education and dining. Air quality sits at 4.1 and transport at 4.3, among its weaker scores, while education reaches 9.2 and restaurants 8.8. Noise, however, scores 7.9, so daily sound levels are comparatively contained. Nature is a clear asset at 8.3, and healthcare is solid at 6.9, yet fiscal attractiveness is moderate at 5.3 and sunshine also measures 4.3. With roughly 2,621 residents in the Zurich agglomeration, Ottenbach reads as a small, green commune with room to improve on mobility and light. Explore the detailed scores on the map to judge the fit for yourself.
How sunny and clean is the air in Ottenbach?
Compared with Jonen, Obfelden, and Affoltern am Albis, Ottenbach offers a mixed environmental profile. Air quality is its weakest environmental dimension, scoring just 4.1, while sunshine sits equally low at 4.3. However, noise levels are comparatively favourable at 7.9, suggesting calmer surroundings than the air figures alone might imply. Transport accessibility also scores 4.3, matching the sunshine value. Yet nature stands out strongly at 8.3, and education reaches 9.2, far above the environmental scores. Restaurants score 8.8, healthcare 6.9, and fiscal attractiveness 5.3. Nonetheless, residents trade weaker air and sunlight for quieter conditions and abundant green space. Explore the detailed score breakdown for Ottenbach on the map to see how each dimension compares.
How well-connected is Ottenbach? Transport, schools, dining
Ottenbach’s air quality and sunshine, both at 4.3, sit below what neighboring Jonen, Obfelden, and Affoltern am Albis generally offer, while its noise score of 7.9 is comparatively strong. Transport connectivity is modest at 4.3, so car travel often matters more than rail. However, education stands out at 9.2, and dining follows closely at 8.8, giving the commune real everyday appeal. Nature scores 8.3, health 6.9, and fiscal attractiveness 5.3, rounding out a mixed but livable profile. Nonetheless, the low transport figure means commuting patterns deserve attention. Explore the detailed scores and neighboring comparisons on the map to see how Ottenbach fits your priorities.
What are the neighboring communes of Ottenbach and how big is it?
Ottenbach, home to 2,621 residents, sits alongside Jonen, Obfelden, and Affoltern am Albis, and its noise score of 7.9 stands out as a relative weakness compared with those neighbours. Yet education reaches 9.2, a clear strength, while air quality sits at only 4.1. Transport and sunshine both score 4.3, another soft spot, however restaurants remain strong at 8.8. Nature offers 8.3, offsetting the weaker fiscal score of 5.3, and healthcare lands at 6.9. This mix of quiet concerns and genuine assets shapes daily life across the commune and its surrounding area. Explore the full breakdown on the map to see how each dimension compares.
Is Ottenbach a tax-friendly municipality?
Compared with Jonen, Obfelden and Affoltern am Albis, Ottenbach sits mid-pack on tax friendliness rather than leading the group. Its fiscal score of 5.3 is the weakest of the dimensions cited here, so the tax burden is not the commune's standout advantage. However, air quality at 4.1 and transport at 4.3 score even lower, which tempers any cost-of-living argument. Yet education at 9.2 and dining at 8.8 rank far higher, and nature reaches 8.3, suggesting everyday amenities compensate somewhat. Noise sits at 7.9 and healthcare at 6.9, both above the fiscal figure. Nonetheless, for households weighing taxes specifically, the 5.3 value indicates a moderate rather than favourable position. Explore the detailed score breakdown on the map to judge how it fits your priorities.

Neighboring communes of Ottenbach

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 20.2 %20–64 years 58.5 %65 and over 21.4 %
Density
516 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+7.4 %
Vacant housing
1.1 %
New dwellings
7.8 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
1.1 %
Tertiary employment
59.7 %

Land use

Built-up area 20.8 %Agricultural land 54.7 %Forest 20.4 %

Source: FSO, Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Zurich (ZH)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.2833, 8.4118
BFS Number
11
Last updated
7 October 2026

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

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