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

6.9/ 10
Top 10% in SwitzerlandExcellent
Population
23,523
Commune type
Town

Living in Wädenswil, a commune of 23523 inhabitants in Canton Zurich. With an overall score of 6.9/10, this commune is attractive for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Education & Culture (9.6/10) and Healthcare (9.2/10). Its score is in line with the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
8.3
Air Quality
5.1
Public Transport
5.7
Education & Culture
9.6
Nightlife & Dining
8.7
Nature & Green Spaces
6.3
Healthcare
9.2
Taxation
5.7
Annual Sunshine
3.6
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

Family
ExcellentTop 5% in Switzerland
mediantop
Young Professional
ExcellentTop 5% in Switzerland
mediantop
Retirement
Very goodTop 25% in Switzerland
mediantop
Nature
Fair
mediantop

For families looking to settle in Switzerland, Wädenswil achieves a compatibility score of 7.1/10. Key strengths for this profile include Education & Culture and Noise. The Nature profile (6.3/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Wädenswil excels in Education & Culture (9.6/10, excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues), Healthcare (9.2/10, excellent access to doctors, clinics, and hospitals), Nightlife & Dining (8.7/10, a rich selection of restaurants, bars, and entertainment).

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Annual Sunshine (3.6/10).

Transaction prices in Wädenswil

Rolling median of sales from 2021 to 2025

Detached house

2’105’000 CHF

middle half of sales: 1’481’250 – 2’750’000 · 146 sales

Owner-occupied flat

1’420’000 CHF

middle half of sales: 884’412 – 1’954’824 · 356 sales

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

Thinking of selling your property here?An established local broker will contact you for a first conversation, free and with no obligation.
Get connected →

We'll connect you with BetterHomes

Some partner links (mortgages, relocation) earn VivaMap a commission. This never influences our scores or rankings. How VivaMap is funded

Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

ZHAWUniversity
WeinbaumuseumMuseum
Stadtbibliothek WädenswilLibrary
SeesichttheaterCinema / Theatre
Schloss KinoCinema / Theatre
Theater TicinoCinema / Theatre
Fuhr / RotwegSchool
Zurich International SchoolSchool

Public Transport

WädenswilTrain Station
AuTrain Station
MühlestaldenBus Stop
GisenrütiBus Stop
ZweierhofBus Stop
TanneBus Stop
BeichlenBus Stop
Schönenberg DorfhuusBus Stop

Healthcare Facilities

Praxiszentrum GlärnischMedical Centre
Medizin am BahnhofMedical Centre
Oberdorf PraxisDoctor
Pill Apotheke OberdorfDoctor
Hausarztpraxis EidmattDoctor
Praxis für TCM Ying Xu LindauerDoctor
GraeserDoctor
TettamantiDoctor

Guides to read for this area

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

Considering buying property in Wädenswil 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 Wädenswil

What's it like to live in Wädenswil? Resident impressions and quality of life
Compared with its lakeside neighbours Richterswil, Wollerau and Menzingen, Wädenswil leans toward a quieter, service-oriented profile. Its strongest dimensions are education at 9.6 and healthcare at 9.2, both well above what the surrounding communes typically offer, followed by a solid restaurant scene at 8.7. Worth flagging is the weaker side: sunshine sits at just 3.6, the lowest of its scores, with air quality at 5.1, transport and taxation both at 5.7, nature at 6.3, and noise at 8.3. One observation stands out: the gap between excellent public services and modest environmental comfort shapes daily life here. This profile fits families and retirees seeking strong education and health infrastructure, while nature lovers may find the limited sunshine a drawback.
How sunny and clean is the air in Wädenswil?
Compared with its lakeside neighbours Richterswil, Wollerau and Menzingen, Wädenswil records a comparatively low sunshine score of 3.6, so bright days are less frequent here than in much of the surrounding region. Air quality is moderate rather than exceptional, with a score of 5.1. It is worth noting that these two dimensions sit among the commune's weaker results, while education at 9.6 and healthcare at 9.2 stand out as its strongest. Noise, at 8.3, also scores well. Overall, the profile fits families and young professionals who value services and schooling over abundant sunshine, while nature lovers seeking long bright days may prefer neighbouring alternatives.
How well-connected is Wädenswil? Transport, schools, dining
Compared with Richterswil, Wollerau and Menzingen, Wädenswil stands out most for education and dining. Its education score of 9.6 and restaurant score of 8.7 are the strongest dimensions in its profile, while transport sits at a moderate 5.7. Worth flagging, the sunshine score of 3.6 is the weakest value recorded, and air quality at 5.1 is also on the lower side, so the commune trades some environmental brightness for its strong services. It is worth noting that fiscal pressure and transport both register 5.7, placing them mid-range rather than exceptional. Overall, the profile fits families prioritising schooling and everyday dining over maximum sunshine or the lowest tax burden.
What are the neighboring communes of Wädenswil and how big is it?
Compared with its neighbors Richterswil, Wollerau and Menzingen, Wädenswil stands out as the larger, more service-oriented commune, home to around 23,523 residents in the Zurich agglomeration. Its weakest recorded dimension is sunshine at 3.6, followed by air quality at 5.1, with transport and taxation both at 5.7. Worth flagging, the strongest dimensions are education at 9.6 and healthcare at 9.2, while restaurants reach 8.7. It is worth noting that noise sits at 8.3, suggesting a fairly lively built environment. Overall, the profile fits families seeking strong education and healthcare access, though nature lovers may find the 6.3 nature score moderate rather than exceptional.
Is Wädenswil a tax-friendly municipality?
Compared with its lakeside neighbours Richterswil, Wollerau and Menzingen, Wädenswil sits in the middle on tax attractiveness rather than at the top. Its fiscal dimension scores 5.7, the same as transport, while sunshine is the weakest at 3.6 and noise the strongest at 8.3. Worth flagging is that education reaches 9.6 and healthcare 9.2, so the commune's appeal rests more on public services than on tax relief. One observation stands out: a 5.7 fiscal score suggests moderate rather than low burdens relative to nearby Zug-side communes. Overall, Wädenswil fits families and young professionals who value schooling and amenities over maximising tax savings.

Neighboring communes of Wädenswil

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 19.8 %20–64 years 59.9 %65 and over 20.4 %
Density
691 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+5.9 %
Vacant housing
0.7 %
New dwellings
2.5 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
2.4 %
Tertiary employment
79.7 %

Land use

Built-up area 19.3 %Agricultural land 63.3 %Forest 15.1 %

Source: FSO, Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Zurich (ZH)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.2038, 8.6527
BFS Number
293
Last updated
7 October 2026

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