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

6.5/ 10
Top 25% in SwitzerlandVery good
Population
9,581
Commune type
Town

Living in Wald (ZH), a commune of 9581 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 Education & Culture (8.9/10) and Noise (8.6/10). Its score is in line with the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
8.6
Air Quality
4.4
Public Transport
3.5
Education & Culture
8.9
Nightlife & Dining
8.3
Nature & Green Spaces
7.5
Healthcare
7.8
Taxation
5.2
Annual Sunshine
4.0
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, Wald (ZH) achieves a compatibility score of 6.6/10. Key strengths for this profile include Education & Culture and Noise. The Young Professional profile comes last of the four, yet still reaches 6.1/10, in the top 25% of Switzerland.

Strengths: Wald (ZH) excels in Education & Culture (8.9/10, excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues), Noise (8.6/10, a quiet environment, ideal for rest and focus), Nightlife & Dining (8.3/10, a rich selection of restaurants, bars, and entertainment).

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Public Transport (3.5/10, limited public transport connections), Annual Sunshine (4/10), Air Quality (4.4/10, degraded air quality from traffic emissions).

Transaction prices in Wald (ZH)

Rolling median of sales from 2021 to 2025

Detached house

1’060’000 CHF

middle half of sales: 735’000 – 1’280’000 · 110 sales

Owner-occupied flat

750’000 CHF

middle half of sales: 550’000 – 951’250 · 164 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

Lozzi MuseumMuseum
Heimatmuseum WaldMuseum
Gemeindebibliothek WaldLibrary
Schulhaus BurgSchool
NeuwiesSchool
Schule Gibswil- RiedSchool
Hartplatz Schulhaus RiedSchool

Public Transport

Wald ZHTrain Station
NiederholzBus Stop
JonatalBus Stop
FarnbodenBus Stop
ElbastrasseBus Stop
WabeBus Stop
BinzholzBus Stop
Wald GemeindehausBus Stop

Healthcare Facilities

Zürcher RehaZentren | Klinik WaldMedical Centre
APODRO ApothekeDoctor
Zentrumpraxis ClaridaparkDoctor
Zahnarztpraxis WaldDoctor
Praxis FelsenauDoctor
Arztpraxis LaupenDoctor
Praxis Dr. Denise HunzikerDoctor

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 Winterthur as a Family
Young Professional
Where to Live in Winterthur as a Young Professional
Retirement
Where to Live in Winterthur in Retirement
Nature
Where to Live in Winterthur Close to Nature
Explore the map for more details →

Considering buying property in Wald (ZH) 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 Wald (ZH)

What's it like to live in Wald (ZH)? Resident impressions and quality of life
Compared with neighbors like Eschenbach (SG), Rüti (ZH), and Dürnten, Wald (ZH) stands out most for education and quiet. Its weakest dimension is transport, scoring just 3.5, which means car dependence is likely and connections are limited. By contrast, education reaches 8.9 and noise sits at 8.6, so schools and calm streets are clear strengths. Air quality (4.4) and sunshine (4.0) are modest, while nature (7.5), health (7.8), restaurants (8.3), and fiscal pressure (5.2) fall in between. The main tradeoff is that Wald offers a quiet, education-strong setting with good everyday amenities, but weaker transit and duller, less sunny conditions than some surrounding communes.
How sunny and clean is the air in Wald (ZH)?
Compared with its neighbors Eschenbach (SG), Rüti (ZH), and Dürnten, Wald (ZH) stands out for quiet and schooling rather than sunshine or clean air. Its weakest environmental dimension is sunshine, scoring just 4, and air quality is also modest at 4.4. By contrast, noise levels are favorable at 8.6 and education reaches 8.9, while restaurants sit at 8.3 and nature at 7.5. Transport (3.5) and fiscalité (5.2) remain comparatively low, with health at 7.8. The main tradeoff is that residents gain a calm, well-served community with strong schools, but must accept limited sunshine and only moderate air quality.
How well-connected is Wald (ZH)? Transport, schools, dining
Wald (ZH) is far better connected than its neighbors Eschenbach (SG), Rüti (ZH), and Dürnten in several respects, though transport is its clear weak point at just 3.5. By contrast, education scores 8.9 and dining 8.3, both notably strong, while noise sits at 8.6 and nature at 7.5. Air quality (4.4), sunshine (4.0), and fiscal attractiveness (5.2) remain middling, with healthcare at 7.8. The main tradeoff is that Wald offers excellent schools and restaurants alongside quiet, green surroundings, but residents accept comparatively limited transit links and weaker air and sunshine scores in exchange for those everyday strengths.
What are the neighboring communes of Wald (ZH) and how big is it?
Wald (ZH) sits in the Winterthur agglomeration with a population of 9,581, and compared with its neighbors Eschenbach (SG), Rüti (ZH), and Dürnten, it stands out most for education at 8.9 and low noise at 8.6. By contrast, its weakest dimension is transport at 3.5, followed by sunshine at 4.0 and air quality at 4.4. Fiscal attractiveness is moderate at 5.2, while nature reaches 7.5 and healthcare 7.8. Notably, three communes border Wald: Eschenbach (SG), Rüti (ZH), and Dürnten. The main tradeoff is a quiet, well-served residential setting with strong schooling, offset by weaker transit connections and limited sunshine.
Is Wald (ZH) a tax-friendly municipality?
Compared with its neighbors Eschenbach (SG), Rüti (ZH) and Dürnten, Wald (ZH) sits in the middle on taxation rather than at the top. Its weakest dimension is fiscal attractiveness, scoring just 5.2, which suggests a moderate rather than low tax burden for residents. By contrast, the commune performs strongly on education at 8.9 and noise at 8.6, with restaurants at 8.3 and healthcare at 7.8 also solid. Transport, at 3.5, and sunshine, at 4.0, are the lowest scores. The main tradeoff is that Wald offers good schooling, low noise and decent amenities, but households seeking the lowest possible tax rate may find better value elsewhere in the region.

Neighboring communes of Wald (ZH)

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 20.1 %20–64 years 62.2 %65 and over 17.7 %
Density
400 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+12.5 %
Vacant housing
3.2 %
New dwellings
11.6 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
2.3 %
Tertiary employment
64 %

Land use

Built-up area 12.9 %Agricultural land 52.8 %Forest 33.2 %

Source: FSO, Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Zurich (ZH)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.2851, 8.9211
BFS Number
120
Last updated
7 October 2026

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

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