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Which municipalities offer attractive living conditions for families? The “UBS Residential Attractiveness Indicator 2026” rates over 2,000 municipalities based on 38 criteria. Discover which ones are leading the way in your region.
Choosing the right place to live is an important decision. Especially when it comes to finding a place where you can feel happy in the long term, and build a home for yourself and your family. Whether a municipality is perceived as attractive depends on numerous factors: from accessibility to job opportunities, leisure opportunities, and the cost of living.
The Residential Attractiveness Indicator (RAI) therefore evaluates the more than 2,000 municipalities in Switzerland based on 38 measurable criteria, and identifies which places offer the most attractive living conditions for families with two children. The focus is on households that live in rental accommodation.
Good to know: About 70% of all moves in Switzerland take place within a radius of less than 10 kilometers. For this reason, the Residential Attractiveness Indicator does not compare all municipalities throughout Switzerland with one another, but rather places within the same region.
Top 3 municipalities per region for a family with a medium income
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Basel (BS) | Basel (BS) | Basel (BS) |
2 | Riehen (BS) | Riehen (BS) | Riehen (BS) |
3 | Bettingen (BS) | Oberdorf (BL) | Bettingen (BS) |
4 | Sissach (BL) | Sissach (BL) | Magden (AG) |
5 | Rheinfelden (AG) | Liestal (BL) | Binningen (BL) |
6 | Binningen (BL) | Münchenstein (BL) | Bottmingen (BL) |
7 | Magden (AG) | Reigoldswil (BL) | Rheinfelden (AG) |
8 | Münchenstein (BL) | Waldenburg (BL) | Sissach (BL) |
9 | Liestal (BL) | Rheinfelden (AG) | Gipf-Oberfrick (AG) |
10 | Bottmingen (BL) | Kienberg (SO) | Münchenstein (BL) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fribourg (FR) | Fribourg (FR) | Fribourg (FR) |
2 | Murten (FR) | Murten (FR) | Murten (FR) |
3 | Bern (BE) | Düdingen (FR) | Bern (BE) |
4 | Thun (BE) | Plaffeien (FR) | Thun (BE) |
5 | Interlaken (BE) | Langenthal (BE) | Meyriez (FR) |
6 | Düdingen (FR) | Thun (BE) | Hilterfingen (BE) |
7 | Langenthal (BE) | Granges-Paccot (FR) | Wohlen bei Bern (BE) |
8 | Granges-Paccot (FR) | Interlaken (BE) | Interlaken (BE) |
9 | Wohlen bei Bern (BE) | Bern (BE) | Düdingen (FR) |
10 | Hilterfingen (BE) | Rechthalten (FR) | Granges-Paccot (FR) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Luzern (LU) | Luzern (LU) | Luzern (LU) |
2 | Zug (ZG)* | Schwyz (SZ) | Zug (ZG) |
3 | Schwyz (SZ) | Sursee (LU) | Schwyz (SZ) |
4 | Risch (ZG) | Zug (ZG)* | Risch (ZG) |
5 | Baar (ZG) | Arth (SZ) | Baar (ZG) |
6 | Arth (SZ) | Flüelen (UR) | Hergiswil (NW) |
7 | Sursee (LU) | Einsiedeln (SZ) | Hünenberg (ZG) |
8 | Cham (ZG) | Stans (NW) | Cham (ZG) |
9 | Einsiedeln (SZ) | Altdorf (UR) | Walchwil (ZG) |
10 | Hünenberg (ZG) | Ebikon (LU) | Einsiedeln (SZ) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chur (GR) | Chur (GR) | Chur (GR) |
2 | Quarten (SG) | Quarten (SG) | Quarten (SG) |
3 | Vaz/Obervaz (GR) | Walenstadt (SG) | Vaz/Obervaz (GR) |
4 | Walenstadt (SG) | Mels (SG) | St. Moritz (GR) |
5 | Mels (SG) | Grüsch (GR) | Laax (GR) |
6 | Bad Ragaz (SG) | Bad Ragaz (SG) | Fläsch (GR) |
7 | Grüsch (GR) | Schiers (GR) | Davos (GR) |
8 | Maienfeld (GR) | Maienfeld (GR) | Maienfeld (GR) |
9 | St. Moritz (GR) | Vaz/Obervaz (GR) | Walenstadt (SG) |
10 | Davos (GR) | Thusis (GR) | Grüsch (GR) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vevey (VD) | Vevey (VD) | Vevey (VD) |
2 | Lausanne (VD) | Lausanne (VD)* | Lausanne (VD) |
3 | Morges (VD) | Montreux (VD) | Morges (VD) |
4 | Genève (GE)* | Morges (VD)* | Collonge-Bellerive (GE) |
5 | Montreux (VD) | La Roche (FR) | Genève (GE) |
6 | Pully (VD) | Yverdon-les-Bains (VD) | Pully (VD) |
7 | Collonge-Bellerive (GE) | Noville (VD) | Nyon (VD) |
8 | Nyon (VD) | Monthey (VS) | Lutry (VD) |
9 | La Roche (FR) | Saint-Maurice (VS) | Montreux (VD) |
10 | Noville (VD) | Nyon (VD)* | Cologny (GE) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Solothurn (SO) | Solothurn (SO) | Biel/Bienne (BE) |
2 | Biel/Bienne (BE) | Biel/Bienne (BE) | Solothurn (SO) |
3 | Neuchâtel (NE) | Delémont (JU) | Neuchâtel (NE) |
4 | Laténa (NE) | Nidau (BE) | Feldbrunnen-St. Niklaus (SO) |
5 | Nidau (BE) | Saignelégier (JU) | Laténa (NE) |
6 | Sutz-Lattrigen (BE) | Grenchen (SO) | Buchegg (SO) |
7 | Buchegg (SO) | Buchegg (SO) | Ipsach (BE) |
8 | Delémont (JU) | Neuchâtel (NE) | Erlach (BE) |
9 | Ipsach (BE) | Laténa (NE) | Twann-Tüscherz (BE) |
10 | Erlach (BE) | La Chaux-de-Fonds (NE) | Lüscherz (BE) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | St. Gallen (SG) | St. Gallen (SG) | Teufen (AR) |
2 | Wil (SG) | Rorschach (SG) | St. Gallen (SG) |
3 | Teufen (AR) | Wil (SG) | Appenzell (AI) |
4 | Rorschach (SG) | Wattwil (SG) | Bottighofen (TG) |
5 | Kreuzlingen (TG) | Gossau (SG) | Balgach (SG) |
6 | Gaiserwald (SG) | Romanshorn (TG) | Gaiserwald (SG) |
7 | Appenzell (AI) | Lichtensteig (SG) | Kreuzlingen (TG) |
8 | Gossau (SG) | Neckertal (SG) | Zuzwil (SG) |
9 | Rorschacherberg (SG) | Goldach (SG) | Schwende-Rüte (AI) |
10 | Goldach (SG) | Herisau (AR) | Frauenfeld (TG) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lugano (TI) | Locarno (TI) | Lugano (TI) |
2 | Locarno (TI) | Tenero-Contra (TI) | Ascona (TI) |
3 | Tenero-Contra (TI) | Lugano (TI) | Locarno (TI) |
4 | Ascona (TI) | Val Mara (TI) | Tenero-Contra (TI) |
5 | Muralto (TI) | Ascona (TI) | Muralto (TI) |
6 | Val Mara (TI) | Muralto (TI) | Melide (TI) |
7 | Minusio (TI) | Bellinzona (TI) | Morcote (TI) |
8 | Melide (TI) | Minusio (TI) | Paradiso (TI) |
9 | Morcote (TI) | Vacallo (TI) | Castel San Pietro (TI) |
10 | Bellinzona (TI) | Mendrisio (TI) | Minusio (TI) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sion (VS) | Sion (VS) | Sion (VS) |
2 | Martigny (VS) | Anniviers (VS) | Val de Bagnes (VS) |
3 | Conthey (VS) | Salvan (VS) | Conthey (VS) |
4 | Salvan (VS) | Martigny (VS) | Crans-Montana (VS) |
5 | Val de Bagnes (VS) | Martigny-Combe (VS) | Martigny (VS) |
6 | Anniviers (VS) | Sierre (VS) | Brig-Glis (VS) |
7 | Nendaz (VS) | Conthey (VS) | Nendaz (VS) |
8 | Sierre (VS) | Vex (VS) | Salvan (VS) |
9 | Mont-Noble (VS) | Mont-Noble (VS) | Savièse (VS) |
10 | Martigny-Combe (VS) | Orsières (VS) | Martigny-Combe (VS) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
Rank | Middle income | Low income | High income |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aarau (AG) | Aarau (AG) | Freienbach (SZ) |
2 | Baden (AG) | Schaffhausen (SH) | Lachen (SZ) |
3 | Schaffhausen (SH) | Baden (AG) | Rapperswil-Jona (SG) |
4 | Zürich (ZH) | Olten (SO) | Zürich (ZH) |
5 | Rapperswil-Jona (SG) | Zofingen (AG) | Rüschlikon (ZH) |
6 | Zollikon (ZH) | Stein am Rhein (SH) | Zollikon (ZH) |
7 | Rüschlikon (ZH) | Rapperswil-Jona (SG) | Kilchberg (ZH) |
8 | Greifensee (ZH) | Uster (ZH) | Baden (AG) |
9 | Kilchberg (ZH) | Greifensee (ZH) | Aarau (AG) |
10 | Freienbach (SZ) | Winterthur (ZH) | Küsnacht (ZH) |
How well do the individual municipalities within their region fare? The map highlights the differences: Municipalities shaded in dark green are among the most attractive places to live for a tenant household when compared regionally. Municipalities shaded in gray, on the other hand, have below-average attractiveness when compared regionally.
While the Residential Attractiveness Indicator 2026 confirms a number of well-known places as being attractive to live in, it also reveals some new favorites: Municipalities such as Laténa (NE), Buchegg (SO), Erlach (BE) and Hünenberg (ZG) are among the top ten in their region. The diverse findings at the top show that a location’s appeal as a place to live can be based on a variety of strengths, and that the interplay of various location factors is crucial. In this way, even smaller and previously overlooked municipalities are making their way to the top of the regional rankings.
At the same time, the study makes it clear that there is no single ideal place to live. Which municipality is particularly attractive ultimately depends on the needs and financial circumstances of the respective household.
municipalities
regions
criteria
income groups
The UBS Residential Attractiveness Indicator (RAI) measures how attractive municipalities are in Switzerland as places to live. The focus is on families with two children. In this process, more than 2,000 municipalities are evaluated based on 38 objective and measurable criteria.
The RAI is not a Swiss-wide ranking, but instead compares municipalities within 10 regions. These are based on the labor market regions defined by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) and represent functional living and commuting areas. This is because about 70% of all moves in Switzerland take place within a radius of less than 10 kilometers. Through regional comparisons, the Residential Attractiveness Indicator takes this mobility behavior into account.
The analysis is based on three pillars:
Factors taken into account include the accessibility of large, medium-sized and small urban centers via public and private transport, proximity to jobs, the availability of educational and health care services as well as shopping possibilities.
Variables for infrastructure and accessibility
This pillar encompasses the availability and density of leisure and sports facilities, as well as criteria such as the availability of green spaces, aircraft noise or crime rates.
Variables for leisure and quality of life
The "Costs" pillar includes listed rents, tax expenditure, and median health insurance premiums.
Variables for costs
The Residential Attractiveness Indicator is not a beauty contest. Instead, residential attractiveness is measured using 38 variables, ensuring that only objectively quantifiable factors are included in the analysis.
When choosing the right place to live, it is rarely possible to balance the key factors – infrastructure, leisure opportunities, accessibility, and cost of living – without making compromises.
The study provides a comprehensive guide, focusing on families with two children who rent their homes.
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