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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Aarau

Aarau

Canton: Aargau (AG)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

72/100

Above the median

National rank: 271 / 2’110 · Top 13% nationally

Taxes84/100
Premiums56/100
Electricity76/100
Housing32/100
PT service96/100

Confidence level: high · v1.1.0 · Civiora Index computed from official public data. Proprietary, non-official index. Understand the index

Median altitude377 m
Area12.3 km²
Postcode5000
FSO no.4001
DistrictBezirk Aarau
Tax burden10.4 %Single, CHF 80’000 · 2026 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 13.1 %
Electricity price25.4 ct./kWhH4 · 2027 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.9 ct./kWh
Health insurance premiums599 CHF/monthAdult · 2027 in line with SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF
Population22’932+5.6 % over 5 years (2020–2025) more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate0.45 %01.06.2026 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops58At least one rail stop

Taxes: tax burden by scenario

Tax burden ranking →Official

On a salary of CHF 80’000 a year, a single person in Aarau pays 10.4% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 8’350 a year. That is CHF 2’140 less than in the median Swiss municipality.

AarauSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 8’350 CHF/year2’140 CHF/year less
10.4 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 16’750 CHF/year3’950 CHF/year less
14.0 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 10’670 CHF/year2’800 CHF/year less
8.9 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 11’940 CHF/year2’970 CHF/year less
8.0 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 10’530 CHF/year2’460 CHF/year less
13.2 %
16.2 %

2026 tax burden in % of gross income (federal, cantonal and communal taxes; earned income, no wealth, no church tax). Calculation FTA, Swiss tax calculator.

Federal Tax Administration (FTA)Tax burden 2026: Swiss tax calculator (model cases)View source

Electricity

2027 tariff ranking →Official

A typical household (profile H4, 4’500 kWh a year) in Aarau pays 25.36 ct. per kWh, or about CHF 1’140 a year. That is CHF 70 a year less than in the median Swiss municipality.

25.36 ct./kWh

less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.91 ct./kWh

Tariff breakdown

Energy (the electricity itself) 9.68Grid (delivery to the meter) 10.88Levies and surcharge (public charges and levies) 4.80ct./kWh

Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom)Electricity tariffs 2027, profile H4, standard productView source

Health insurance premiums

2027 premium ranking →Derived from official data

An adult in Aarau pays a median CHF 599 a month for basic health insurance, or about CHF 7’190 a year (CHF 300 deductible, accident cover included). That is in line with the Swiss median (CHF 599).

599 CHF/month

in line with SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF

Median monthly premium 2027, adult (26+), CHF 300 deductible, with accident, standard model: median of the 27 offers in premium region AG-0 (Civiora calculation on FOPH data).

Official FOPH average premiums 2027 (all deductibles and models)

Adult464.70 CHF/monthapprox. 5’580 CHF/year
19–25 years315.90 CHF/monthapprox. 3’790 CHF/year
Child121.30 CHF/monthapprox. 1’460 CHF/year

Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)Compulsory health insurance premiums 2027 (priminfo)View source

Population and demographics

Official

Aarau has 22’932 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 5.6% more than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

22’932 inhabitants

Density: 1’858 inhab./km² · 2025

+1.0 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 18.0 %20–64 years 63.6 %65 and over 18.4 %

About 1 resident in 6 is under 20, and 1 in 5 is 65 or over. About 1 resident in 4 (23.5%) holds a foreign nationality.

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)STATPOP: permanent resident population (STAT-TAB), status 31.12.2025View source

Housing

Vacancy rate ranking →Official

On 1 June 2026, 0.45% of homes in Aarau were vacant, about 1 in 222 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings5601.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)12’500

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)Vacant dwellings count, 1 June 2026View source

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)Buildings and dwellings statistics (GWS): housing stock 2024View source

Public transport

Derived from official data

Aarau has 58 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 10’131 departures are scheduled across all stops, 1’935 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops58At least one rail stop
Departures on a typical Tuesday10’131of which evening (from 8 pm): 1’935 (19 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday8’22181 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’0002.53Swiss median: 3.33

Departures counted in the official 2026 timetable (GTFS) on typical days: Tuesday 08.09.2026 and Sunday 13.09.2026. Every call at every stop in the municipality counts as one departure. Civiora calculation.

opentransportdata.swiss (ATLAS, SBB on behalf of the Confederation)Public transport service points, status 04.08.2026View source

opentransportdata.swiss (official GTFS timetable)2026 timetable (GTFS, 01.08.2026 edition): typical daysView source

Territory and local economy

Official

Aarau’s territory is 49.2% built-up, 11.4% farmland and 32.3% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 49.2 %Farmland 11.4 %Forest 32.3 %Other (water, rock…) 7.1 %
Jobs34’888reference year 2018
Establishments2’648reference year 2018
Social assistance rate3.6 %reference year 2019

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)Regional portraits 2021: key figures of communesView source