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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Gais

Gais

Canton: Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

62/100

Above the median

National rank: 662 / 2’110 · Top 32% nationally

Taxes64/100
Premiums81/100
Electricity24/100
Housing65/100
PT service64/100

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

Median altitude1’004 m
Area21.2 km²
Postcode9043
FSO no.3022
DistrictBezirk Mittelland
Tax burden11.4 %Single, CHF 80’000 · 2026 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 13.1 %
Electricity price29.1 ct./kWhH4 · 2027 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.9 ct./kWh
Health insurance premiums556 CHF/monthAdult · 2027 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF
Population3’150+2.7 % over 5 years (2020–2025) less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate1.14 %01.06.2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops14At 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 Gais pays 11.4% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 9’140 a year. That is CHF 1’340 less than in the median Swiss municipality.

GaisSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 9’140 CHF/year1’340 CHF/year less
11.4 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 17’560 CHF/year3’140 CHF/year less
14.6 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 13’250 CHF/year220 CHF/year less
11.0 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 15’480 CHF/year570 CHF/year more
10.3 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 11’310 CHF/year1’670 CHF/year less
14.1 %
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 Gais pays 29.11 ct. per kWh, or about CHF 1’310 a year. That is CHF 99 a year more than in the median Swiss municipality.

29.11 ct./kWh

more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.91 ct./kWh

Tariff breakdown

Energy (the electricity itself) 13.79Grid (delivery to the meter) 11.28Levies and surcharge (public charges and levies) 4.04ct./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 Gais pays a median CHF 556 a month for basic health insurance, or about CHF 6’670 a year (CHF 300 deductible, accident cover included). That is CHF 44 a month less than the Swiss median (CHF 599).

556 CHF/month

less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF

Median monthly premium 2027, adult (26+), CHF 300 deductible, with accident, standard model: median of the 23 offers in premium region AR-0 (Civiora calculation on FOPH data).

Official FOPH average premiums 2027 (all deductibles and models)

Adult422.30 CHF/monthapprox. 5’070 CHF/year
19–25 years289.00 CHF/monthapprox. 3’470 CHF/year
Child110.20 CHF/monthapprox. 1’320 CHF/year

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

Population and demographics

Official

Gais has 3’150 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 2.7% more than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

3’150 inhabitants

Density: 149 inhab./km² · 2025

+0.5 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 21.1 %20–64 years 55.6 %65 and over 23.3 %

About 1 resident in 5 is under 20, and 1 in 4 is 65 or over. About 1 resident in 7 (13.7%) 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, 1.14% of homes in Gais were vacant, about 1 in 88 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings1901.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)1’662

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

Gais has 14 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 394 departures are scheduled across all stops, 60 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops14At least one rail stop
Departures on a typical Tuesday394of which evening (from 8 pm): 60 (15 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday35089 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’0004.44Swiss 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

Gais’s territory is 6.8% built-up, 46.7% farmland and 44.9% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 6.8 %Farmland 46.7 %Forest 44.9 %Other (water, rock…) 1.6 %
Jobs1’326reference year 2018
Establishments306reference year 2018
Social assistance rate1.6 %reference year 2019

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