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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Heiden

Heiden

Canton: Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

61/100

Above the median

National rank: 711 / 2’110 · Top 34% nationally

Taxes54/100
Premiums81/100
Electricity11/100
Housing66/100
PT service83/100

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

Median altitude829 m
Area7.5 km²
Postcode9036
FSO no.3032
DistrictBezirk Vorderland
Tax burden12.3 %Single, CHF 80’000 · 2026 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 13.1 %
Electricity price31.4 ct./kWhH4 · 2027 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.9 ct./kWh
Health insurance premiums556 CHF/monthAdult · 2027 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF
Population4’413+5.4 % over 5 years (2020–2025) more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate1.16 %01.06.2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops13At 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 Heiden pays 12.3% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 9’830 a year. That is CHF 660 less than in the median Swiss municipality.

HeidenSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 9’830 CHF/year660 CHF/year less
12.3 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 18’780 CHF/year1’920 CHF/year less
15.7 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 14’200 CHF/year730 CHF/year more
11.8 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 16’600 CHF/year1’700 CHF/year more
11.1 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 12’140 CHF/year840 CHF/year less
15.2 %
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 Heiden pays 31.43 ct. per kWh, or about CHF 1’410 a year. That is CHF 203 a year more than in the median Swiss municipality.

31.43 ct./kWh

more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.91 ct./kWh

Tariff breakdown

Energy (the electricity itself) 13.77Grid (delivery to the meter) 13.76Levies and surcharge (public charges and levies) 3.90ct./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 Heiden 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

Heiden has 4’413 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 5.4% more than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

4’413 inhabitants

Density: 590 inhab./km² · 2025

+0.7 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 20.9 %20–64 years 54.6 %65 and over 24.5 %

About 1 resident in 5 is under 20, and 1 in 4 is 65 or over. About 1 resident in 4 (23.0%) 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, 1.16% of homes in Heiden were vacant, about 1 in 86 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings2701.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)2’317

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

Heiden has 13 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 1’140 departures are scheduled across all stops, 149 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops13At least one rail stop
Departures on a typical Tuesday1’140of which evening (from 8 pm): 149 (13 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday64356 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’0002.95Swiss 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

Heiden’s territory is 18.3% built-up, 51.3% farmland and 30.3% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 18.3 %Farmland 51.3 %Forest 30.3 %Other (water, rock…) 0.1 %
Jobs2’799reference year 2018
Establishments360reference year 2018
Social assistance rate1.8 %reference year 2019

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