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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Herisau

Herisau

Canton: Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

62/100

Above the median

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

Taxes51/100
Premiums81/100
Electricity24/100
Housing64/100
PT service87/100

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

Median altitude795 m
Area25.2 km²
Postcode9100
FSO no.3001
DistrictBezirk Hinterland
Tax burden12.6 %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
Population16’100+2.9 % over 5 years (2020–2025) less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate1.12 %01.06.2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops55At 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 Herisau pays 12.6% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 10’080 a year. That is CHF 410 less than in the median Swiss municipality.

HerisauSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 10’080 CHF/year410 CHF/year less
12.6 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 19’220 CHF/year1’480 CHF/year less
16.0 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 14’540 CHF/year1’080 CHF/year more
12.1 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 17’020 CHF/year2’120 CHF/year more
11.3 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 12’450 CHF/year540 CHF/year less
15.6 %
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 Herisau 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 Herisau 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

Herisau has 16’100 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 2.9% more than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

16’100 inhabitants

Density: 639 inhab./km² · 2025

+1.0 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 19.6 %20–64 years 59.0 %65 and over 21.4 %

About 1 resident in 5 is under 20, and 1 in 5 is 65 or over. About 1 resident in 4 (26.1%) 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, 1.12% of homes in Herisau were vacant, about 1 in 89 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings9901.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)8’789

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

Herisau has 55 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 5’747 departures are scheduled across all stops, 622 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops55At least one rail stop
Departures on a typical Tuesday5’747of which evening (from 8 pm): 622 (11 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday2’81849 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’0003.42Swiss 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

Herisau’s territory is 17.2% built-up, 54.2% farmland and 27.8% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 17.2 %Farmland 54.2 %Forest 27.8 %Other (water, rock…) 0.8 %
Jobs10’023reference year 2018
Establishments1’401reference year 2018
Social assistance rate4.6 %reference year 2019

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