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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Kerns

Kerns

Canton: Obwalden (OW)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

68/100

Above the median

National rank: 413 / 2’110 · Top 20% nationally

Taxes69/100
Premiums97/100
Electricity62/100
Housing26/100
PT service73/100

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

Median altitude1’496 m
Area92.6 km²
Postcode6064
FSO no.1404
DistrictKanton Obwalden
Tax burden11.5 %Single, CHF 80’000 · 2026 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 13.1 %
Electricity price26.0 ct./kWhH4 · 2027 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.9 ct./kWh
Health insurance premiums518 CHF/monthAdult · 2027 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF
Population6’557+3.6 % over 5 years (2020–2025) less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate0.34 %01.06.2026 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops37No rail stop (bus/other)

Taxes: tax burden by scenario

Tax burden ranking →Official

On a salary of CHF 80’000 a year, a single person in Kerns pays 11.5% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 9’210 a year. That is CHF 1’280 less than in the median Swiss municipality.

KernsSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 9’210 CHF/year1’280 CHF/year less
11.5 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 16’100 CHF/year4’600 CHF/year less
13.4 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 13’300 CHF/year170 CHF/year less
11.1 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 15’100 CHF/year200 CHF/year more
10.1 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 10’860 CHF/year2’120 CHF/year less
13.6 %
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 Kerns pays 25.99 ct. per kWh, or about CHF 1’170 a year. That is CHF 41 a year less than in the median Swiss municipality.

25.99 ct./kWh

less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.91 ct./kWh

Tariff breakdown

Energy (the electricity itself) 9.67Grid (delivery to the meter) 11.04Levies and surcharge (public charges and levies) 5.28ct./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 Kerns pays a median CHF 518 a month for basic health insurance, or about CHF 6’220 a year (CHF 300 deductible, accident cover included). That is CHF 81 a month less than the Swiss median (CHF 599).

518 CHF/month

less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF

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

Official FOPH average premiums 2027 (all deductibles and models)

Adult386.70 CHF/monthapprox. 4’640 CHF/year
19–25 years262.60 CHF/monthapprox. 3’150 CHF/year
Child99.40 CHF/monthapprox. 1’190 CHF/year

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

Population and demographics

Official

Kerns has 6’557 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 3.6% more than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

6’557 inhabitants

Density: 71 inhab./km² · 2025

+0.7 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 21.6 %20–64 years 58.7 %65 and over 19.7 %

About 1 resident in 5 is under 20, and 1 in 5 is 65 or over. About 1 resident in 8 (12.5%) 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, 0.34% of homes in Kerns were vacant, about 1 in 294 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings1201.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)3’484

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

Kerns has 37 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 1’118 departures are scheduled across all stops, 183 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops37No rail stop (bus/other)
Departures on a typical Tuesday1’118of which evening (from 8 pm): 183 (16 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday96686 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’0005.64Swiss 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

Kerns’s territory is 3.2% built-up, 45.2% farmland and 29.1% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 3.2 %Farmland 45.2 %Forest 29.1 %Other (water, rock…) 22.4 %
Jobs2’518reference year 2018
Establishments499reference year 2018
Social assistance rate0.8 %reference year 2019

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