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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Pieterlen

Pieterlen

Canton: Bern (BE)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

37/100

Below the median

National rank: 1’883 / 2’110

Taxes13/100
Premiums37/100
Electricity10/100
Housing89/100
PT service54/100

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

Median altitude460 m
Area8.3 km²
Postcode2542
FSO no.392
DistrictVerwaltungskreis Biel/Bienne
Tax burden15.2 %Single, CHF 80’000 · 2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 13.1 %
Electricity price31.6 ct./kWhH4 · 2027 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.9 ct./kWh
Health insurance premiums634 CHF/monthAdult · 2027 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF
Population5’255+9.8 % over 5 years (2020–2025) more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate2.47 %01.06.2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops6At 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 Pieterlen pays 15.2% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 12’170 a year. That is CHF 1’680 more than in the median Swiss municipality.

PieterlenSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 12’170 CHF/year1’680 CHF/year more
15.2 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 22’540 CHF/year1’840 CHF/year more
18.8 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 17’170 CHF/year3’710 CHF/year more
14.3 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 19’080 CHF/year4’170 CHF/year more
12.7 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 14’650 CHF/year1’660 CHF/year more
18.3 %
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 Pieterlen pays 31.55 ct. per kWh, or about CHF 1’420 a year. That is CHF 209 a year more than in the median Swiss municipality.

31.55 ct./kWh

more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.91 ct./kWh

Tariff breakdown

Energy (the electricity itself) 14.50Grid (delivery to the meter) 9.02Levies and surcharge (public charges and levies) 8.03ct./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 Pieterlen pays a median CHF 634 a month for basic health insurance, or about CHF 7’600 a year (CHF 300 deductible, accident cover included). That is CHF 35 a month more than the Swiss median (CHF 599).

634 CHF/month

more 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 BE-2 (Civiora calculation on FOPH data).

Official FOPH average premiums 2027 (all deductibles and models)

Adult488.50 CHF/monthapprox. 5’860 CHF/year
19–25 years332.60 CHF/monthapprox. 3’990 CHF/year
Child123.90 CHF/monthapprox. 1’490 CHF/year

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

Population and demographics

Official

Pieterlen has 5’255 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 9.8% more than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

5’255 inhabitants

Density: 629 inhab./km² · 2025

+0.7 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 22.4 %20–64 years 60.5 %65 and over 17.1 %

About 1 resident in 4 is under 20, and 1 in 6 is 65 or over. About 1 resident in 3 (32.9%) 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, 2.47% of homes in Pieterlen were vacant, about 1 in 40 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings6201.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)2’496

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

Pieterlen has 6 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 324 departures are scheduled across all stops, 24 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops6At least one rail stop
Departures on a typical Tuesday324of which evening (from 8 pm): 24 (7 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday4414 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’0001.14Swiss 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

Pieterlen’s territory is 19.5% built-up, 31.2% farmland and 47.1% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 19.5 %Farmland 31.2 %Forest 47.1 %Other (water, rock…) 2.3 %
Jobs1’283reference year 2018
Establishments224reference year 2018
Social assistance rate7.2 %reference year 2019

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