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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Saas-Balen

Saas-Balen

Canton: Valais (VS)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

72/100

Above the median

National rank: 271 / 2’110 · Top 13% nationally

Taxes58/100
Premiums90/100
Electricity53/100
Housing69/100
PT service91/100

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

Median altitude2’561 m
Area30.2 km²
Postcode3906
FSO no.6289
DistrictBezirk Visp
Tax burden12.6 %Single, CHF 80’000 · 2026 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 13.1 %
Electricity price26.7 ct./kWhH4 · 2027 in line with SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.9 ct./kWh
Health insurance premiums537 CHF/monthAdult · 2027 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF
Population340−3.1 % over 5 years (2020–2025) less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate1.26 %01.06.2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops5No 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 Saas-Balen pays 12.6% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 10’060 a year. That is CHF 430 less than in the median Swiss municipality.

Saas-BalenSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 10’060 CHF/year430 CHF/year less
12.6 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 20’500 CHF/year200 CHF/year less
17.1 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 12’520 CHF/year950 CHF/year less
10.4 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 12’120 CHF/year2’790 CHF/year less
8.1 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 12’710 CHF/year270 CHF/year less
15.9 %
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 Saas-Balen pays 26.74 ct. per kWh, or about CHF 1’200 a year. That is close to the median Swiss municipality.

26.74 ct./kWh

in line with SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.91 ct./kWh

Tariff breakdown

Energy (the electricity itself) 11.22Grid (delivery to the meter) 10.58Levies and surcharge (public charges and levies) 4.94ct./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 Saas-Balen pays a median CHF 537 a month for basic health insurance, or about CHF 6’450 a year (CHF 300 deductible, accident cover included). That is CHF 62 a month less than the Swiss median (CHF 599).

537 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 VS-2 (Civiora calculation on FOPH data).

Official FOPH average premiums 2027 (all deductibles and models)

Adult417.10 CHF/monthapprox. 5’010 CHF/year
19–25 years286.60 CHF/monthapprox. 3’440 CHF/year
Child104.40 CHF/monthapprox. 1’250 CHF/year

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

Population and demographics

Official

Saas-Balen has 340 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 3.1% fewer than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

340 inhabitants

Density: 11 inhab./km² · 2025

−0.3 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 14.4 %20–64 years 59.1 %65 and over 26.5 %

About 1 resident in 7 is under 20, and 1 in 4 is 65 or over. About 1 resident in 9 (11.2%) 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, 1.26% of homes in Saas-Balen were vacant, about 1 in 79 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings601.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)474

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

Saas-Balen has 5 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 364 departures are scheduled across all stops, 40 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops5No rail stop (bus/other)
Departures on a typical Tuesday364of which evening (from 8 pm): 40 (11 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday364100 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’00014.71Swiss 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

Saas-Balen’s territory is 1.4% built-up, 9.2% farmland and 25.0% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 1.4 %Farmland 9.2 %Forest 25.0 %Other (water, rock…) 64.5 %
Jobs115reference year 2018
Establishments31reference year 2018

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