Sarnen
Municipality in the canton of Obwalden FSO no. 1407 Data 2025, as of 29 Sept 2026
In 2025, 16 of 5’517 dwellings stood vacant in Sarnen, a vacancy rate of 0.29%.
The vacancy rate rose from 0.28% in 2016 to 0.29% in 2025 (+0.01 pp).
That is the 5th highest vacancy rate of 7 municipalities in the canton of Obwalden.
Key figures 2025
- Vacancy rate
- 0.29%
- Vacant dwellings
- 16
- Dwelling stock
- 5’517
Vacancy trend 2016-2025
| Year | Rate | Vacant | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.29% | 16 | 5’517 |
| 2024 | 0.05% | 3 | 6’000 |
| 2023 | 0.07% | 4 | 5’714 |
| 2022 | 0.09% | 5 | 5’556 |
| 2021 | 0.32% | 17 | 5’313 |
| 2020 | 0.19% | 10 | 5’263 |
| 2019 | 0.23% | 12 | 5’217 |
| 2018 | 0.27% | 14 | 5’185 |
| 2017 | 0.12% | 6 | 5’000 |
| 2016 | 0.28% | 14 | 5’000 |
Breakdown of vacant dwellings
Of the 16 vacant dwellings, 0 are in single-family houses and 16 in multi-family houses; 14 are for rent and 2 for sale; 6 are new and 10 older.
House type
| House type | Vacant | Rate | Share of vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family houses | 0 | 0.00% | 0% |
| Multi-family houses | 16 | 0.29% | 100% |
Sale / rent
| Sale / rent | Vacant | Rate | Share of vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| For sale | 2 | 0.04% | 12.5% |
| For rent | 14 | 0.25% | 87.5% |
Dwelling age
| Dwelling age | Vacant | Rate | Share of vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| New dwellings | 6 | 0.11% | 37.5% |
| Older dwellings | 10 | 0.18% | 62.5% |
Comparison
The canton of Obwalden average is 0.50% (114 vacant of 22’800 dwellings).
Across Switzerland it is 1.00% (48’455 vacant of 4’845’500 dwellings).
| Comparison | Rate | Vacant | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarnen | 0.29% | 16 | 5’517 |
| Obwalden | 0.50% | 114 | 22’800 |
| Switzerland | 1.00% | 48’455 | 4’845’500 |
More municipalities in the canton of Obwalden
Source and method
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), survey of vacant dwellings (Leerwohnungszählung), via stats.swiss. The dwelling stock is estimated from the published counts and rates.
House type, tenure and dwelling age are three independent breakdowns of the same vacant dwellings; they cannot be combined (there is no "rented new dwelling" figure).
Vacancy data for 2025, statistics computed on 29 Sept 2026.