Municipality · Ticino

Locarno

Get to know Locarno

Locarno is a southern Swiss town and municipality in the district Locarno, located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore at its northeastern tip in the canton of Ticino at the southern foot of the Swiss Alps.

Read the full introduction

It has a population of about 16,000 (proper), and about 56,000 for the agglomeration of the same name including Ascona besides other municipalities.

Wikipedia contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Landscape

The shape of the place

The land-use survey ending in 2018 shows how the area is shared between buildings, woodland, farmland and water.

31%

Agriculture

Agriculture31%
Forest31%
Settlement27%
Water6%
Other4%

Survey period ending 2018 · BFS

Climate

Through the seasons

Annual mean 12.9°C with 1'855 mm of rain. Warmest in July (22.3°C), coldest in January (3.9°C). Station: Locarno / Monti, 367 m.

Locarno / Monti · 367 m.a.s.l. · 1991–2020 normals · MeteoSchweiz

12.9°C

Annual average

Sunshine

2'228 h

Precipitation

1'855 mm

4°22°Temperature and sunshine across the year.

Warming trend

Mean annual temperature at Locarno / Monti has risen by +2.1°C between the first 30 observed years (1883–1912) and the most recent (1996–2025).

18832025

Source: MeteoSchweiz NBCN

Housing

Finding a home here

A view of the rental market, drawn from 76 apartment and house listings. These are advertised rents, before any individual negotiation.

Homes to rent Homes to buy

Net asking rent

CHF 20.8

/ m² per month

Middle half of advertised rents

17.223.8

1 Nov 2026

More about Housing

Vacancy

1.53%As of 1 June 2026

2026

1.53%

3.21.60

20222026

Vacancy
2015	2.05%
2016	2.59%
2017	3.40%
2018	3.38%
2019	3.44%
2020	3.59%
2021	3.27%
2022	3.24%
2023	1.90%
2024	1.98%
2025	1.75%
2026	1.53%

Net asking rentCHF 20.8/ m² per month1 Nov 2026

Gross asking rentCHF 23.3/ m² per month1 Nov 2026

Asking priceCHF 8'869/ m²1 Nov 2026

Dwellings12'334Counted on 31 Dec 2025 · in 2'271 residential buildings

Newly built dwellings80During 2024

Primary residences80%Dwelling inventory 2026

Broadband coverage63%FibreAs of 2026 · Broadband coverage is one part of everyday infrastructure. This is coverage across the reported area; availability at a particular home still depends on its address.

People

The people who live here

The population grew by 8.6% between 2010 and 2025. The annual record shows how that change unfolded.

End of 2025

2025

16'463

16.5K8.2K0

20212025

Population
2010	15'153
2011	15'303
2012	15'483
2013	15'671
2014	15'803
2015	15'968
2016	16'122
2017	16'012
2018	15'826
2019	15'776
2020	15'728
2021	16'075
2022	16'241
2023	16'394
2024	16'374
2025	16'463

More about People

Population

16'463End of 2025

2025

16'463

16.5K8.2K0

20212025

Population
2010	15'153
2011	15'303
2012	15'483
2013	15'671
2014	15'803
2015	15'968
2016	16'122
2017	16'012
2018	15'826
2019	15'776
2020	15'728
2021	16'075
2022	16'241
2023	16'394
2024	16'374
2025	16'463

Foreign residents

36.1%End of 2025

2025

36.1%

36.118.10

20212025

Foreign residents
2010	34.5%
2011	34.8%
2012	34.7%
2013	34.5%
2014	33.9%
2015	34.4%
2016	34.6%
2017	34.7%
2018	34.4%
2019	34.3%
2020	33.9%
2021	34.6%
2022	34.6%
2023	35.3%
2024	35.8%
2025	36.1%

Jobs (FTE)

10'294

As of 2024 · The reported area accounts for 10'294 full-time-equivalent jobs. This describes employment located here, rather than the number of residents who work.

2024

10'294

10.8K5.4K0

20202024

Jobs (FTE)
2011	9'791
2012	9'726
2013	10'034
2014	10'147
2015	10'320
2016	10'053
2017	10'068
2018	10'364
2019	10'395
2020	10'433
2021	10'794
2022	10'814
2023	10'705
2024	10'294

Politics

Local choices

Strongest party: FDP · 19.1% · 2023

Election results (1971–2023)

Turnout 43.5%

Source: FSO

Taxes & income

A picture of local costs

Single person without children, gross wage CHF 100'000 · Canton, municipality and personal tax, without church, federal and wealth tax · tax year 2026

CHF 12'528

/ year

More about Taxes & income

Income taxCHF 12'528/ yearTax year 2026

Single person without children, gross wage CHF 100'000 · Canton, municipality and personal tax, without church, federal and wealth tax · tax year 2026

Tax multiplier

90%Tax year 2026

2026

90%

90450

20222026

Tax multiplier
2010	92%
2011	87%
2012	87%
2013	90%
2014	90%
2015	90%
2016	90%
2017	90%
2018	90%
2019	90%
2020	90%
2021	90%
2022	90%
2023	90%
2024	90%
2025	90%
2026	90%

Median taxable income

CHF 35'200All taxpayers · tax period 2022

2022

CHF 35'200

35.2K17.6K0

20182022

Median taxable income
2010	CHF 34'000
2011	CHF 33'900
2012	CHF 33'600
2013	CHF 33'700
2014	CHF 33'900
2015	CHF 33'600
2016	CHF 33'600
2017	CHF 33'800
2018	CHF 33'900
2019	CHF 33'400
2020	CHF 33'800
2021	CHF 34'700
2022	CHF 35'200

Median net income

CHF 40'000As of 2022

2022

CHF 40'000

40K20K0

20182022

Median net income
2010	CHF 39'400
2011	CHF 39'600
2012	CHF 39'300
2013	CHF 39'200
2014	CHF 39'400
2015	CHF 39'300
2016	CHF 38'900
2017	CHF 38'600
2018	CHF 38'850
2019	CHF 38'600
2020	CHF 38'674
2021	CHF 39'800
2022	CHF 40'000

Paying direct federal tax66%As of 2022

Cantonal tax multiplier

100%Tax year 2026

2026

100%

100500

20222026

Cantonal tax multiplier
2010	100%
2011	100%
2012	100%
2013	100%
2014	100%
2015	100%
2016	100%
2017	100%
2018	100%
2019	100%
2020	97%
2021	97%
2022	97%
2023	97%
2024	100%
2025	100%
2026	100%

Federal data — BFS (STATPOP, STATENT, land use), ESTV, BAKOM, ARE. Asking rents and prices: Homematch, from listings on Swiss portals.

The municipality

Settlement type: Urban
Municipality type: Urban municipality of a medium-sized agglomertation
Language region: Italian
Agglomeration: Locarno (CH)
Labour market region: Locarno
Statistical city: Yes
Mountain region: Yes

Federal Statistical Office · 2020