Hi All,

We are planning to move with a 3 year old children to Uster, Baden or Dielsdorf next year. Office is in Oerlikon area for both of us.
Does anybody have opinions/experiences about living in these towns? Which one would you recommend?

Any insights would be appreciated about kindergartens/schools and life in general as an expat.

Reviews on nearby hospitals would be also useful.

Thanks in advance

Uster and Baden both have a hospital.

Dübendorf doesn't. But i guess for all intents and purposes Dübendorf is an extension of Zürich that just remained an independent Gemeinde by a fluke of history. If people in Dübendorf say I'm going to town, they probably mean Zürich and not the shops in Dübendorf. In Uster you might have to ask twice what they mean because it might be 50/50 and in Baden they probably mean Baden.

So the main difference between these towns in my view as how self contained they are, not just functionally but in people's minds and outlook. Maybe as a young family you might like a smaller, more self contained Gemeinde.

But if you're actually working in Zürich and want to avoid too much of a commute, the reverse is probably true in terms of time and difficulty of getting into Zürich.

Duebendorf? I think the question was about Dielsdorf.

Haven't lived in either, but I would prefer Uster here. Not bad to get to Oerlikon, nice surroundings, quick to lake and Zuri Oberland mountains. Baden is not bad, but trafiic is always crap and it is just on the wrong side if you have to go to Oerlikon. From Uster, you could even bike.

Don't have much to say about Dielsdorf. Does it have a center? Just know the BMW garage and the GC fields.

aaaah yes, oops

that's what comes of having too many tabs open at the same time.

Are you a relocation agent?

I can only provide some thoughts about Uster, as I'm not at all familiar with Baden or Dielsdorf. We live in the village next to Uster, and so I spend quite a bit of time there for various things. I personally find Uster to be a very charming little city. Not too small, not too big. It does have at least one direct train to Oerlikon, which takes about 15 minutes. A few other things that I like about it:

1. There is a nice beach and swimming pool area in Uster (Uster Strandbad), on the shore of Lake Greifensee. It's great for kids, with sandboxes, kids pool, playground, etc.
2. There is an English Club in Uster called "WAC" that is for English-speaking expats and their kids. It's a great organization with a lot of fun activities for kids as well as grown-ups. I believe it also has a preschool. It's a good way to make new friends and not have problems with language barriers.
3. As someone else had mentioned, there is a hospital in Uster. I've had positive and negative experiences with it, to be honest. But overall, more positive than negative. I have never seen a long wait in the emergency room there.
4. There is also a large indoor swimming pool there.
5. You won't have to travel far to be in nature, as Uster is surrounded by forests and the countryside (with paths weaved through them) as well as the nice path that goes around the lake.

I'm sure I could probably think of more things to list if I put my mind to it, but for now, that is what's popped into my head.

Thanks a lot for your responses! All are very helpful

Anybody having some experience with life in Dielsdorf?

Besides, as we are both working, some experience with Horts (Tagesbetreuung) would be really useful in any of these towns.

Dielsdord is very quiet, very boring. No life in the evening or on Saturday.
Quite a few chavs (Swiss and Balkans) as well so this is not aspirational.
But the rents are a lot cheaper than Uster or Baden.

Uster is liked by many expats.
Baden is very nice as well, self-contained.

I would choose either but certainly not Dielsdorf.

Haha what a Coincidence, I grew up in Dielsdorf as a Child Have also been to the other two Cities, but just for visitting.


Dielsdorf as some pointed out is a pretty quiet village, almos a small city. Yeah it's pretty boring, but where I lived (Gumpenwiesenstrasse) there was everything in close distance you could wish for a child. Some playgrounds, a small forest, and Elementary and High Schools in Walking Distance. And not much Traffic, at least during the 90s when I grew up there... But that may have changed alot!



User I've been many times, it's a small city with lots of traffic in the centre. Can't speak for the outskirts though...


Baden has a beautiful Old Town along the River. Just been there once, don't know how it's like to live there.

Sorry for the double post...


In Dielsdorf, the Hostpital (where I was born, lol ) has been transforme into an elderly home, or "Pflegezentrum"as they like to call it.


I still remember that as a Kid I liked to be at the Mühleweiher, watching ducks and enjoying the peace and quiet.


There is also a Sports-Centre in Dielsdorf, the "Erle". They have an Indoor & Outdoor Swimming Park, an Ice Skating Rink and some Wellness stuff.


But, at least during my time in the 90s, I experienced that the People there are very narrow-minded and judgemental. I hope and think that has changed, now that more people moved there. But I think there should still be a pretty village-like spirit to the people there.

Grewing up as a child, I can recommend Dielsdorf. But also if as parents you are looking for peace and quiet as well, and not the bustling inner city of Uster. Choice is up to you


Feel free to ask or DM me about Dielsdorf, if you like!

I'm also curious about how those towns are for a family with two full time working parents. Particularly Uster. Is it progressive in that way? Some communities don't have much capacity in after-school hort and its more challenging to find a spot. Anyone with experience with this?