Building age in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, 20 municipalities

Building register (GWR) export of September 2026, parcel data of July 2025.

Key figures

Parcels with a building
18’458
17’746 of them with a known construction year
Median construction year
1965Switzerland: 1976
Median building age
61 yearsSwitzerland: 50 years
Built 1960 or earlier
43.1%Switzerland: 32.5%
Built after 2000
16.9%Switzerland: 23.3%

About the building stock in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

The parcel data lists 18’458 parcels with a building in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. For 17’746 of them (96.1%) the federal building register (GWR) gives a construction year, taken from the newest building on the parcel. The median construction year is 1965, so the median parcel with a building is 61 years old. 43.1% of the parcels with a known year were built in 1960 or earlier and 16.9% after 2000. The largest period is before 1920 with 31.6%. For comparison, the median construction year is 1976 in Switzerland. 712 parcels with a building have no usable construction year and are left out of the shares.

Construction-year histogram

Parcels with a building by construction period, as a share of the 17’746 parcels with a known year. The periods are not equally long, so read the bars as shares of the stock, not as building activity per year.

  1. 31.6%before 1920: 31.6%, 5’609 parcels
  2. 5.2%1920-1945: 5.2%, 923 parcels
  3. 6.2%1946-1960: 6.2%, 1’108 parcels
  4. 17.9%1961-1980: 17.9%, 3’176 parcels
  5. 22.1%1981-2000: 22.1%, 3’930 parcels
  6. 7.8%2001-2010: 7.8%, 1’384 parcels
  7. 6.8%2011-2020: 6.8%, 1’207 parcels
  8. 2.3%2021 and later: 2.3%, 409 parcels

Building age distribution

The same parcels grouped by the age of their newest building in 2026.

  • 66 years or older (built 1960 or earlier)43.1%7’640 parcels
  • 46 to 65 years (built 1961-1980)17.9%3’176 parcels
  • 26 to 45 years (built 1981-2000)22.1%3’930 parcels
  • Up to 25 years (built 2001 or later)16.9%3’000 parcels

How to read these figures

The parcel data links every parcel to the federal building register (GWR). A parcel counts once, with the construction year of its newest building. Where the register gives only a construction period, the middle of the period is used.

The figures count parcels with a building, not individual buildings. A parcel with several buildings counts once, and a parcel without a building is not counted.

Building age is 2026 minus the construction year. Every share divides by the parcels with a known construction year.

Municipalities in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

MunicipalityParcels with a yearMedian year1960 or earlierAfter 2000
Herisau3’080196546.2%15.5%
Teufen (AR)1’750196941.9%19.1%
Heiden1’299196841.6%18.6%
Speicher1’261197533.3%18.2%
Urnäsch1’168196546.8%14.5%
Gais1’151197540.7%19.8%
Walzenhausen969196247.8%12.8%
Wolfhalden818196544.5%18.0%
Trogen749196545.7%13.5%
Rehetobel741196149.1%15.4%
Waldstatt644197932.0%20.2%
Schwellbrunn636197540.1%13.7%
Stein (AR)589196745.2%19.5%
Lutzenberg525197535.2%23.2%
Bühler509196640.1%21.0%
Hundwil441196447.6%19.7%
Wald (AR)417194552.0%10.6%
Grub (AR)405197540.5%10.1%
Reute (AR)359197343.2%17.5%
Schönengrund235196546.8%15.7%

See it on the map

roots colors every parcel by construction year, from deep red for the oldest buildings to pale cream for the newest.

Open the roots map in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

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