My family (myself, my wife, dog, and daughters aged 9 and 6) will be moving very shortly. Work will be in Lucerne. Girls will be in school at ISZL at the Zug campus (actually in Baar). We want to live someplace with a lively expat community, but with easy mass transit for work to lucerne. Of course, a place for nice walks with the dog and the family would be great as well.
We are very torn about where to live, and would love to hear from others that may have had to make this same choice! Thank you!
Thank you for the response. What are the benefits of living in Baar? It is not the first time I've heard this advice, but still not sure why? Is it a nice town? Good expat community? Parka, etc for walks? Oh, and my wife wants to make sure the views are as good as we'd have in lucerne but in don't think that's a problem anywhere in the area!
Baar is a nice place that has been and it is still developing a lot in the past years. It is very well connected by train with Zurich, Zurich Airport, Zug and Luzern.
It has many nice places for walking and a walk to the lake Zug takes only 45 minutes.
For a family is one of the best areas where to live. It is very secure, there are lots of children and it has a very familiar atmosphere.
You need to consider that the prices for renting a flat in Baar are pretty high. From my research, Cham or Hünenberg could be cheaper but the train facilities are not so good as in Baar. For the rest, Cham, Hünenberg or any other town in this canton are nice places to live.
I don't get the fascination with Baar. It's convenient, sure, but doesn't offer any great views, there is no nature on your doorstep and the town itself doesn't warrant the lack of these things. (My personal opinion and I have never lived in Baar) If it were me I would go for somewhere like Weggis or Meggen. Sure, quiet, but the views! You are also within spitting distance to Lucerne, which is a proper little city. Driving to Zug from there is, what, 20 minutes? (Prices are also much cheaper than Zug)
Zug itself would be an option, as trains to Lucerne are often and pretty quick. However, place in the really nice parts of Zug (Up on the mountain, old town and on the lake) are rare and costly.
Slap bang in the middle would be Immensee or Kussnacht am Rigi, both very nice, but maybe not so expatty.
I live in Walchwil, which would hit all your criteria, apart from the travel perhaps. I'm guessing 45 minutes to Lucerne on the train. If you narrow down your search, feel free to get some further opinions on specific places here and best of luck!
I have been living in Luzern for six years now. No plans of moving to somewhere else in the next few years. The reason: It's an incredibly beautiful place. I really love it here.
OP's daughters will be going to school in Baar. Unless the parents intend to drive them there (wooot!??!!! what a silly notion! leave them their freedom and have them walk) the options seem rather limited.
I wouldn't live in Baar either, and I have been commuting from Zürich for several years now. In my opinion, it is nothing special. I agree that could find nicer places in the area with lake or/and mountains views and closer to Luzern, as some other EF members suggested.
I agree with most of what you points out but I suggested Baar purely because OP's kids will go to a school in Baar. Would you sacrifice your kids' commute or yours' ? Second, taxes should be around 120% more expensive in Luzern. Third, from Baar you have express trains to Luzern, Zürich, the airport, etc..
1) Perfect location - direct train to Zurich airport and Luzern.
2) Great infrastructure - 5-6 gyms, several supermarkets (Migros, Coop, Denner, Aldi), best pool in canton. Everything is located almost in a walking distance or couple of bus stops
3) Low taxes
4) Possible to find apartment with forest just couple of meters from you door and still be within civilization
1) Perfect location if your criteria is a direct train to the airport! (PS, the same is true for Zug, with an even shorter commute to Luzern. Heck, even Walchwil has a direct train to the airport)
2) Really, 5-6 gyms? Who wants to live next to a supermarket? Best pool? I think Lake Zug trumps any pool!
3) Everywhere has low taxes in Zug. Rental in Lucerne is much lower so that might even it out. Also if the OP is from the States it wont make any difference
4) I'm sure it is!
I'm not dissing Baar (OK, maybe I am), but if the OP wants a real Swiss experience he may want an amazing view on the lake, local traditions, access to the local mountains etc etc. Baar, to me, just feels like a bit of a convenient expat enclave.
Then maybe it is worth looking at Oberwil bei See it's by the lake, you can take a bus or walk to Zug, take a number 3 bus from Oberwil all the way to the edge of Baar (to get to school), lots of walking opportunities, either along the lake or up the hill. Rent is affordable.
There are a lot of expats in Zug, but i would recommend mingling with the locals too.
Oberwil is great, but I'm not so sure about 'affordable'. As far as I know, Oberwil is quite pricey and not much on the market, but if you find something there, then you are onto a winner.
OMG, what have they done to you in Baar?! You are so emotional
You are wrong at all above points (Baar has direct connection to airport unlike Walchwil, etc) but I will not argue further.
Things that I mention are important for me and I believe for many other people with family. You suggested Weggis in your previous post, which is a brilliant advise for those who want to spend 1 hour each way to bring kids to ISZL, then 30 min to music school and other activities, etc. Not saying that Weggis is simply boring, even comparing to Baar/Zug.
As for "real Swiss experience" (btw OP didn't mention it anywhere), one should probably live in Altdorf. But it contradicts a bit with "lively expat community".