Neuchâtel has real tax issues. Use comparis to compare with your commune. it's also the romand canton with lowest demographic growth: people/families try to find houses in neighbouring cantons (Vaud & Fribourg).
Thanks everybody for your thoughts.
I did read somewhere that Neuchatel taxes are scheduled to change. Does anybody know anymore about this?
Thought I should put my two cents in.
Not as experienced as other EF members, I've only been here for 3 months, so I might not have a great understanding of Neuchâtel, but...
Having read what people seem to go through in other parts of Switzerland, be it racism, classism, generally people being a bit arsey, I have noticed none of this in Neuchâtel. The people all seem very nice, I can count on one hand the number of people that have annoyed me since being here (and I'm easily annoyed)(one woman at the coffee shop, one woman at the bakers and another woman at the police station)(oh my god, all woman, I need to have a look at myself I think)
The rent seems to be a lot cheaper than Lausanne and the options a lot greater (going by what my wife tells me of her workmates apartments in Lausanne).
Not sure what the nightlife is like with regards to clubbing, but the bars and restaurants are plentiful enough and varied enough to keep us happy. I might miss my Scottish Ales, but Absinthe has strangely substituted that craving. Even the local drunk is extremely pleasant (he was the first Swiss person we had a conversation with in our newly learned French)
As for bringing up kids, not sure what the schools are like, but the school kids are really well behaved when I've been around them (and I think that speaks volumes) and if we were looking to have kids I think we would be perfectly happy to bring them up here.
We both feel really safe in Neuchâtel, not seen any crime or even arguments on the street. Coming from Glasgow, this is an odd thing for us to not see. We even had the police round at our door here giving out business cards incase we heard or witnessed any crime we can contact them directly, never heard of this anywhere else.
So, basically, I think it's just lovely and feel very lucky to have landed in Neuchâtel rather than any other towns/cities I've been to in Switzerland, not that they're bad, but just feel Neuchâtel has the edge over them.
Mike.
Hi- glad you are enjoying my 'home' area so far. Just got back from a trip near Zurich - taxes might be lower, but rents are huge, and a cup of coffee at least a 1/3 more and even Diesel is 12 centimes more than here. so you win some, you lose some. The language is certainly easier on the ears, lol.
NE is great but the taxes are killer compared to Cantons Fribourg or Vaud. We are looking into moving outside of NE Canton like Cudrefin since there is quite a big savings on tax.
Only just seen this but it pretty much sums up my experiences so far. I haven't even had anybody annoy me either so far (except Transition on a thread here and of course my OH) but I am fairly laid back and difficult to annoy.
I had read on here about all the annoying things and problems people had and had commented to my husband that I had never experienced any of it. Everybody in the shops, banks, commune office, police station etc have been very helpful and friendly.
Overall I'm pretty happy to be living here even if the taxes are higher.
I didn't see it mentioned. What is the small town in Deutschschweiz, and which Canton?
I was just thinking that Biel/Bienne is another option that might be worth considering.