Skip to main content
Language
Methodology and trust

How to use PLZHub data and where it stops

A postcode page saves you hours of research, but it can also make you feel more certain than you should be. Use PLZHub to narrow your choices, then switch to official sources when it's time to sign a lease or file taxes.
Updated:
13 March 2026
Read time:
3 min
Share:XFacebookLinkedIn
View over Bern old town rooftops with church spire and spring blossoms

What PLZHub is actually good for

If you are just starting your search, PLZHub gets you to a shortlist faster. Look at 8001 Zurich: you see immediately that it sits entirely inside one municipality. You get demographics, nearby postcodes, and a tax baseline that you can throw against 1003 Lausanne or 6300 Zug without hunting through three different cantonal websites.

It also catches structural weirdness that real estate listings hide. 1008 Prilly splits neatly down the middle between two municipalities. 1212 Grand-Lancy is mostly Lancy, but bleeds over into Onex and Plan-les-Ouates. If you care about your tax rate, you need to know exactly which side of the street you live on. PLZHub shows you where to look closer.

Switzerland map
Image: Switzerland-map.png, via Wikimedia Commons.

Where you should slow down

Always read the source notes. Because places like 1008 Prilly and 1040 Echallens cover multiple municipalities, the demographics and tax numbers we show there are weighted estimates. Even 6052 Hergiswil NW, which is 99.8% Hergiswil, isn't technically a single-municipality postcode.

Estimated numbers are fine for comparing general vibes, but they are terrible for budgeting. Treat them as a rough map, not a legal survey.

Swiss post box
Image: Swiss post box, Basle.jpg, via Wikimedia Commons.

The same goes for live data like transit stops or weather warnings. They reflect the moment the page loaded in your browser.

When to switch to official sources

Once you find a specific apartment or house, leave PLZHub. You need the official ESTV calculator for your actual tax bill. You need the local commune register to confirm your exact municipality. PLZHub helps you figure out which questions to ask, but it should never be the last tab open when you sign a contract.

When PLZHub is enough and when it is not

Horizontal scroll to compare values

Use caseCan PLZHub answer it alone?What to verify next
Initial shortlistYes, usuallyCompare a few postcode pages and articles
Final tax numberNoOfficial ESTV calculator
Exact municipality for an addressNoOfficial address or municipal source
General area contextYes, with cautionProperty-specific research and local providers

Responsible-use checklist

  • Narrow choices, do not finalize them here.
  • Check the source notes for estimates.
  • Treat weighted estimates as context.
  • Go to official providers before making binding decisions.
Blog

Selected articles from the PLZHub blog