A large amount of research has been conducted on the peri-urban area, yet alleys remain to be explored. Three of these alleys are studied for Switzerland with four longitudinal datasets (national and local level) and sequence analysis. First, the position of the peri-urban areas within lifelong residential trajectories and sequences of moves are investigated, showing the importance of both urban and more rural preceding residences. Secondly, the relation between the peri-urban area and life course events are explored to gain insight in the in-migration modes and migrant characteristics. The in-migrants are often couples and nuclear families (family formation or empty-nest) in full-time employment. Lastly, as no consensus exists on the definition of the peri-urban area, various scenarios of the spatial extend are explored to identify the most relevant in terms of life course analysis. This has shown no essential differences between the populations of the differently defined peri-urban areas.