The list of Cities and Villages in France where life is good is already celebrating its fifth anniversary. An anniversary made possible thanks to an exclusive partnership with the National Real Estate Federation (FNAIM). This time, and beyond the 200 criteria retained which extend from the quality of green spaces to the level of local taxes through the accessibility of shops or leisure activities, it is the property prices which have been scrutinized in all the municipalities of France.
Imagine the future
The cost of housing is the primary concern of French people who want to sell or buy a property in this period of crisis and still high interest rates. Good news, in the Top 100 medium-sized cities where prices are the most attractive, around thirty show price reductions of around 5% or more. There are deals to be had in cities that bring you quality of life, security or proximity to major amenities. Let’s not forget that buyers not only look for the accommodation of their dreams based on price, but also based on the area where they dream of settling, living, or starting a family.
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Through this barometer, they have the opportunity to project themselves, to imagine the future, whether in Angers, at the top of the cities, or in Guéthary, at the top of the villages in the list. Île-de-France is not forgotten with Asnières-sur-Seine or Boulogne-Billancourt, again very pleasant towns where after experiencing strong tensions over the last three years, prices are decreasing significantly.
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Through this barometer, buyers have the opportunity to project themselves, to imagine the future
How can we not be delighted when we put ourselves, for example, in the shoes of a young couple who wants to become a homeowner? This is obviously excellent news, especially since our study highlights a staggering figure: 50% of those questioned say they can no longer invest in purchasing a home. Two other major difficulties are added to this for many French people, the massive increase in property taxes in many municipalities and the explosion in housing taxes for owners of second homes. It seemed essential to us to include them in the ranking criteria, given their weight in the budgets of our compatriots.
Fortunately, many mayors are trying to limit the damage. Moreover, let us say it clearly, the mayors of France are people of extraordinary dedication, but who do not hold all the cards in their hands because their power is constrained by regulations and the entanglement of communities. We must give them back maximum latitude in terms of town planning, make them more autonomous, because they are the ones who know the territories best.
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Finally, most city councilors have fully taken up the list of Cities and Villages in France where life is good. While many use it to praise their town to tourists and the general public, some, victims of their success, ask us if they should continue to appear in the ranking, as the attraction for their town is so great. In fact, many of them cannot respond favorably to all the accommodation requests that follow the publication of our rankings.
To all the top-ranked municipalities, we offer with immense joy the use of the Cities and Villages where it is good to live label, which gives them an absolutely unique influence and makes their inhabitants proud.
By connecting to our site villeetvillagesouilfaitbonvivre.com, you will find up-to-date real estate data for your municipality or those where you are searching.
Methodology: 187 criteria made it possible to decide between all the municipalities of France
The Cities and Villages where life is good list is the largest list of municipalities in France. For the 2024 edition, it covers 34,808 municipalities in mainland France. Each municipality is analyzed on 187 criteria divided into 11 categories: quality of life, security, health, transport, shops and services, education, environmental protection, finances and local taxes (new category), solidarity, sports and leisure, attractiveness real estate.
Eight new criteria have been added: seven concerning local finances and taxes (in particular on property tax, the amount of equipment per inhabitant in the territory and the level of savings of the municipality), and one concerning environmental protection , qualifying the total greenhouse gas emissions per capita.
These themes are ranked according to the order of priority determined by the French in a survey carried out by OpinionWay. Thus, the more important the category is considered by respondents, the greater its share will be in the final result.
Christophe Bordet
